Is It Time? Rear Main Seal

[dirtfan21]

I'm aware that GM bell housings typically seep over time but, I also am aware that rear main seals on these trucks have had their issues. Mine has never actually leaked at any point in time, just seeped around the housing and onto the back of the oil pan. I have owned past Silverados that have done the same thing and never had any trouble, just looked a bit moist and collected dirt. I take care of my vehicles mechanically and if it is time to do this work it will get done. No questions asked.

 

My question is: Is it time to claim powertrain warranty or tackle this on my own? Is this even bad enough to take in, that is to a service dept's standards?

 

I'm BlackBear tuned, small lift, bigger tires, ect, and I know service dept's frown on awarding warranty work to a progressively altered truck but, I have my original spare modules to go back to stock at least. If they don't honor my warranty I do have a cousin that rebuilds GM transmissions, he was a certified mechanic at a dealer before going into the electrcian's union. He just rebuilt my buddy's '03 Regency Silverado with all updates, shift kit, dropped it and re-installed, for $1,500. What would you guess I would be looking at for parts and to have him do the work judging by that price of a full rebuild?

 

Thanks everyone! I have attached a picture below of the area.

[mhenshaw]

Mine looked the same as yours. Had a film over the bell housing. I took it in and had the rear main seal replaced under the powertrain warrenty at 75k miles. It only took a day for them to complete and I have not had any leaks since. GM has to warrenty your engine leak, with your mods, if they did you could sue them under the Magnuson-Moss Act.

 

If you feel like removing the transmission then you can tackle it yourself.

[Stevens03]

The dealer would have no reason to check the PCM. I had mine replaced on my previous 07 twice. The first time, the mechanic screwed it up during the installation of the seal, and the second time was covered no questions asked, they just told me the reason for the second failure was their fault.

 

I don't think the dealer will give you a problem. It's pretty wide spread.

[dirtfan21]

Much appreciated guys! I'll most likely try to get it in this weekend and see what the conclusion is. I will obviously still switch back to my stock modules for the visit, just in case somebody flashes them for updates.

 

I have tuned the truck and left it, literally 20+ thousand miles. Do you think the AFM kicking back on after being off for such a long period of time will cause issues?

[Austin83]

Take it in now, it took them twice under warranty to get my rear main seal fixed right. The first time they forgot to put the sealant on the rear engine plate per the TSB, and the next dealership got it right. My leak did not look near as bad as yours. I only had a very tiny wet spot on the bottom of the bell housing. Good luck!

[wavery]

Be careful about "Self-diagnosing" this stuff when you take the vehicle in to be repaired.

 

I would take it in and say, "I have an oil leak, please fix it". If you go in and tell them that your rr main-seal is leaking and it turns out to be the valve covers, you could have a problem. The Service Adviser may just write down, "Replace rr main seal" and the tech may just do it. When you find that you still have a leak, it could end up causing you a lot of grief.

[ujtruck]

replace rear main seal and crank position sensor seal

[Black4x4Z71]

Be careful about "Self-diagnosing" this stuff when you take the vehicle in to be repaired.

 

I would take it in and say, "I have an oil leak, please fix it". If you go in and tell them that your rr main-seal is leaking and it turns out to be the valve covers, you could have a problem. The Service Adviser may just write down, "Replace rr main seal" and the tech may just do it. When you find that you still have a leak, it could end up causing you a lot of grief.

 

I agree. Let the dealer's tech do the diagnosis because he has likely had to repair oil leaks on this model truck before. Often leaks can originate from the strangest locations then work their way down to another place giving the wrong impression of cause.

 

Do not say a word about the re-tuned engine and it will likely not be an issue since the oil problem has no relation to the engine state of tune.

[Trav_13]

I'm aware that GM bell housings typically seep over time but, I also am aware that rear main seals on these trucks have had their issues. Mine has never actually leaked at any point in time, just seeped around the housing and onto the back of the oil pan. I have owned past Silverados that have done the same thing and never had any trouble, just looked a bit moist and collected dirt. I take care of my vehicles mechanically and if it is time to do this work it will get done. No questions asked.

 

My question is: Is it time to claim powertrain warranty or tackle this on my own? Is this even bad enough to take in, that is to a service dept's standards?

 

I'm BlackBear tuned, small lift, bigger tires, ect, and I know service dept's frown on awarding warranty work to a progressively altered truck but, I have my original spare modules to go back to stock at least. If they don't honor my warranty I do have a cousin that rebuilds GM transmissions, he was a certified mechanic at a dealer before going into the electrcian's union. He just rebuilt my buddy's '03 Regency Silverado with all updates, shift kit, dropped it and re-installed, for $1,500. What would you guess I would be looking at for parts and to have him do the work judging by that price of a full rebuild?

 

Thanks everyone! I have attached a picture below of the area.

 

My 09 with 17K Miles looks exactly like your 08....if my dealer had wanted to take care of the problems, instead of telling me that there really isn't anything they can do, and the oil leak isn't that big of a problem...I'd still have my 09 to this day, I got tired of fighting with them, raised hell to GMC, and ended up with a new 11 at a VERY FAIR deal. Only problem is, I don't know what I am going to do when this 11 beings to leak..

 

Good Luck to you, I know this is a common problem with these trucks, but even after much discussing the dealer still though I was nuts because, they didn't think the oil leak was that big of a deal!

[Stevens03]

My 09 with 17K Miles looks exactly like your 08....if my dealer had wanted to take care of the problems, instead of telling me that there really isn't anything they can do, and the oil leak isn't that big of a problem...I'd still have my 09 to this day, I got tired of fighting with them, raised hell to GMC, and ended up with a new 11 at a VERY FAIR deal. Only problem is, I don't know what I am going to do when this 11 beings to leak..

 

Good Luck to you, I know this is a common problem with these trucks, but even after much discussing the dealer still though I was nuts because, they didn't think the oil leak was that big of a deal!

 

If I had an oil leak and the dealership told me that, I'd tell them to have a nice day and go to another dealership. It's not suppose to leak

[dirtfan21]

UPDATE: I spoke to the service manager with whom I have a pretty good relationship, thought he was let go or left but obviously that isn't the case. Anyway, I am under warranty until July next year or by miles and will be scheduling an appointment this afternoon. I'm crossing my fingers that he will take care of me as he has in the past.

 

I'll keep all of you posted and again, thank you all for the info. This forum is such a great wealth of knowledge.

 

 

UPDATE 2: Had a quick break here at work so I called to make an appointment. Well... I was told if there were not noticible drips falling from the area in question they will not do anything. I was told to clean the area up and drive it for 2000-3000 more miles and give him a report on the condition. At that time if it returns to the state it is in now he will take action.

 

I won't hold my breath...

[RyanbabZ71]

Take photos and document it

[Austin83]

UPDATE: I spoke to the service manager with whom I have a pretty good relationship, thought he was let go or left but obviously that isn't the case. Anyway, I am under warranty until July next year or by miles and will be scheduling an appointment this afternoon. I'm crossing my fingers that he will take care of me as he has in the past.

 

I'll keep all of you posted and again, thank you all for the info. This forum is such a great wealth of knowledge.

 

 

UPDATE 2: Had a quick break here and work so I called to make an appointment. Well... I was told if there were not noticible drips falling from the area in question they will not do anything. I was told to clean the area up and drive it for 2000-3000 more miles and give him a report on the condition. At that time if it returns to the state it is in now he will take action.

 

I won't hold my breath...

 

Find another dealership! At first the Chevy dealership insisted that I did not have a leak and that it was residual from the first time the leak was "fixed". They put dye in the oil and I took it back soon after and the dye confirmed that it was leaking again, and they insisted on fixing it right away. Below is a photo of my harmless looking leak. I was given a rental and within 24 hours I had my truck back. It took two dealerships to fix my leak, and many here have had similar experiences with multiple trips until the leak was actually fixed. I wouldn't waste my time with a dealership that says they won't fix it unless it drips. I would document everything, and I'd tell the dealership that I will be taking my business to ______ dealership for all of my future needs. The leak will only get worse, and you have less then a year for them to get it right.

[crepitus]

Sounds like a load of crap to me. I would tell them to clean it it and I will bring in back in 2k miles for them to check it and fix it.

[dirtfan21]

UPDATE 3: A family friend is a certified GM tech at a GMC dealer near me, that is where I am headed next. I would really trust his work and maybe he could pull some strings if it is borderline in this dealer's opinion.

 

I do have photos and I will document phone calls to the dealers, visits to the dealers, miles on the truck, and if it gets any worse. Thank you all again!