He put in a crankcase oil gasket last Friday the 20th. While driving this past Tuesday, the oil light started coming on. Got it towed back to him. He’s basically claiming chronic oil burning/leaking/shortage has messed up the engine(I’ll admit I never checked the oil in between servicing), and today he said he started it up without the oil cap, and he could feel “excessive blowby”. He quoted me $5500 for a Jasper engine and $2054 for labor.
I’d love to hear your thoughts/suggestions/recommendations. $8K is a lot to drop on a 16-year old car, but I love my 2009 HHR. Thanks!

 

A compression test would be a better diagnostic tool than removing the oil filler cap.

 

Why was the crankcase gasket replaced? How many miles? Was there oil in the engine, or did it disappear?
I would ask for more testing, like compression. Sounds like a lazy mechanic.
You could probably get a used engine for $2,000-$3,000 installed. Be sure to get a timing set included.

 

Okay, more info. In March of this year I had what I thought was a dead battery. Battery was 11 months old. A charging system check at same mechanic found no issues. Later that month, my alternator belt came off, due to an unknown oil leak. So, I had same mechanic put on a new alternator & belt & a valve cover gasket. Earlier this month, June, the same issue happened again. Alternator belt came off due to unknown oil leak. Same mechanic said crankshaft gasket was leaking. He replaced that and put on another alternator belt. That was Friday the 20th. I drove it Friday night and Saturday then not again until Tuesday the 24th, when I noticed the oil light flickering while driving on the interstate. So, after my cancer treatment, I waited 5 hours for a free tow back to same mechanic. Three days later, today, he tells me my engine “is toast”. It was noticeably leaking oil when I had it towed Tuesday.
I really appreciate all of the replies and I hope this extra information helps give you guys more ideas. Thanks!

 

Oil leaks are not a reason to replace the engine, get a different mechanic, this guy isn’t doing you any good!

 

That was kinda my thought. Would a compression test be worth doing to find the oil leak?

 

Leaking from where?

How does an oil leak = serpentine belt came off? Why replace the alternator if nothing was wrong with it? What is unknown about oil leak?

The oil light won't flicker until there is NO oil.

 

well, last Friday the 20th, he replaced the crankcase gasket because he said it was leaking. I drove it about 92 miles Friday, then another 60-70 on Saturday the 21st, and it sat parked until Tuesday the 24th. I drove it 15 miles and the oil light started flickering. Overall, it was maybe driven 40 miles max this past Tuesday. Mechanic checked it today and it was 4 quarts low on oil. He says it’s toast. I’m taking it to another mechanic Wednesday to do a compression test.

 

You check the oil level?

 

When? Before my Tuesday trip? No, because I assumed it was fixed. My Tuesday trip was for a cancer treatment…not an excuse for ignoring my car, but that’s what happened.