Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Am I in trouble?

[Kalaehina]

Okay guys here's the scenario and question, got home tonight, got out looked over truck as I usually do, looked underneath and saw some oil on my stabilizer shocks , now this was splatted oil, not oil from the shock, okay, I look up, towards the gear case cover and there is alot of oil, around the pan, on the cover. Could this be the KDP?. Now I did my jig fix on October 5th, and the screw went all the way in, now if my KDP was already out, could it have taken this long to strike? Could I have been driving along all this time if it was already loose? Now I checked further back and the steering pump was also covered in oil or fluid, what I'm basically asking is does this sound like a KDP oil trail or a leaking pump oil trail? Judging from the information above. You all know what I want to hear-pump! But if it is that damn KDP then I gotta face it, but there is and was no oil puddle, no change in engine performance nothing different, although my steering felt a little binding today, don't know if leak would cause this. Thanks guys... ..... for the good or bad news .

 

[Bill Lins]

Sounds like the vacuum pump seal to me- the fan blows the oil everywhere.

 

[Kalaehina]

Is that a hard thing to change/replace?

 

[illflem]

I agree- vacuum pump

Considering other work you've done on your truck you won't have a problem with the repair. Ask for a 38mm od x 28mm id x 7mm thick with double lip viton material seal at the auto parts.

 

[Kalaehina]

Thanks illflem, is there a special procedure to do this? Thanks for the detailed info for what I need too, TDR rules!

 

[Kalaehina]

Oh yah, is it bad if I drive her like this? Don't know when I'll get time to do this, also depends how involved this job is, is it a oil filter change category, or a GSK category? In terms of difficulty.

 

[Bill Lins]

Closer to a GSK job- space is tight & everything is oily & nasty.

 

[Piers]

I'd rather put in a GSK, than do an oil change. Takes less time and not so messy

 

[C. Harlan]

I'd rather put in a GSK, than do an oil change. Takes less time and not so messy

... . Well, ya know. . we are talking normal people!! Our motors may be "PIERSIFIED", but too bad we can't be "PIERSIFIED"! If I could be like that, I would have changed out my vacuum pump long long ago. . Yes, its messy, yes its annoying to add PS fluid every so often, but that's how the cookie crumbles! PIERS-- Why dont you talk to Curtis (Gitchesum) about coming down to our Texas Rally 2003 next year. . It would be great to finally meet ya! Big thanks to you and Harry Louise for your help when I grenaded my 35... Is there any way I can get some PDR Stickers to let people know I mean business, and that they don't want none of what I have?! PM me or look my name up on y'alls computer.



-Chris-

 

[Bill Lins]

Chris- Piers came to the Rally in 2001- ask John Conley about his "knock"!

 

[BWilson]

Put me up for a week with the wife and kid and I'll gladyly do the vacuum pump replacement. Heck, you might as wlel pick a few other things too... ... ... .....

 

[JConley]

You arent going to let that one die are ya Bill...

 

[drice]

Vacuum pump

well maybe I can help shed some light one a possibility. my truck has been leaking oil for about 3 months now and it finally got so bad I didn't want to drive cuz it left a BIG poddle anywhere I parked.

so I decided that over my christmas break I was going to find the leak and FIX it no big deal WRONG I thought it was the vacuum pump I could see that was where it was comming from (well right beside it) I decided it had to be a crack in the gear housing so I pulled the front of the housing off and starrted pulling off the Ppump (for other reasons)when I noticed that there was a bolt behind the cam gear that had worked it self out and was being eatin by the cam gear point of this stroy is I'm pulloing my cam today for what I thought was a simple vacuum pump. so I hope this helps maybe it is a vacumm pump seal OR maybe you should look real close to be sure.



PS mine didn't start leaking until about 2500 rpmwhen it would start seeping out.



Good Luck

 

[Kalaehina]

What needs to come off to replace the seal? I'm gettin one from the "KDP jig man" John Strenkowski.

 

[illflem]

Get ready for a mess first, lots a of rags and a drain pan. Clean the pump area well beforehand. Remove the power steering, vacuum hoses and sender wire, first mess. Remove the two bolts that hold the two pumps to the timing case, lower one has a bracket, remove all the way. Remove pumps to a bench. Separate the vac pump from the PS and use a small drill and self tapping screw into the seal to pull it out. Install new seal straight. When you put the two pumps back together take care that the coupling tangs are lined up correctly. Put everything back together. Good time to change to Valvoline Syn-Power PS fluid as you will lose most of it. 3-4 hours.

 

[Kalaehina]

Sounds familiar, was this in a recent TDR issue?

 

[illflem]

No, but it's in the service manual and takes a full page and several pictures to explain what I did in a paragraph. Manual also says no vacuum pump parts are replaceable, the whole $800 pump must be replaced if the seal leaks.

 

[Andy Redmond]

It might also be the oil line fitting on the bottom of the vacuum pump. This fitting is connected from the engine block via a flex line to the vacuum pump.



Aren't oil leaks a pain in the neck.

 

[vc]

illflem,

would it help the mess on this if the power steering pump is dried out a little - ie when I change out my original fluid to the synthetic, I used a turkey baster to suck out all the power steering fluid I could. And if I remember correctly I think I also had the truck jack enough to get the wheels of the ground and by hand with engine off I turned the wheels left to right and back again to purge out the fluid in the lines.

Also, anyone know the seal number to the oil line Andy mentions comes in from below?

vc

 

[illflem]

vc, it will certainly help to drain at least the reservoir. The main mess comes when you disconnect the hoses and everything pours out. If you have recently changed the PS fluid I wouldn't bother purging the lines.