Changed the oil in the GMC last night and noticed the oil didnt quite look right so I caught a sample and cut open the filter and sure enough... Bearing material, and lots of it... Not too many flakes in the pleats of the filter but the oil looked like caramel ice cream topping.

I've been holding off swapping the engine in this truck with the holidays and vacation etc... But it looks like I need to get my *** in gear and do something about it now. I blame it largely on my wife's grandfather who was responsible for the maintenance on this truck before we were married and he changed the oil whenever he thought about it and with whatever oil/filter was on sale... I'm picky about running only good oil and WIX filters on all my vehicles. So here shortly it will be bye bye 4.3 and hello 6.?

This engine has almost 135K on it but honestly I didn't see this happening for another 50-75K miles. It's got a few oil leaks (rear main, oil pan, valve covers) and a mystery coolant leak that's been going on for a while, I've had to add about 1/2 gal between oil changes. I haven't told the wife because I'm sure the whole thing will be blamed on me LOL. But now I have two trucks in need of serious work and no time to do it.... Awesome...

At least I already put the good built trans in it and have a longblock ready to go in.

 

Damn thats bitter sweet. Bitter about the motor going before you wanted but sweet that you have a 6.? going in. The ol 4.3 seemed short lived with only 135k on it. Thoughs are pretty tough 6's. I knew it made a difference with oil/filter quality but damn! Thats a huge difference. I wish you luck in your swap. Keep us updated on the status.

 

Your mystery coolant leak is the intake gaskets leaking internally into the engine. This is also causing your oil to look like your caramel ice cream topping.

 

I knew the coolant was leaking internally at the intake but I've never seen it change oil that color...

 

its truly sux BUT about ******* time


i'll have your heads thursday evening, do you work thursday?

going to rage to pull the motor and tearing the 6.0 down..

let me know if you need some help im a call away !!

 

Man that sucks, I'm extremly **** about my oil changes. IThe most miles i went over with out an oil change is 100 miles. The key to a healthy long living motor is matience.

 

Dexcool can do some funny things.

 

Even though it contains petroleum, coolant and your cooling system in general is largely water based, if water gets into the oil it will emulcify and cause the goopy clumpy white crap we are all used to seeing after water intrusion into the crankcase. I'm going to pull a valve cover and have a look just for grins I guess but I'll probably run this thing till it completely loses oil pressure, or gets swapped... Whichever comes first.

I understand the conclusion based on the color of dexcool but dexcool doesn't contain visible pieces of copper and neither should engine oil

 

I'm off the 24th - 2nd let me know if you need any help.

 

X2...

I didn't know your new rc was a 4.3? this engine swap needed to be done a long time ago