Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Oil Leak

[CLawrence]

My 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 H. O. has developed a heavy oil leak. I've taken it to the dealership and they found the leak. They state that the timing cover is leaking and suggest that it is due to a dowel pin. They quoted me $1300. 00 to repair. The estimate is for removing the crankshaft, replacing dowel pin and sealing up timing cover. Does this sound like a resonable explanation? Is this a realistic price? I have no garage nor the skills to do this job.

 

[ESwartzer]

Timing cover leak

Removing the crankshaft to stop a timing cover leak caused by a dowel pin? You've got to be kidding me! Maybe you misunderstood and they only have to change the crankshaft seal and want to access it by removing the timing cover. I'm no professional mechanic but I smell a con job!

 

[CLawrence]

Thanks for the reply Eswarter. That's what i'm wondering. Gonna see if a few more reply.

 

[CLawrence]

camshaft

Hi again I was mistaken it's the camshaft that they have to remove. Timing gear is pressed on the camshaft and thats why they have to remove it. sounds like 12 hours of labor removeing radiator and more.

 

[Jeff Knight]

I had mine done a couple of years ago. They also did my oil pan gasket. Mine was about $1700 for the whole job.



Jeff

 

[CLawrence]

Thanks

Thanks Jeff Knight. It sounds like the hours of labor is the big issue. It looks like I need to come up with the C-notes.

 

[Jeff Knight]

Exactly, the parts weren't much at all. It was mostly labor.



Jeff

 

[LHastings]

I thought the dowel pin problem was fixed in 2000. I had a heavy oil leak, it turned out that the timing cover bolts came loose. While I had the cover off I tab my dowel pin. Easy job for do it your selfer.

 

[Ram4Sam]

Hi again I was mistaken it's the camshaft that they have to remove. Timing gear is pressed on the camshaft and thats why they have to remove it. sounds like 12 hours of labor removeing radiator and more.

You have to pull the camshaft to fix a timing cover gasket or crank seal??????? I think you need a second opinion.....



Sam

 

[Yo Hoot]

You need to clear this up. The timing cover is an easy job that should cost $300 or less. It's the sheet metal cover just behind the fan.

The timing cover bolts on to the gear case. If the gear case housing is leaking it can be fixed one of two ways... take the timing cover off and tighten the gear case screws... or if that doesn't fix it, do the big job which does require pulling the cam. That costs over $1000 to have done.

My gear case has been leaking for years. I tightened the bolts but it still leaks. So I guess I'll have to get a cam!

 

[CLawrence]

confused

Well i'm confused as ever. I will try another repair shop and see if they can diagnose or repair the problem. I'm probably on hold until next week until I can get into a shop. Thanks everyone

 

[Jeff Knight]

In my case it was the gear case that was leaking. They had to remove the cam to reseal it. It has been fine ever since.



Jeff

 

[cerberusiam]

The estimate is for removing the crankshaft, replacing dowel pin and sealing up timing cover.

The dowell pin likely doe snot need replaced, just the gasket between the block and the gear case. The block is cast, the gear case is aluminum, they expand at different rates. After os many heat cycles it either warps the case or walks th egasket and tears it. Pretty common occurence.



Thats not to bad a price considering all that has to be removed which is about everything on the front of the engine including the cam which is a pain because you have to jam dowells into the tappets to hold them up.



If the leak is behind the fan mount one can frequently clean the area good and use a bead of sealer to stop the leak. It just depends on where the gasket has failed. Fixed my 05 like that, so far so good. The 01 we haven't got clean enough to find the leak yet.

 

[CAPTPHIL]

Odds are your leak comes from timing cover and or front main seal. This should be around a 4 to 5hr job. the timing cover does not have a gasket, it is sealed with a bead of Cummins gasket sealer. The job is not real complicated and this a normal repair on 2nd gen. they pass 150000mi. Look for a local Cummins shop.
Good Luck Capt Phil TDR1998

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

If you need to pull the cam get an H2 with the bolt on gear and don't worry about it again!

 

[CLawrence]

the end

Well the final result was that the gear case was leaking. $1284. 00 later all is good. No more leak. Thanks for all the replys.