Should I upgrade my car?

**Youngster** · 02-12-2015

One more question. I have a 2003 grand prix gt with 77790 miles on it. I have a small oil leak. I need the oil pan gasket and rear main seal replaced. I can't do it and I might have someone who can do it for $1000. Otherwise a local shop would do it for $2000. I love my car, but I want to supercharge it. Besides the oil leak which is just minor right now, it is in very good shape. I have an aftermarket radio in and HID 6000K headlights. I think I'd get $5,000 if I sold it ($3000ish if I sold it to a dealer). I've thought about buying a 2006 grand prix gt supercharged. It's been tuned some already and in better shape than mine. 69K miles on it, black heated leather seats (bonus!) and it's silver (the color I want). It also has a winter and a summer set of wheels and tires. The guy is asking $10K for it. I know a s/c grand prix doesn't come up for sale often, at least the nice ones. I'm a college student so money is a bit tight. Would you recommend upgrading to the 06 grand prix, or should I keep my 03 grand prix and get a s/c with supporting mods and fix the oil leak later?

**ILoveAudi** · 02-12-2015

I wouldn't sell yours. That's all I have to say.

**SgtMarshal** · 02-12-2015

those shops you got estimates from are trying to rape you. how do you know the oil pan and rear main seal need to be replaced?

**BillBoost37** · 02-12-2015

If the car is a 3800, you will have a rear engine cover seepage, not a main seal leak. Do the oil pan.. leave the one or two drips a day from the rear cover. When you decide to swap an engine or trans.. fix the rear cover.

**Youngster** · 02-12-2015

The shops are xD lol but that's what happens when you take your car there. They squeeze every penny out of you. They told me those two needed to be replaced. I talked with my neighbor and he told me those are common on a 3800 2003 model. Both my neighbor and the shop said about 14 hours to replace both, that's why the price is ridiculous.
As for Bill, the car is the 3800. How would you know that it is a rear engine cover seepage and not a main seal leak? You seem very experienced, but how would you know without looking at it?

**ADrugDealer** · 02-12-2015

Same as last thread, if you don't have the knowledge to top-swap, I and most others recommend not doing it.

**ADrugDealer** · 02-12-2015

Because its bill... you could show him a bolt off the car and he could tell you where it goes, the length, pitch and size without seeing where it came from...

**SgtMarshal** · 02-12-2015

if its only leaking a small amount of oil, I wouldn't worry about it. lets do some reasoning: the shop wants to charge you a lot, but the car is likely only worth ~3000, am I right? so is it worth the amount they want to charge you so it doesn't drip a few drops every day?

as far as the top swap, if you cant do it yourself, or dont have a mechanic you trust that doesn't try to rape you every time you show up, it is not worth doing.

**Youngster** · 02-12-2015

So you would recommend buying a gtp since it is already s/c
Sorry I've never met Bill. I'm still pretty new to this forum, but so far he seems to know his stuff quite well.

**SgtMarshal** · 02-12-2015

I dont ever recommend going into debt.

**Youngster** · 02-12-2015

Originally Posted by SgtMarshal

if its only leaking a small amount of oil, I wouldn't worry about it. lets do some reasoning: the shop wants to charge you a lot, but the car is likely only worth ~3000, am I right? so is it worth the amount they want to charge you so it doesn't drip a few drops every day?

as far as the top swap, if you cant do it yourself, or dont have a mechanic you trust that doesn't try to rape you every time you show up, it is not worth doing.

That's what I'm thinking, but I'll drive this car for another 7 years. I don't know if it would still be just a couple of drips 7 years from now.

I'm not a turbo type of guy. I like superchargers a lot more. So with wanting that, and the oil leaking, that is why I'm considering upgrading to a newer car with a s/c and no oil leaking. We have a family mechanic, but I'm not sure if he's ever done something like a top swap. He fixes cars, I don't know about modding them though. Which is why I'm thinking about buying that 06 gp so I don't have to go through all that. Like I said, I don't know if that's worth it or not. I'm looking towards the long run. I've seen guys put 75K more miles on their car with leaking oil, but I just feel like it would be a major problem after 7 years.

**Youngster** · 02-12-2015

Originally Posted by SgtMarshal

I dont ever recommend going into debt.

I don't either lol. Either way, buying the new car or fixing my current one I'd have money for it.

**Yarbeau** · 02-12-2015

Go to college. Drive the N/A Prix with a small oil leak.

Leave it at that my boy!

10K for a GT supercharged? Thats WAAY to expensive. Is it a GTP or a top swapped GT? Either way save your pennies and drive the 03 to college.

**BillBoost37** · 02-12-2015

I say it from experience. Each and every 3800 I've ever seen has needed the rear engine cover gasket replaced, meanwhile the rear main seal was dry. Our main seals are very good and almost never leak. If you have one leaking..it'll be that one in 50 billion. Meanwhile mechanics and guys that don't specialize in only one motor will generalize their diagnosis to what typically will happen in most motors.

My last motor in the Regal. Oil pan was changed and not leaking. Rear cover seeping.. not rear main.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...-46-21_224.jpg

FWIW..I have never seen a 3800 rear main leaking oil. Not one.... and I've had more out of cars than most.

**Youngster** · 02-12-2015

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

I say it from experience. Each and every 3800 I've ever seen has needed the rear engine cover gasket replaced, meanwhile the rear main seal was dry. Our main seals are very good and almost never leak. If you have one leaking..it'll be that one in 50 billion. Meanwhile mechanics and guys that don't specialize in only one motor will generalize their diagnosis to what typically will happen in most motors.

My last motor in the Regal. Oil pan was changed and not leaking. Rear cover seeping.. not rear main.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...-46-21_224.jpg

FWIW..I have never seen a 3800 rear main leaking oil. Not one.... and I've had more out of cars than most.

Hm. Well this is very helpful then. Hopefully I'm not that 1 in 50 billion! Would you recommend getting a new oil pan as well, or just get the new oil pan gasket?

**Youngster** · 02-12-2015

Thanks Bill and everyone here! I'm a new-bee to this and am just trying to learn more.

**BillBoost37** · 02-12-2015

Unless your oil pan is rusted up or dented badly.. I wouldn't bother.

Unless you wanna be the cool kid and do the aluminum pan.

**Youngster** · 02-12-2015

Haha it doesn't matter either way. I just figure since they already have everything out, maybe replace it. Like I said earlier, I'll be driving this another 7-8 years at least until I'm 25 (unless something real bad happens to the car, knock on wood). I don't want to have to go in and replace the oil pan 4 years down the road when I could have when I did the gasket. If it isn't rusted or dented right now, do you think it'll last another 7 years?

**BillBoost37** · 02-12-2015

motor doesn't come out to do a pan. That's another reason i say do pan only

Oil pan pays 1 or 2 hours of labor.

**SgtMarshal** · 02-12-2015

I put 200,000 miles on my last car and the last 110,000 were hard earned miles, lots of 6K revs up 6% grades, and it leaked, but not a lot. probably had the same leak as yours. you will be fine with that car.