So there I was, going happily and ignorantly through life, WHEN SUDDENLY....
There appeared a hole in the oil pan on my Rav...
It was a beautiful day yesterday and I'm coming home from visiting a client west of Roanoke on I64 near Charlottesville when I spy some debris in the road on the center line. Ah hah I say, wanting no part of said debris, I move over to the left lane as far as I can get. A pickup truck in the right lane must not have seen it and clipped it throwing said debris right at me. Oh
t! I hear the thudding underneath the vehicle and think this isn't good. It could have have been worse, it could have been through the windshield and taken me from the land of the living and away from tormenting the membership. That would be most sad indeed methinks.
I'm continuing down the road and see what looks like smoke coming out of the rear of the vehicle. It's really wispy so I'm not sure if it there at all. Get off the interstate at Shadwell and head towards Gordonsville on 22. The oil light begins to flicker and I'm thinking Oh
k! There really isn't anywhere to pull off so I slow down and look for anywhere suitable. Turn off on a side which has a convenient commercial gravel drive, cut the car off, and look under the car....oil is pouring out of the pan.
Call AAA and ask for a tow to Fredericksburg and they say the wait is nearly two hours. 45 minutes later the tow truck pulls up. I then spend the next hour and a half enjoying the conversation with the tow operator as we go towards Fredericksburg. Very professional young man (25). I enjoyed the ride. Dropped off at Rosner Toyota where I hear one of service writers talking to someone saying that they are so busy it will be next week before they get to her.....sigh.
I'm thinking it will be next week before they even look at it. That's ok though, as I have the bike and my truck available. I get a call later in the afternoon and was told that they were able to get a look at it and the price so far is just for the pan and installation....$510 and if that's all the damage involved it will be ready by this afternoon late.
I'm hoping that there isn't any engine damage. The engine sounded fine when I cut it off so I'm hoping it's ok. What a day...
BTW, the debris was one of those large straps that truckers use to tie down those large loads on flat beds. The buckle is huge. I daresay if it had bounced higher I'm not sure I'd be here writing this....