Automotive question

[robin]

My boy's truck has a leaking rear main seal and we don't want to spend the money to fix it going to get rid of it in the spring is there any kind of additive he can put in to help the leaking?

[Robert]

None that really work, if the leak is not really bad then there is no reason to fix it. If its really bad then you need to fix it.

[cookiedough]

If going to get rid of it in the spring and more than likely trade it in to a dealer,  let them deal with it.  If not horrible and not noticeable,  more than likely they will never know about it especially say if you go in the rain or other bad weather into dealer, let them deal with it.

[Jersey mike]

hey Robin,

is it a real bad leak or just a light seeping of oil? there are additives out there but before that I would try jumping up in oil weight 1 or 2 levels. if you're using a 5/20 try a 10/40 possibly with additives in it already for older engines.

if you're not sure how bad the leak is and it's a mess under there, a pressure washer and some simple green will clean up the mess so you can see just how bad things are over a week or so, especially if the truck is to be sold in the spring.

[dreamaker]

I don't want to be the bad guy here, but reading these replies are kind of interesting. Now think about it!!  Isn't that a method Hilary C. would use, Put a band aid on it, stop the leak and hide the issue, and let the next poor sap worry about it??  

[robin]

I don't want to be the bad guy here, but reading these replies are kind of interesting. Now think about it!!  Isn't that a method Hilary C.would use, Put a band aid on it, stop the leak and hide the issue, and let the next poor sap worry about it??  

It's close to a $1000 to fix don't want to put that into it not worth it

[dreamaker]

I am not judging, or saying it is wrong,  just my observation!

[dreamaker]

The point is not political; I just made that example because I thought it would be something people in general could relate to far as broom a vehicle with issues to some unexpecting customer. I just thought the Hilary mindset was easily relatable, that’s all.  Because the next time I buy something off of Classifieds, I know what and who I should consider, if I buy off of it.  See several years ago, I bought an item from one of our members, it probably cost 5 or 10 cents and they charged me $25 for it.  It was about 1½” of 5/32 hose and a push on coupler, total cost to them couldn’t be more than 25 cents. I didn’t to bring HC or DT into it, and confuse anyone. Sorry!.

[baldo]

I have a small box truck called an Aeromate. I use it to haul motorcycles and furniture. Aluminum body with a Chrysler 3.3 drivetrain. Excellent little truck.

I nursed a rear seal for months, avoiding parking in customers driveways. Most of my work is in gated communities with really nice paver or brick driveways. I replaced the seal once, but there was too much wear on the engine and it started leaking again a month later. I ended up pulling it out and rebuilding it. Luckily I have a good friend that owns an engine shop, I had access to everything needed.

It hasn't leaked a drop in 6 years....



Recognize this one?

[fudgie]

What year is it? I did one on my 85 Chevy 1/2 ton and it was a pc of cake. I think mine was a 2 pc so we just slid it in. 1 hr worth of work if I recall.

[Hooter]

Who is charging you that kind of money? Gasket set is under 20 bucks or thereabouts. Hardest part to the whole job is cleaning the block and pan. Whole job if you do it yourself is under 100 bucks.

[dreamaker]

I am not saying you should repair it before selling anything, I am just say that you inform the buyer of the issues, if there are any, when they purchase or trade for an item. I understand used stuff has issues, just let the receiver know of them. Of course we always want the best deal, and when we sell we get the most we can for it, but you must understand the buyer deserves a solid deal with no surprises.  I guess if I am wrong, I have been dealing the wrong way all my life.

[Wizzard]

I am not saying you should repair it before selling anything, I am just say that you inform the buyer of the issues, if there are any, when they purchase or trade for an item. I understand used stuff has issues, just let the receiver know of them. Of course we always want the best deal, and when we sell we get the most we can for it, but you must understand the buyer deserves a solid deal with no surprises.  I guess if I am wrong, I have been dealing the wrong way all my life.

No  you are 100% correct. Unless you want to be dishonest. What goes around comes around

[Willow]

I am not saying you should repair it before selling anything, I am just say that you inform the buyer of the issues, if there are any, when they purchase or trade for an item. I understand used stuff has issues, just let the receiver know of them. Of course we always want the best deal, and when we sell we get the most we can for it, but you must understand the buyer deserves a solid deal with no surprises.  I guess if I am wrong, I have been dealing the wrong way all my life.

No  you are 100% correct. Unless you want to be dishonest. What goes around comes around

It is correct that doing business honestly and openly is the best policy.

However, Robin posted that he had an issue on a low value vehicle that he was unwilling to invest the money to repair.  He said he was selling the vehicle but made no statement about what he would or wouldn't tell the buyer.  Someone jumped to a conclusion and made a very judgemental statement based upon that conclusion the countered by saying, "I'm not being judgemental."  A good dictionary would help a lot of us.

Let's answer Robin's question and back away from telling him where we assume his life is going and how we could fix it for him.   

[Rams]

I recently traded with a guy on Craigslist, my junk for his junk.  

You know that little caution light that goes off in your head when a deal is just too good to be true?
Well, it was.

I was 100% honest and told the other person everything I knew about my Jeep.   He could not remember or had forgotten everything he ever knew about his truck.    Needless to say, I should have paid attention to that caution light.

Once the deal was done, I asked him this.  

Now that we've traded, I've been totally honest about my Jeep, no hidden issues to my knowledge.   Is there anything I would like to know before I leave with the truck?

Well he says, every once in a while the check engine light comes on.

So, I ask, what did the light code say?  

His response was, Oh, I don't remember.

I found out about a hundred miles down the road.    

I'll fix the issue(s) and move on with life.   But, if I ever get the chance to repay the "favor" to this gent, he'll know why I did.

Had I known the truth, we would have still traded, might have been a slightly different trade but, I would have still come home with that truck.

[Firefighter]

If its not worth a 1000.00 dollars then no one will care if it leaks or not.

[Wizzard]

I am not saying you should repair it before selling anything, I am just say that you inform the buyer of the issues, if there are any, when they purchase or trade for an item. I understand used stuff has issues, just let the receiver know of them. Of course we always want the best deal, and when we sell we get the most we can for it, but you must understand the buyer deserves a solid deal with no surprises.  I guess if I am wrong, I have been dealing the wrong way all my life.

No  you are 100% correct. Unless you want to be dishonest. What goes around comes around

It is correct that doing business honestly and openly is the best policy.

However, Robin posted that he had an issue on a low value vehicle that he was unwilling to invest the money to repair.  He said he was selling the vehicle but made no statement about what he would or wouldn't tell the buyer.  Someone jumped to a conclusion and made a very judgemental statement based upon that conclusion the countered by saying, "I'm not being judgemental."  A good dictionary would help a lot of us.

Let's answer Robin's question and back away from telling him where we assume his life is going and how we could fix it for him.   

I did not assume anything. I simply comment on a previous quote that was correct.

[Rams]

If its not worth a 1000.00 dollars then no one will care if it leaks or not.

Yep, can't argue that point...............   

[Bighead]

I have a small box truck called an Aeromate. I use it to haul motorcycles and furniture. Aluminum body with a Chrysler 3.3 drivetrain. Excellent little truck.

I nursed a rear seal for months, avoiding parking in customers driveways. Most of my work is in gated communities with really nice paver or brick driveways. I replaced the seal once, but there was too much wear on the engine and it started leaking again a month later. I ended up pulling it out and rebuilding it. Luckily I have a good friend that owns an engine shop, I had access to everything needed.

It hasn't leaked a drop in 6 years....



Recognize this one?

Why would you haul Motorcycles? You do own the best bike ever made.     
Oh you must have a bunch of HD riding buddies

[Willow]

I am not saying you should repair it before selling anything, I am just say that you inform the buyer of the issues, if there are any, when they purchase or trade for an item. I understand used stuff has issues, just let the receiver know of them. Of course we always want the best deal, and when we sell we get the most we can for it, but you must understand the buyer deserves a solid deal with no surprises.  I guess if I am wrong, I have been dealing the wrong way all my life.

No  you are 100% correct. Unless you want to be dishonest. What goes around comes around

It is correct that doing business honestly and openly is the best policy.

However, Robin posted that he had an issue on a low value vehicle that he was unwilling to invest the money to repair.  He said he was selling the vehicle but made no statement about what he would or wouldn't tell the buyer.  Someone jumped to a conclusion and made a very judgemental statement based upon that conclusion the countered by saying, "I'm not being judgemental."  A good dictionary would help a lot of us.

Let's answer Robin's question and back away from telling him where we assume his life is going and how we could fix it for him.    

I did not assume anything. I simply comment on a previous quote that was correct.

You didn't make the judgemental post or claim that it wasn't judgemental, did you? I wasn't referring to your post.  Your post was in response to the assumption and judgemental tirade.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I have a small box truck called an Aeromate. I use it to haul motorcycles and furniture. Aluminum body with a Chrysler 3.3 drivetrain. Excellent little truck.

I nursed a rear seal for months, avoiding parking in customers driveways. Most of my work is in gated communities with really nice paver or brick driveways. I replaced the seal once, but there was too much wear on the engine and it started leaking again a month later. I ended up pulling it out and rebuilding it. Luckily I have a good friend that owns an engine shop, I had access to everything needed.

It hasn't leaked a drop in 6 years....



Recognize this one?

I've never seen one of those. Is Aeromate the manufactorer ?

[baldo]

I have a small box truck called an Aeromate. I use it to haul motorcycles and furniture. Aluminum body with a Chrysler 3.3 drivetrain. Excellent little truck.

I nursed a rear seal for months, avoiding parking in customers driveways. Most of my work is in gated communities with really nice paver or brick driveways. I replaced the seal once, but there was too much wear on the engine and it started leaking again a month later. I ended up pulling it out and rebuilding it. Luckily I have a good friend that owns an engine shop, I had access to everything needed.

It hasn't leaked a drop in 6 years....



Recognize this one?

Why would you haul Motorcycles? You do own the best bike ever made.     
Oh you must have a bunch of HD riding buddies

I only haul em after I buy em.....my main riding bud, formerly mounted on a GW, just bought an '03 DynaGlide. The first ride we went on.....yup, broke down. And yes, I have pictures....

[baldo]

I have a small box truck called an Aeromate. I use it to haul motorcycles and furniture. Aluminum body with a Chrysler 3.3 drivetrain. Excellent little truck.

I nursed a rear seal for months, avoiding parking in customers driveways. Most of my work is in gated communities with really nice paver or brick driveways. I replaced the seal once, but there was too much wear on the engine and it started leaking again a month later. I ended up pulling it out and rebuilding it. Luckily I have a good friend that owns an engine shop, I had access to everything needed.

It hasn't leaked a drop in 6 years....



Recognize this one?

I've never seen one of those. Is Aeromate the manufactorer ?

No, it was manufactured by Utilimaster, from 89-94. Mine is a 93.

They were designed for Fedex and UPS, but they didn't really perform well. Not heavy-duty enough. The chassis is derived from the Dodge Caravan, everything is readily available. I just order parts for a Caravan. The only weak link is the rear axle. It's a torsion-flex, trailing link style like the bigger trailers. They stopped making them when the production run ended. They'll either collapse if overloaded, or freeze up and have no suspension. I have that problem now, I don't drive it enough and it froze up. Pretty rough ride....

[TallRider]

Have an 04 Silverado requires pulling trans  removing oil pan. Catch 22 is can't  remove oil pan wo raising motor need to replace oil pan gasket with bearing replacement.  They apparently make an aftermarket 2 pc pan gasket  to get around raising engine now. Gm only sells one pc  gasket. Chevy wants 1,400. Independent shops get around a 1,000. Problem is in new engines there is a small housing that holds the seal. They recommend replacing seal and housing. I bought seal at parts store would not fit properly went to Chevy bought  assy  new. Old engines just drop oil pan, main cap slip old seal out and pull new one in.

[signart]

Any-who, since you ask, Lucas makes an additive for leaking engines. Says on the bottle it works. I haven't used it, but Lucas makes good products.

[robin]

Thank you all for your informative answers but to clear something up it is the rear main seal on the engine and requires alot of parts to come off to get to the bearing, cross member,some parts from the lift kit,transfer case, and other little things so doing it in my driveway on your back is not an option and beyond my capability right now that is why i was looking for a simple solution the truck has been a nightmare from day one and can't wait for him to get rid of it been just a money pit.

[robin]

Have an 04 Silverado requires pulling trans  removing oil pan. Catch 22 is can't  remove oil pan wo raising motor need to replace oil pan gasket with bearing replacement.  They apparently make an aftermarket 2 pc pan gasket  to get around raising engine now. Gm only sells one pc  gasket. Chevy wants 1,400. Independent shops get around a 1,000. Problem is in new engines there is a small housing that holds the seal. They recommend replacing seal and housing. I bought seal at parts store would not fit properly went to Chevy bought  assy  new. Old engines just drop oil pan, main cap slip old seal out and pull new one in.

That is what he has you hit it right on the head

[Rams]

Thank you all for your informative answers but to clear something up it is the rear main seal on the engine and requires alot of parts to come off to get to the bearing, cross member,some parts from the lift kit,transfer case, and other little things so doing it in my driveway on your back is not an option and beyond my capability right now that is why i was looking for a simple solution the truck has been a nightmare from day one and can't wait for him to get rid of it been just a money pit.

Yep, that's the problem with rear main seals.   The actual seal isn't that big of a deal but getting to it takes time, labor, expertise and most times, help from a friend or two.   Transmissions are not light ya know.

In reference to trading it on something else, trading with a reputable dealer can be better than trading with some fly by night operation.    One thing I've found to be true is, (similar to Craigslist sellers) they won't know crap about the vehicle they have.