2013 is starting to suck...

[83GMCK2500]

I haven't mentioned anything on here yet, but this year is starting out pretty rough. I decided to go back to school after a couple years off and finish my education. Going back to school has been a whirlwind with it's own sources of stress and frustration. What I did not need was for my only vehicle to be a source of stress as well...

About a year ago I was fed up with the timing cover spewing oil out and preserving my truck from the bottom up, I pulled it and the oil pan, new gaskets, speedi-sleeve on the HB and lots of Ultra-Black. Also, new water pump and thermostat. Everything was fine until about 4 months ago, I had been checking my oil once a week and topping off as needed, very little in fact...much less than the 2-3 qts/3,000miles when it was leaking. So yeah, 4 months ago or so a friend of mine pointed out the blue puff when I started it from the driver's side (dual exhaust, no crossover). I can see it now on both sides, it isn't bad but it is noticeable on startup.

Last week I did an oil change and for the first time I put the big 1-1/2-2 qt filter on. I wasn't paying attention to that big friggen jug of Castrol GTX that I bought and I didn't see that it was a 5 qt jug. Ended up about 1 qt OVER the Full mark when it was all said and done. It has been consuming/leaking (again, wet around fuel pump) about 1.5-2 qts/3,000 mi. Part of me wanted to give that big filter a chance to saturate and see where it leveled off at and another part of me wanted to say F-it and let it consume/leak down to operating level. I did... I left it alone. I have driven it approximately 300 miles since the oil change, including up and over Snoqualmie Pass on I-90. Basically to Ellensburg, WA and back from Seattle, WA. Today on my way back I was stopped at a light briefly and I smelled that lovely smell of burning oil. It wasn't strong, but it was noticeable. Like when you spill a little on your exhaust manifold because the F***ING funnel spins or something stupid and it burns off shortly after you fire it off. I normally keep it down around 60-65 (limit 70) because I can get almost 14 MPG that way. Today I was late on the way there and impatient on the way back...I kept it near 3,000RPM (75ish) for the majority of the drive. Everything's been skookum on the guages, idle oil pressure is just over 45, running down the road the needle was bisecting the 6 in "60", so 65-68??? Temperature was 155-160 on the flat, 170-180 pushing it up the pass. I got home, parked it, let it sit about 5 min, went out and pulled the dipstick... :ADD: F!... REALLY? 2 qts gone in 300 miles? FML...

Thoughts?

Oh yeah, if anyone has read my History it should illustrate how deeply I care for my truck, how much I appreciate it, how much I try to take care of it. As of last week it is no longer as pristine and straight as it was. I had taken an exit ramp off US18W and the road was wet, I was traveling slower than posted, and when I clutched to downshift I applied the brakes, locked up the rears, put me into a spin...last revolution I hit a guardrail. Words...text...typing cannot describe my fury and anguish. There is no amount of CAPS Lock and !@#$%^&* symbols to describe how I feel...

Anyone have ANY IDEA where I can find another one of these bumpers in near-show quality condition? Any idea what company made it? My dad put it on when the truck was new.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

I'm local and my freind gabe may have that exact bumper in chrome.
How many miles are in your engine? Part of the oil burning may be valve guides and some from leaking.
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[jumbo2]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

I'm local and my freind gabe may have that exact bumper in chrome.
How many miles are in your engine? Part of the oil burning may be valve guides and some from leaking.
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x2 valve guide seals is a good suspect to check , might be time to get a gasket set and couple cans of paint and seal that motor up tighter than a nuns

[83GMCK2500]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

I'm local and my freind gabe may have that exact bumper in chrome.
How many miles are in your engine? Part of the oil burning may be valve guides and some from leaking.
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Whoops, left that out... ~85,000 miles on the mill. If you could help me source a bumper like that...

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Yah the heads may have more miles than the engine. It can be pulled and cleaned on the stand and resealed the right way. Pulling stuff inside the truck has never worked out for me.
If you did reseal it and it leaked again you may also have a blow by issue from weak rings/worn cylinders. If your pcv valve is hooked up unplug it after the engine has been in a drive and tell me if its blowing out vapor of any kind. With the gearing you have the highway rpm your turning isn't very freindly to your engine and it wears down a lot quicker

Check those things first, if your crank is building pressure it's going to blow seals.
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[old Rusty C10]

check out Fey bumpers that looks like an aftermarket

[king-918]

if it smokes up on startup you probably need valve seals not rings wearing, although it is not a bad idea to refresh the engine depending on how worn out it is and more than likely if you keep blowing seals it is because you have too much positive pressure in the crankcase
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[gchemist]

If these trucks don't have ding somewhere, they wouldn't be classic!!

Good luck!

[83GMCK2500]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

Yah the heads may have more miles than the engine. It can be pulled and cleaned on the stand and resealed the right way. Pulling stuff inside the truck has never worked out for me.
If you did reseal it and it leaked again you may also have a blow by issue from weak rings/worn cylinders. If your pcv valve is hooked up unplug it after the engine has been in a drive and tell me if its blowing out vapor of any kind. With the gearing you have the highway rpm your turning isn't very freindly to your engine and it wears down a lot quicker

Check those things first, if your crank is building pressure it's going to blow seals.
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Took two videos; first dead cold, 30 seconds after start. Second video is after driving for 20 minutes.

Cold Running:


Hot Running:

Originally Posted by old Rusty C10

check out Fey bumpers that looks like an aftermarket

Already did, it is nothing like they make today.

Originally Posted by king-918

if it smokes up on startup you probably need valve seals not rings wearing, although it is not a bad idea to refresh the engine depending on how worn out it is and more than likely if you keep blowing seals it is because you have too much positive pressure in the crankcase
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I don't see it building excess pressure.

Originally Posted by gchemist

If these trucks don't have ding somewhere, they wouldn't be classic!!

Good luck!

Thank you... I don't consider this a ding, I consider this an atrocity on my truck. I have a ding that I barely tolerate, it is a about an inch long and a half inch across on the top leading corner of my RF fender. It is the only one the truck has had for almost 20 years, it is part of what I consider character for the truck. What happened last week does not add character.

[jumbo2]

Those videos make it look like your rings are in great shape !!!
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[jumbo2]

Lmc truck makes a rear bumper with checker plate top In chrome and its not to pricey of I remember
http://www.lmctruck.com/features/cc/CCARB.htm
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[83GMCK2500]

Originally Posted by jumbo2

Those videos make it look like your rings are in great shape !!!
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On the farm this truck had oil changes every 2,000 miles. Now that I drive a lot of highway I go to 2,500-3,000. For the last 30k or so I've been adding the blue bottle of STP Oil Treatment in with an oil change. Last week's oil change I added the silver bottle:
(pic is link)

[83GMCK2500]

Someone educate me on valve guide seals, please. Any threads come to mind?

I topped it off and left early enough to drive more sanely this morning, 2,500-2,600RPM maintained. I will check it after class, before I head back over and then when I get back. I did smell oil burning off again at a stop sign after driving for ~1.5hr.

I looked at the asphalt where I park...Fffffffff... *shakes head*

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Is the leak still coming off the pan? Also did you unplug the pcv from the valve covers in the vids? Otherwise it will suck in the pressure from the rings

Is the bolt for the fuel pump rod hole in as well?
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[83GMCK2500]

That bolt is MIA. I have read where not all of them are drilled though...how can I be sure? I inserted a small screwdriver, it goes in 1-1/4" before hitting something, is it the bottom of the hole or the fuel pump rod?

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Prob fuel pump rod. Oil leaks out of that hole and they are all drilled through put a small bolt on with rtv and see if it helps.
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[INSIDIOUS '86]

I can always help take a look if your in the area as well.
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[83GMCK2500]

Put a GM bolt in from my stash, rinsed the oil out with a quick blast of brake clean and compressed air. Gooped up the bolt with some ARP Thread Sealant (it was open, my tube of Ultra Black is brand new) and tightened it down. Topped off the fluids again, will drive tomorrow and see WTH happens.