Q: I have a 2014 Honda Civic with 32,000 miles. During a routine maintenance, the dealer told me they spotted a leak in the rear breather cover and that it would be $650 to repair. I wanted a second opinion as the oil level was not low and I had not noticed any oil leaks on my garage floor or in my driveway. Later, another dealer noticed this same leak and another one and quoted just over $1,100 to repair both. The thing is, the level does not go down and I see no evidence of leaks in my garage or driveway. I can accept that the leak(s) is there, but does it need to be repaired?
J.F., Coralville, Iowa
A: The plate, on the back of the engine may leak, or rather, ooze oil. It is not uncommon. If you see no oil on your garage floor, the leak is minor. To fix it, the cover must be removed and resealed. Sounds easy but is very labor intensive. Continue to monitor the dipstick and if the level drops or there are drops on the floor, consider the fix.
