03 2500 HD high output, 160,000 miles, just started dripping on the ground.

So it's been leaking slow for about a year, never had oil on the ground, never had to add oil between changes, but always damp on the front. It's def. leaking from the oil pan, re-torqued the bolts, slowed it, but not fixed. The timing cover seems to be leaking, if I take it off, I'd do the crank seal too, probably have a redi-sleeve or whatever in case I need it.

The local dealer says it's $600 just to change the pan gasket, have to lift up the engine or something. Another $700 for the timing cover/seal, if that's what it is ( I'm 90% sure it's the timing cover gasket).

I'm on the fence about fixing it myself. I have an engine hoist, do most of the work on all my cars (timing belt on my diesel VW, what a pain in the a$$, but I got it done), just did the ball joints on the truck last fall after the local shop said $800 or more.

So I'm thinking a whole weekend, if nothing goes too wrong, all the parts are right.

What's the chance of having to re-do it if I screw it up, and is it worth $1200 for a one year warranty? Seems like a waste to spend the extra cash in exchange for a weekend of work.

If I do it, should I get a factory manual, or can I just rip into it and figure it out as I go, like I usually do?

 

The hardest part is lifting the motor high enough to drop the pan.

 

seems kinda high, only took me about 2.5 hours to do my new pan on my second gen. The front cover should not be that long either, maybe a couple of hours, have a parts and labor break down.

 

I assume I undo the motor mounts, lift it up with the hoist, rotate the engine a bit (guy at the dealer said they had to rotate it).


you mean you have this, or I need to get this from the parts guy?

Also, where do I get the crank seal install tool. Dealer? Napa? 3 inch piece of exhaust pipe?

 

When the dealer said "timing cover seal", did they say the front cover or rear cover seal? If its the rear seal the entire front of the engine has to come apart.

 

I said [edit] rear timing cover seal, dealer said $700. I looked at it again, and it MIGHT not be the rear cover seal, maybe just the front, but I'm not convinced.

 

I was just wondering if the quote you got broke down how much for parts and how much for labor


Some one correct me if I'm wrong but the seal comes with the install tool.

 

parts were

$77 oil pan gasket
$25 front seal
$44 rear timing seal
the rest was labor ($1300).

Napa can get the oil pan gasket for about $45, it's a fel pro, don't know if it's better to go with the dodge for $77.

 

I have an '06 and had to have the rear timing cover seal replaced. Thankfully the cost was covered under the extended 7/70K drivetrain warranty.

From what I remember being told by the rep at the dealership, they had to remove front end components (including my light bar) and the radiator/coolers to allow them to pull the camshaft out before they could removed the rear timing cover and replace the seal. They had the work done in one day and I've had no problems or leaks since then (knock on wood)!