Look at my engine. Need advice.

[Coolslice]

I have recently noticed my engine is developing what looks like a leak on the turbo side of the engine. I showed it to the tech who verified that there is a leak and he said he could put new seal or gasket in there, but he said it would probably still leak! Keep in mind that this truck has never towed anything larger than a jon boat and it only has 14. 5K miles. I didn't expect this out of a $46,000 truck 8 months after i bought it. Am I over reacting. What should be done?? Thanks



Sorry for the poor picture, I'm working on a better one. This is the least of the problem spots.

 

[sick_ram]

looks like a rocker box leak my 03 started to do the same thing. It is not a big deal but if it bothers you it is not that hard to do.

 

[Coolslice]

Another pic... This is the back of the engine where it is leaking alot worse. Sorry for the small pic.

 

[jwilliams3]

Take off the vanity and valve cover.

Then retorque the 10mm bolts that hold down that "rocker box" that should reseal the gasket. (10mm head, 24nm/18ft lbs).

 

[sick_ram]

Thats what I would do first also and go from there

 

[Coolslice]

Well, I won't be doing it. I wonder why the tech told me it would probably leak again? I don't really have a whole lot of patience for problems with this truck for what I paid for it. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come cause I have had a couple of minor gremlins so far. With my vehicles, it's 3 strikes and your out. :-laf

 

[BHolm]

Yeah but... ... . where are you going to go? My experience with two Chevy Duramax trucks ('01 and 03 models) is that you will have a whole lot more problems, less power and capability for the same or more money. Looking at a Ford diesel? I wouldn't. You think a little oil seeping past a gasket is bad, you likely wouldn't last a week in Fords diesel.



I bought my '05 in Nov '04. I have had to have an injector replaced already and I suspect another is on its way. Ticks me off but, the alternatives are slim. Best truck I ever had(still have I guess) was a '99 Ford 7. 3, 250k and counting, virtually no problems ever. I almost went for a Ford King Ranch with the new V10 but I would have had to wait 6-8 weeks and didn't want to keep the Chevy that long, besides DC had 0% financing.



I wouldn't go bailing out until I had a good plan for what was next. Maybe if Toyota comes up with a viable heavy diesel truck... ... . haven't seen that yet either though. None of them are perfect, all of them are way overpriced. "Customer Service" stinks from all of the big three. I think you probably are already running the best bet out there

 

[JPudenz]

Mines doing it too

I have an 03 with 55k on it... My gaskets are leaking as well... I spray some degreaser on from time to time and clean it off. It has been doing if for the last 7k miles that I have noticed, doesn;t seem to be getting any worse. I was going to re-torque the head but haven't gotten to it.



You ever seen a semi with the hood up, they leak a lot worse that ours... And they cost a LOT more.



Good Luck to ya.



JJ

 

[rashwor]

I would retorque the bolts as stated above and if that did not fix it, let them replace the gasket. Find a good dealer you can trust and have it done under warranty.



Don't panic.

 

[Bob4x4]

It is not really a gasket,it is more like a big o-ring that fits in a groove. It is considered re-useable if it doesn't fall out of the groove. Seepage is common,leaking is not... ... ... ... ... judgement call. The design has been changed. The new design is not a retrofit but cuts down on the number of pieces above the head.





Bob

 

[Big MAK]

All my trucks have had seepage around some gaskets. Doesnt' faze me in the slightest; have never had a problem. Tough to define "leak" versus "seepage"; but a little seepage isn't anything to be bothered by IMO.

 

[DPKetchum]

Mine does that also. Its a seepage at this point.

 

[JEly]

I have a 03 and it looks exactly the same and I have 29000 miles on it-------I was concerned as well-------I did have mine at the dealer for a transmission flush and told them about it and the tech said he couldnt find the leak. I will try to re-torque and see how that does. Do I take the black cover off and if so any hints to doing it or is it pretty straight forward.



Thanks

JIM

 

[Bertram65]

My '03 seeps a little from the same spot, I have about 27K mile on it now. nothing to worry about.

$46K... . hope that is Canadian money, no one should pay that much $US for one of these trucks.

 

[Coolslice]

Yeah but... ... . where are you going to go? My experience with two Chevy Duramax trucks ('01 and 03 models) is that you will have a whole lot more problems, less power and capability for the same or more money. Looking at a Ford diesel? I wouldn't. You think a little oil seeping past a gasket is bad, you likely wouldn't last a week in Fords diesel.



I bought my '05 in Nov '04. I have had to have an injector replaced already and I suspect another is on its way. Ticks me off but, the alternatives are slim. Best truck I ever had(still have I guess) was a '99 Ford 7. 3, 250k and counting, virtually no problems ever. I almost went for a Ford King Ranch with the new V10 but I would have had to wait 6-8 weeks and didn't want to keep the Chevy that long, besides DC had 0% financing.



I wouldn't go bailing out until I had a good plan for what was next. Maybe if Toyota comes up with a viable heavy diesel truck... ... . haven't seen that yet either though. None of them are perfect, all of them are way overpriced. "Customer Service" stinks from all of the big three. I think you probably are already running the best bet out there

I'm not ready to jump ship. It's just kind of discouraging to see this after knowing how much the truck cost. You gotta remember, I have owned Toyotas so I'm not used to things like this. At any rate I think it's pretty crappy to see and new truck with a leak or whatever you want to call it. It's still a leak. No, I didn't pay 46K but that was the sticker. If I were to jump ship, I would be buying another Toyota.

 

[silverram03]

" It's just sweat from all that horsepower ! "

 

[macdaddy]

What's with all the rice burner affiliation?. What could you possibly use those things for? other than commuting and hauling groceries!!.



Hey Dodge Bob where have you been????.



Mac

 

[Coolslice]

What's with all the rice burner affiliation?. What could you possibly use those things for? other than commuting and hauling groceries!!.



Hey Dodge Bob where have you been????.



Mac

Don't hate on Toyota now. They didn't get where they are by being "useless". I love my Dodge, but when I had my Toyotas I never had to get on a forum and ask why my new truck is leaking oil or why it shakes like an earthquake at 70 mph. :-laf Lets not turn this into a bash fest just because I don't share the same feelings as you do.

 

[MMeier]

It's SEEPAGE, they all do it , Just clean it off once in a while and be over it !! I clean mine all the time, can't tell it has over 66k on it already !!

 

[sag2]

I'm with MMeier

If that is a leak, then mine has a gusher!



For the amount of time spent typing about it, you can pull the cover and tighten the bolts. The gaskets are reusable if you wanted to remove the rocker housing and check the gasket for twisting in the grove.



Based on the photo, I doubt the dealer would consider making a repair, but the worst you could do is ask.