Recommended to replace engine ($ opinion needed)

[Grimes]

Can't seem to just get an oil change these days.

I had work done in December that included replacing the rear main engine seal, oil pan gasket, and pinion seal for $1,281 in order to stop some leakiness. Old truck, those parts never touched, fine. Went in today (to a different shop) and was informed of the leak which matched the description of the old leak, and they blamed the rear main. Suggested warranty repair. I'll be going to the shop that did the repair if I get a chance next week.

As well though, today's shop said the leak may be due to the crank, which "causes a groove" as the truck ages ('03, 225k). Said it would be cheaper to swap the whole motor instead of just fixing the crank. They are working on quotes today and tomorrow, but for now its looking like $2000 for a new 5.3 and 15-20 hours of labor.

So, the question is again begged. $4k now, or start looking at other trucks?

Curious if anyone has had these same issues, as apparently they are common.

Thanks for the help, as always!

 

[ezdaar]

holy over charged and over quote on hours involved! wtf!

Any competant mechanic can swap a modern 5.3 in under 8 hours!
Hit LKQ for a low mile 5.3 and spend no more than 600$

Then go to another shop!
15-20 hours HAHAHA! only if they are taking a nap under the vehicle all day.

 

[chevync]

I had a choice of rebuilding my engine or replace it, if I replaced it the shop was going to charge me 500.00 labor. I ended up rebuilding the engine which cost me more money and headaches at the end.

 

[Grimes]

holy over charged and over quote on hours involved! wtf!

Any competant mechanic can swap a modern 5.3 in under 8 hours!
Hit LKQ for a low mile 5.3 and spend no more than 600$

Then go to another shop!
15-20 hours HAHAHA! only if they are taking a nap under the vehicle all day.

Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems all that ASE means is you do the job step by step, line by line, and God forbid you do something efficiently. But I know little about this stuff, so who am I to speak?

Lowest miles I'm seeing on LKQ is 110k, for only $800 less. I'll happily pay $800 if it winds the odometer back 100k.

I'll quote a motor replacement once I go get the warranty stuff looked at. For now, cars.com is massaging my shoulders. I'm a peace of mind kind of guy. I don't want to fret over my truck.

 

[ezdaar]

GL.

 

[slick2500]

How many times are they taking the engine out and putting it back in? The last engine swap I did, I had the engine out in under an hour.

 

[ezdaar]

exactly.

 

[HBNH]

I don't think you have a groove unless someone scratched the surface there. I have my engine with same mileage as yours on engine stand right now, and it's fine. I mean, how would they know for sure without removing your transmission first to inspect the crank rear seal surface to determine that?

Did the first shop remove rear main seal cover during the rear main seal and oil pan gasket replacement job? If they did, then did they use the special alignment tools our engines call for to reinstall the cover? If the rear main seal cover was reinstalled without special tools, then it could be why you have a rear main seal leak again.

 

[ulakovic22]

Just go back to the original place for a warranty repair. No sense in replacing the whole engine if the only thing wrong is a leaking RMS.

 

[ccapehartusarmyINF.(ret)]

okay lemme get this straight you had the rear main seal replaced and you have a nother leak and there claiming its the rear main seal again and the crank shaft caused the leak
it wore a groove in it ummm im gonna say "********" there blowing smoke up yer ass
usually the reason a rear main seal would start leaking so quickly is improper installation
hell they mite have even installed it backwards