Oil Leak

[Stan H]

Yeah you're right. I don't want to piss money away on stuff that's not needed. There's always the chance that a new part is defective. No need to risk replacing working parts for no reason.

My Uncle has a Chrysler van with 3.6 so I let him keep my old ones for spares. But mine had over 130k on 'em

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[Stan H]

1 out of 6 of my plugs the gap was out of specs and was Carbon on and it was #6 which is closest to the driver 1 other was close other 4 looked decent.

 

[WILDHOBO]

1 out of 6 of my plugs the gap was out of specs and was Carbon on and it was #6 which is closest to the driver 1 other was close other 4 looked decent.

Wow. That one plug was nasty. I bet it runs 10 times better. Mine all looked close to your other ones, but at 49.7k miles. I looked it up.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

No need to risk replacing working parts for no reason.

Except that you have 93k on these parts that have the illusion they’re “working”. Let’s ask @StanH about his factory ball joints he just replaced at over 130k miles and felt they were just fine.

You know the story of the frog that let himself get cooked in boiling water? Water temp was increased so slowly over a long time that the difference wasn’t felt until it was too late.

These parts have a working life but we become so accustomed to how they are each day, we don’t notice when they become bad.

 

[Stan H]

Except that you have 93k on these parts that have the illusion they’re “working”. Let’s ask @StanH about his factory ball joints he just replaced at over 130k miles and felt they were just fine.

You know the story of the frog that let himself get cooked in boiling water? Water temp was increased so slowly over a long time that the difference wasn’t felt until it was too late.

These parts have a working life but we become so accustomed to how they are each day, we don’t notice when they become bad.

Great point If I would have know those ball joints was that loose I would have replaced much early . @Tim they literally would just flop over they was decently tight up and down but they would just go round and round with your finger . The Frint hub assemblies was dry you could hear the steel balls rotating on the races. I just did this job and 140k was really not the best time I wish I would have done them at 80k. My suggestion sooner than later . My steering is much improved .

 

[Stan H]

Those oil seals are a known problem. They need to redesign them. I’ve replaced both and I’m pretty sure they’re leaking already.

Yeah the son of a guns just seep like a wound.

 

[ChrisNLA]

1 out of 6 of my plugs the gap was out of specs and was Carbon on and it was #6 which is closest to the driver 1 other was close other 4 looked decent.

A couple years ago my moms 2006 Chevy Equinox sounded like it had a light knock in the engine. It had about 240,000 miles on it at the time. I had her bring it over and I dumped the oil and cut open the filter. Didn't find anything alarming in it - so I started pulling plugs to get a better read on the engine - every spark plug looked like this or worse Changed all six and the knocking sound went away. She's at 257,000 or something like that now...it's on its second set of plugs that I have put in it.

 

[Tim]

Except that you have 93k on these parts that have the illusion they’re “working”. Let’s ask @StanH about his factory ball joints he just replaced at over 130k miles and felt they were just fine.

You know the story of the frog that let himself get cooked in boiling water? Water temp was increased so slowly over a long time that the difference wasn’t felt until it was too late.

These parts have a working life but we become so accustomed to how they are each day, we don’t notice when they become bad.

We agree, hence I created this thread.

I think my original question was aimed at picking the "low hanging fruit," so to speak. At 93k, spark plugs are a no brainer. I didn't want to miss something like spark plugs that I was overlooking. I already ordered the coils and a PCV so those will go in when I do the oil cooler.

Gotta draw the line at some point as far as the other stuff. I plan to keep this truck for many more years so it won't be the last time I have to turn some wrenches. Ultimately, three or four, maybe five years from now an AMW hemi swap is not out of the question.

Ball joints? I only have 93K on mine. The water barely feels warm....

 

[Tim]

Great point If I would have know those ball joints was that loose I would have replaced much early . @Tim they literally would just flop over they was decently tight up and down but they would just go round and round with your finger . The Frint hub assemblies was dry you could hear the steel balls rotating on the races. I just did this job and 140k was really not the best time I wish I would have done them at 80k. My suggestion sooner than later . My steering is much improved .

Your posts with the pictures are awesome! Love it! Yeah, ball joints are on the list of things to get around to. Your observations are interesting. I ususally do the wobble test when I rotate my tires every 5k miles or so. Things always feel decent. I'll have to pay a little closer attention next time.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Yeah the son of a guns just seep like a wound.

They’re dumb. I don’t like having oily valve covers.

 

[MPMB]

Those oil seals are a known problem. They need to redesign them. I’ve replaced both and I’m pretty sure they’re leaking already.

High temp RTV sealant?

But seriously, we used that for header gaskets on our race cars. A nice thick bead around the port on the header, let it set after about 5-10min, then bolt it on. While we had the engine out a couple times a year, we never had an exhaust leak (but how could we tell at that volume? lol).

If you don't look, there isn't a problem, right? I haven't checked mine for leaks since I did the work in August, but my driveway is clean. I haven't put my decorative plastic back on, either. Another angry garage frisbee.

 

[Stan H]

They’re dumb. I don’t like having oily valve covers.

Yes me either and although they just seep the dust sticks to that oil and then makes a dirty gummy mess

 

[WILDHOBO]

High temp RTV sealant?

But seriously, we used that for header gaskets on our race cars. A nice thick bead around the port on the header, let it set after about 5-10min, then bolt it on. While we had the engine out a couple times a year, we never had an exhaust leak (but how could we tell at that volume? lol).

If you don't look, there isn't a problem, right? I haven't checked mine for leaks since I did the work in August, but my driveway is clean. I haven't put my decorative plastic back on, either. Another angry garage frisbee.

I’m not sure that would work for this particular seal. I think rtv would definitely get into the oil.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Yes me either and although they just seep the dust sticks to that oil and then makes a dirty gummy mess

Exactly. Too slow to drip. Annoying, but doesn’t hurt anything other than my delicate sensibilities.

 

[Stan H]

Exactly. Too slow to drip. Annoying, but doesn’t hurt anything other than my delicate sensibilities.

We might as well come clean were OCD

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