4.3 L GMC

Geo-TH,In · Aug 20, 2012

I bought my GMC new in 2007. From day one, the engine is like an old dog, it wants to mark it territory with oil.

2 valve cover gaskets, then 2 pan gaskets before they figured out the head gasket was leaking.

Now the timing cover is leaking. Get it home and it leaks more after they worked on it. Took it back today and they said the pan gasket needed resealed. Get it home tonight and leaking from the same place it did before it took it in. You can see the oil dripping from the metal bracket holding the crankshaft sensor in place.

Will they ever get it right? Tomorrow, I'll put cardboard under the truck and let it run 30 minutes before I take it home. Want to bet it doesn't make it home?

Would someone please explain it to me like I'm a first grader, just why it's so hard to keep a 4.3L GMC from leaking? My old 98 GMC never gave any problems like this.

All the work has been done under warantee, thank God! Only have 52000 miles.
George

Hay_Man · Aug 20, 2012

I think its a problem with the guys doing the work. I guess the're milking the warranty pay........

JMOR · Aug 20, 2012

(quoted from post at 20:47:13 08/20/12) I bought my GMC new in 2007. From day one, the engine is like an old dog, it wants to mark it territory with oil.

2 valve cover gaskets, then 2 pan gaskets before they figured out the head gasket was leaking.

Now the timing cover is leaking. Get it home and it leaks more after they worked on it. Took it back today and they said the pan gasket needed resealed. Get it home tonight and leaking from the same place it did before it took it in. You can see the oil dripping from the metal bracket holding the crankshaft sensor in place.

Will they ever get it right? Tomorrow, I'll put cardboard under the truck and let it run 30 minutes before I take it home. Want to bet it doesn't make it home?

Would someone please explain it to me like I'm a first grader, just why it's so hard to keep a 4.3L GMC from leaking? My old 98 GMC never gave any problems like this.

All the work has been done under warantee, thank God! Only have 52000 miles.
George

ou do know that in a cafe, if you send your steak back because it isn't done enough, the chef spits on it after he burns it, before you get it back.. The parallel at the dealer is that they scrape all the old gasket material into your engine! :evil:

RayP(MI) · Aug 20, 2012

Son was 300 miles away in St Ignace when the manifold gasket gave out on his Chevrolet 4.3. Spillde antifreeze/coolant all over the engine... Coming home tomorrow $550 poorer.

WJD · Aug 20, 2012

Better touch wood as I'm saying this but I have one with 62,000 miles on it with no leaks as you describe. If they are charging you I'd try another dealer or repair shop.
With all of the problems I hope they are providing a loaner vehicle for you to drive.

tedregentin · Aug 20, 2012

Two things come to mind. First, if this engine keeps developing oil leaks, then one of the things that should be carefully checked is the PCV system. Second, in my opinion, the best way to find oil leaks, is to use dye in the oil with a blacklight. In my experience, the 4.3 didn't have many oil leak issues.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 21, 2012

I have a 4.3 with over 200.000 miles and it parks on my concrete drive everyday and not a drop oil on the concrete where it parks.
Good luck

IndianaRed · Aug 21, 2012

Ya, your experience is not typical with that motor. Sorry. Must've been a union worker in a bad mood that day. I've got 565k miles on mine, still never been in a shop, and never leaked. Trade it off.

Geo-TH,In · Aug 21, 2012

IndianaRed,
I think the workers were really mad when they made my truck. Right off the show room floor, it had a bent rim, two bad tires and front rotors had to be turned. The spark plugs and wires were replaced after 40k and the ingition switch had to be replaced too.

I think a cloud follows my truck.

George

OliverGuy · Aug 21, 2012

Must be an oddball, I run them in 2 s-10's and 7 half ton's and none of them leak. Heck the s10's both have over 220,000. I did replace a pan one time, but that fixed it. The old s10's still get close to 20mpg in mixed driving.

4.3 L GMC

Geo-TH,In

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Hay_Man

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JMOR

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RayP(MI)

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WJD

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tedregentin

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Anonymous-0

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IndianaRed

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Geo-TH,In

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OliverGuy

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