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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: Cherg on July 14, 2016, 12:16:13 pm
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The backyard mechanic who appeared to know what he is doing has told me that I could have oil on the clutch plate due to engine blow-by or whatever. The clutch went all at once; not gradual loss. There is oil in the air breather compartment, and for the first time the engine requires topping up. Also, there is oil in the rad, so something is wrong. This pick-up has only 100k on it, and it was driven by an old rancher, very easily. I rebuilt the qjet carb, so that shouldn't be an issue, and I was very careful to do it correctly. A car dealership did some work on it last year, and they removed all the emission stuff. This mechanic said it is possible that they plugged or didn't plug the vacuum intakes correctly, but this is beyond me. I have already paid this guy half the money up front, so I can't just walk away from him, and I'm quite sure I won't get a dime from him if I ask for my money back. For anyone who has read my last post, this is the guy who wants to pull the engine to do the clutch, and I read your replies, and that is what I was thinking, as well. What do you think about the rest of his assessment? He said that he doesn't want to go forward with the clutch until the other problem has been corrected, ie the oil blowby. He said that your truck has "high blood pressure," let's correct that first or the clutch replacement will need to be redone again. What do you think? Thanks
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Sounds like a head gasket, oil in coolant, so possible excess pressure is getting into engine and blowing seals, which could cause oil on clutch.
Personally, if your guy thinks pulling an engine for a clutch job is easier then dropping a tranny, run. So much more work, plus all the fluids(coolant really I guess, maybe a little gas) that need to be removed and stored until done. I can drop a tranny- if bolts are easily undone- in about 20 minutes if I really rush. An engine is almost an hour after draining fluids and unhooking everything. Plus it is 10 times harder to line the engine back up to mate the clutch with transmission.
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Keep in mind "Backyard" not having the tools to do it right or never doing a 4x4 may be his reasoning. The engine sounds like it needs gone through anyway but I wouldn't trust him. The tree limb may break and crush your truck...
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my take. IF you have oil in your rad fluid and thats a big if, have you seen the oil or is this just him talking? if this is true it needs to be check out. i dont see how oil would be in the antifreeze without antifreeze in the oil pan. the reason is once you shut down the engine the coolant will still be at 12-15 psi and that should go right into the cylinder or oil.
but if oil somehow does this then think about it like this the fluids have to be changed anyway theres no trans coolant lines in the rad maybe just oil coolant lines. but the engine would be easier to work on if its pull and theres no sense in sliding back the trans when you have to pull the engine to work on it anyway. BUT i really dont see how not saying it couldnt happen but im with the rest about trusting this guy and ask around see what others say about him. heck for all you know he could of poured oil into the rad
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Thanks for all your advice. I'm deeply concerned about this mechanic, but I have already paid several hundred up front, so I have no option but to go with him for now. I wish I had attempted this job myself, but I don't have a hoist, and I thought if I buggered something up I might have to take it to someone anyway. I suppose this serves me right. I'll keep you posted as to how this turns out. By the way, I told him that I belong to an online forum, and everyone who has replied has said that pulling the engine is stupid to which he replied that you must all be a bunch of kids fresh out of high school ??? I know, I know! ::)
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Ba Ha Ha..... Kids fresh out of school!
Does he even have a shop, or is he literally working in his back yard?
Now we all started some where. I started in my parents driveway with 16' log cabin log across the gate to behind the barn. Wide gate so the post the hinges were mounted to was 12'. It closed against a pine tree that was 3' thick at the base. I stood an 8' log cabin log up against the tree, put to 12 cabin log spikes through it into the tree, put the 16'er across the top, hung a chain fall in the middle, had several tool boxes in the trunk of my car, or bed of my pickup, I was in business for me and my buddies to work on our rigs.
I agree that if there is oil in the coolant, it should have coolant in the oil as well. As far as the clutch going out all of a sudden. Could have torn the center out of the clutch. Do you have oil coming out of the bell housing?
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Verify that the coolant actually has oil in it
And I know you've already learned this the hard way
But never ever pay up front for any auto or home repair work
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Thanks again to all of you. I know your advice is well meant, and I'm kicking myself in the ass for not doing this job myself, but I must suffer, right!? I was going to do this job myself after so much frustration with his "behavior," but when he told me that there were serious engine problems on top of the clutch issue, I thought I have no option other than to allow him to continue. My reasoning is that I want to recoup at least some of my money. Now, I'm beginning to wonder whether he wants to wrest my truck from me by creating so many "issues" that it would be cheaper to just give him the truck than to pay for the cost of rather exorbitant repairs. It has absolutely no rust, and has sat in a rancher's barn for all these years. Forgive my ignorance, and stupidity. I think I was deprived of oxygen at birth, or something.
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So get back to the mechanic, I would try to get my money back from him even if you have to get the law involved. But how much did you give him and how much for the whole job? We/most get ripped atleas once but as long as you learn from it and don't do it again. I know I have and I don't trust many shops around here which is why I work on other people's cars that I care about.