Dried antifreeze running down timing chain cover gasket
Record Breaker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 0
From: Vermont
The most I've torn into an engine before was when I replaced the lower intake manifold gasket on a 2000 Grand Am 3.4L V6. That was an incredible pain in the *** and took me about 12 hours. I hope that this job won't be that rough. At least I won't have to spend the whole time bent over with my big old gut giving me a backache.
with experience to do it for you. When my transmission arrives I'm not going to bother
swapping it myself because its more of a pain in the *** than its worth, $500 and my
mechanic will do it for me. Sometimes it the cost of having someone else do it far outweighs
the cost of frustration to do it yourself.
Hall Of Fame
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,204
Likes: 10
From: Gainesville, Ga.
i still wouldn't do all that in the middle of the winter unless it was really necessary. a thermostat is an easy 15 minute job that costs about $10. a small coolant leak can be kept full for $10. a timing chain, water pump, plenum is about a 2 or 3 day job and will end up costing you about $750.
when you do the whole she-bang, if you plan ahead and get the parts from rockauto, you can save a lot of money. this was mine...
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...ater-pump.html
when you do the whole she-bang, if you plan ahead and get the parts from rockauto, you can save a lot of money. this was mine...
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...ater-pump.html
All Star
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: New Baltimore, Mi
I just Completed..well mostly Completed that job. The haynes manual should have a big RED warning on it. YOU WILL tear your oilpan gasket when you remove the timing chain cover if you have over 110k miles and or your engine ever ran hot for any period of time. The timing chain and cover are a breeze. Maybe five hours tops for a novice with little experience but the oil pan gasket is another story in fact I am on this forum today to try and figure out how the hell to fix that. It seems that you cannot drop the oil pan without raising the engine.
If anyone can tell me where specifically to attach the hoist to raise the engine on a 1998 Ram 1500 4X4 5.9 litre I would be very appreciative. Haynes says specifically not to attach to the intake manifold. I would like to do this without taking all the accesory brackets and altenator/compressor off if possible. I only need to raise it about four inches. Or if you have neat little trick for getting the oil pan free without rasing the engine then I am all ears as well.
Thanks in advance.
If anyone can tell me where specifically to attach the hoist to raise the engine on a 1998 Ram 1500 4X4 5.9 litre I would be very appreciative. Haynes says specifically not to attach to the intake manifold. I would like to do this without taking all the accesory brackets and altenator/compressor off if possible. I only need to raise it about four inches. Or if you have neat little trick for getting the oil pan free without rasing the engine then I am all ears as well.
Thanks in advance.
Using RTV "The Right Stuff" will work to fix the gasket deal. Yes, it is semi expensive but it's amazing stuff. It dries in a few seconds and seals better than a gasket.
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Thread Starter
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Captain
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 540
Likes: 0
From: Fargo, ND
Turns out my aftermarket warranty will cover it-- and it's definitely the timing chain cover and not the thermostat housing or bypass hose-- I replaced the thermostat housing/stat and there was no sign of leakage there, or at the bypass hose.
It goes in tomorrow to be "officially" diagnosed and repaired. My plenum pan gasket is leaking some too-- I'm going to try to get them to do that under warranty as well.
It goes in tomorrow to be "officially" diagnosed and repaired. My plenum pan gasket is leaking some too-- I'm going to try to get them to do that under warranty as well.