"Oil Pan or Head Gasket on a 2002 VW Jetta that I need to change?"

Black 2002 VW Jetta

I have a 2002 VW Jetta and I took it to the dealer yesterday, the mechanics there said that i needed a new head gasket because my car was leaking oil. Now today I actually go to a local shop and they tell me after doing a compression test there is no way I need a head gasket. I just need to replace the oil pan. Does this make any sense?

Answer: It is very possible the head gasket is leaking oil. These little over head cam engines do have pressurized oil going to the head. I have changed a few oil leaking head gaskets in my time. A compression test will not show anything connected to the oil system unless the gasket blows out into a cylinder. I’ve never seen such a thing but, I’m sure it has happened. Then the compression would be high in that cylinder and you’d have smoke and maybe a fouled plug. Whoever you get to do the job, either the head gasket, or the pan gasket, make sure they understand that you want the leak fixed the first time. Don’t come back and say well, it needs the other gasket, too. Any half way competent mechanic can find the leak if they take the time. I would trust the dealer first. The local mechanic may not have looked good enough to see the actual source of the oil.