Condo Harassing Over Oil Leak

[SpyderMike]

Tell the HOA to repaint those stripes. That is real tacky.

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by Discseven

Condo's management has been bi***ing about oil staining concrete under my '85 3.2. Easy enough to brake-cleaner and wipe up (as I do)... but that's not good enough. Association charges $100 per event to clean this up. I checked Association rules and they do indeed spell out that garage parked cars "cannot leak fluids onto garage floor." Building Manager proudly told me, "Association makes a lot of money off residents who fail to follow the rules. Fix your car now." WTF. I'm not a violent guy but this manager deserves a wake up call to the face---he's just that obnoxious to deal with at every turn. (...Venting my frus. Pardon me. I'm not fond of disrespect from someone whose salary I contribute to. Many residents in building dislike this man---you'd think he was tenured with the right to piss on those that pay him. And we can't get ride of him for some reason.) With too much already on plate to immediately attend a full rebuild (engine definitely needs more than reseal)...and not wanting to deal with the toxic down'r of building's management... am seeking temporary solution to keep oil from reaching garage floor. Cannot put catch pan on floor---that too is not allowed. Catch pan that would slip into simple brackets mounted under engine...?? An annoying carry-around but what else can be done?

This is after being run and car has sat overnight. To listen to management... this is Valdez oil spill

Have you located the source of the oil leak(s)?

If not, let's do a little "fault location".

It could be as simple as the "triangle of death",
or a valve cover gasket.

Clean up the engine with some Simple Green , then have a look.

At least the building manager will know you are making an effort.

Good luck,

Gerry

[Discseven]

Admire you guys. Would respond to you individually but believe consolidated response will work better. And... excellent input from you... much appreciated--TY!

• Nothing can go on garage floor to capture oil.
• Parking spots are assigned.
• Am all for keeping garage in good order... which why I clean under car regularly.
• Am breaking HOA "rules" by cleaning oil off floor myself.
• Have gone through garage and photo-documented ALL oil'd spaces and emailed images to Manager-a-hole. Images were accompanied by overwhelming volume of text dedicated to a variety of building issues, ideas, proposals. Managers response: "I don't want to get into all this back and fourthing with you." (Yes... was sinister of me to do a text bombing run but subliminal message was intentional: f with me and I'll be f'ing back with you. We'll see in time if he... got it. (I doubt it.)
• "Oil slick" situation throughout building is now a matter of historical record.
• This building's HOA is guided by highly political, power hungry interests. This homie has zero interest in playing who-can-piss-farthest game. Bravo to those who do like it---just not my cup of tea.
• Building is spending millions is idiotic maintenance... and simple things like parking strips... no telling when they'll be attended. (Idiocracy here is unbelievable. To delve into it for any sane person is punishing. I'll quit on that subject while ahead.)
• Creating a sh**storm over this... a short term entertainment with ramifications potentially dragging out eternally---not worth it.
• Attaching simple carriage mechanism to below car that allows quick install / removal of a temporary oil barrier... that's THE solution.
• Way to go on McGyver'ing up a solution Tony. Will sort out exact locations and post pics. Might be able to sort this today. Hopefully engine will not have to be cleaned, run, and jacked up---that will take longer.

[GaryR]

Sounds like the Roney Palace condo association!

[SCadaddle]

Short of a cat litter box with cat litter that gets placed under the car.....hey, the cat has to "go" somewhere and space in the condo is tight, don't you know.....in the middle of the night use a jack hammer and remove a 3'X3' section of the slab down to the dirt and THEN place a litter box with oil dry in it. Problem (technically and legally) solved.

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by Discseven

Admire you guys. Would respond to you individually but believe consolidated response will work better. And... excellent input from you... much appreciated--TY!

• Nothing can go on garage floor to capture oil.
• Parking spots are assigned.
• Am all for keeping garage in good order... which why I clean under car regularly.
• Am breaking HOA "rules" by cleaning oil off floor myself.
• Have gone through garage and photo-documented ALL oil'd spaces and emailed images to Manager-a-hole. Images were accompanied by overwhelming volume of text dedicated to a variety of building issues, ideas, proposals. Managers response: "I don't want to get into all this back and fourthing with you." (Yes... was sinister of me to do a text bombing run but subliminal message was intentional: f with me and I'll be f'ing back with you. We'll see in time if he... got it. (I doubt it.)
• "Oil slick" situation throughout building is now a matter of historical record.
• This building's HOA is guided by highly political, power hungry interests. This homie has zero interest in playing who-can-piss-farthest game. Bravo to those who do like it---just not my cup of tea.
• Building is spending millions is idiotic maintenance... and simple things like parking strips... no telling when they'll be attended. (Idiocracy here is unbelievable. To delve into it for any sane person is punishing. I'll quit on that subject while ahead.)
• Creating a sh**storm over this... a short term entertainment with ramifications potentially dragging out eternally---not worth it.
• Attaching simple carriage mechanism to below car that allows quick install / removal of a temporary oil barrier... that's THE solution.
• Way to go on McGyver'ing up a solution Tony. Will sort out exact locations and post pics. Might be able to sort this today. Hopefully engine will not have to be cleaned, run, and jacked up---that will take longer.

Any thoughts on my recent post?

Gerry

[SCadaddle]

"Cannot leak any fluids"......c'mon now. You are in Miami? Those with vehicles that are equipped with A/C and are dripping water from the evaporator drain tubes---like they are designed to do---aren't in violation? Isn't water in this respect a "fluid"?

[amg463]

sounds like management is in bed with the trades. someone's being paid off for those idiotic maintenance repair contracts. pretty common when there is no transparency.

[Busta Rib]

Having lived in a condo and also been a member of the board, the first piece of advice is to read your HOA rules carefully and closely. That is your contract to the HOA as a member. If there are not stipulations about 1) leaving oil on the floor of your assigned spot and 2) using some device to catch any leaks, do what the f*&k you want. The only recourse the HOA has is to fine you, but only if it is allowed under HOA rules. They can fine you all they want but the board likely won't have the balls to follow through with a lawsuit, which would what it would take to enforce the fines. If you have legal standing based on the HOA regulations, there is nothing the board or manger-for-hire can do about it.

HOA boards are typically run by power-hungry dumbasses with nothing better to do. I joined my board because I got sick of them making stupid decisions and wanted some visibility into what the hell was going on in their meetings. I was threatened a couple times for fines but they didn't know they were dealing with someone that could read and was going to push back. If it isn't in the rules, you aren't violating anything. That said, it doesn't stop them from adding amending the rules to prohibit all the BS you are being threatened with. Good luck.

[SCadaddle]

OK legal types, how about this:

1) Medium size shallow pan on the garage floor, holding water
2) Smaller size pan that is placed in the medium size pan that floats
3) Smaller sized pan collects oil from above

Does that not meet all the criteria?

Or better yet: Run a craigslist ad in help wanted soliciting dirty diposable diapers to be placed under your car nightly for 50 cents a day. Collect the 2 quarters from the rear bumper. Thanks.

[SpyderMike]

how about a car cover that touches the ground so they can't see under? They would have to pull it up to look. Hide a drip tray under there.

[Ayles]

How about one of those cookie sheets with a little depth and fill it with cat litter.

[Puma]

To me, there's nothing more frustrating than an unreasonable person. Sincerely, I hope you find a way to resolve it. I was thinking of some kind of fire-proof absorbent material to collect the oil at the location of the drip but nothing really comes to mind. Perhaps this will stir an idea.

Best of luck.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by Discseven

Condo's management has been bi***ing about oil staining concrete under my '85 3.2.
...

BTW that doesn't look like an 85 911.

Just sayin'

[SCadaddle]

No, but quite possibly an '80 model silver targa w/85 3.2 if you read the fine print at the bottom of the first post.

[CCM911]

Know what? A small catch pan with four hooks that attach to the oil return tubes may be what you need to build.

[rockabillyjay]

Go to home depot..get a couple spring loaded clamps, zip tie them to a shallow baking pan (foil ..like at the grocery store) and stick a puppy Pee Pad in there each night. Clamp it to the bottom of your licence plate. Done.

Take it from me..I was on Monster Garage! Ha ha

[Discseven]

Guys... Nothing can go on parking surface (except car) per HOA rules.

Neglected to respond... yes, this is daily driver.

Gerry...

Tony... here's MacGyver'ing reference. Look at photo in my first post and you will see Valdez slick is different than seen below. This is because since the first pic was taken I've cleaned the floor. Images below were just taken. Car was driven yesterday... sat over night... and was not driven yet today so relationship of car to slick is accurate. Drip location is obvious. Exactly where leaking originates... of no concern---because I'll get to a rebuild soon. For those that have to know... chain housing is sealed with flexi-seal so that's not it. Look carefully at seam and you'll see extrusion of seal. More likely it's chain housing to head, cam oil feed line, oil sending unit... or combo.




Put camera directly over slick and shot straight up.




'85 3.2. Stock. (This is not pic from today---so leaking oil is not seen here. Am showing for engine component reference.) I have some ideas but rather than stick my nose in this... since you've taken the initiative to solve this puzzle Tony, I believe you should have ownership/authority of solution without my interference. Of course if you want my input... I'm at your service. And no worries if indeed you prefer my yap shut on this

[theiceman]

just drag hitler to every audi over 5 years old in the parking lot and point under it .

[Discseven]

Great input here...but... put yourself in my position for a moment. Am in and out of garage sometimes multiple times per day. Would you want to be laying on garage floor two times with each trip! Solution should be Da Vinci'esque---simple...brilliant. Should be able to lean over and put barrier in... 5 seconds max. 3 secs to remove.