Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA
| [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA [message #102689] |
Tue, 12 October 2010 12:06  |
980
Messages: 192
Registered: July 2010
Location: United States
Karma: -1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Thanks to everyone who made it out to Treasure Island. You've already
heard the stories and seen the pics here so I'll just say thanks for
coming all this way.
I had to bug out early to go to Chico for a wedding (why get married by
a captain when you can get married by a real commodore!) We ran back
1/2 mile home after the airshow and loaded up, but didn't get on the
road till about 8. I prefer driving it at night when it's cooler
anyway. Got up to Chico in a couple of hours with no stops everything
ran well. I don't have much to compare it to, but we did about 65 the
whole way. Had a nice time with the in-laws.
By the time we got ready to go I checked the oil and mixed in the oil
was DIRT! Nothing stuck to a magnet, but there was certainly dirt in
the oil sticking to the dip. I'd had the oil changed in the last 600
miles or so but I'd never seen anything like this. I'm guessing that
the high-end synthetic Amsoil 0-30 I bought with the change must have
loosened it all and dumped it there.
I haven't had many problems on the road and I'm trying not to start
now. I'd been planning to visit the Castleberrys' in Chico anyway so I
gently cruised over to Richard's place. When we looked at the dipstick,
the oil was giving off a little bit of smoke, so just a gentle trip
across town got it good and hot.
It's great having another GMC owner around when you're working through
an issue. Having someone who speaks your language really helps you keep
everything in perspective.
We were ready to dive in and make a big mess but we were able to find a
pretty competent local oil change place in town. We knew the filter
would be exotic so Richard went to his local parts place and snapped up
the right one with some Mobil 1.
The oil change place did a flush service with a blend they use and a
Fram filter, but they only had one, so I was really grateful to Richard
for picking up the one he did. Little thing, but it saved the day.
Amazing what you learn driving a 30+ year-old motorhome.
Shared a great dinner at the local Mexican restaurant then headed home
after dark, no troubles. We did about 65 the whole way but after a
couple of hours and not far from home it was getting a little sweaty up
front. The only stop was to try to use a rest stop dump station, but it
was totally backed up and unusable.
Now I've got to get up the bravery to go to the storage lot and look at
that oil dip again.
Calculated the MPG and I'm in the 7-8 range. I did a lot of running
back and forth on the island, but I think I have a vacuum problem.
Desmond "Talk Dirt To Me" Crisis
--
1977 GMC ex-Palm Beach, 26-3
Treasure Island, CA
KC6VHG, KAG0675 "980"
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA [message #102702 is a reply to message #102689] |
Tue, 12 October 2010 14:45  |
roy1
Messages: 2126
Registered: July 2004
Location: Minden nevada
Karma: 6
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Desmond;
Kind of strange to find dirt in your oil. Carlo has a good suggestion to get the oil analyzed. If Jim doesn't have a kit handy you can get one from Blackstone Labs. They are listed on line and will mail you a free kit. Send the oil sample back to them with around $25 and they let you know what the problem is with the oil.
Roy
Roy Keen
Minden,NV
76 X Glenbrook
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA [message #102714 is a reply to message #102702] |
Tue, 12 October 2010 16:29 |
Dennis S
Messages: 3046
Registered: November 2005
Karma: 2
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Desmond,
The oil dipstick tube comes close to the exhaust manifold/headers and may have resulted in some oil cake in the tube at that point -- you may be dragging that out when you pull the dipstick.
What is the nature of the dirt? Hard, black, cake -- is it solft enough to crush easily?
Dennis
Dennis Sexton
73 GMC
Germantown, TN
USA
-----Original Message-----
From: roy keen <roynpaula@charter.net>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Tue, Oct 12, 2010 2:45 pm
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA
Desmond;
Kind of strange to find dirt in your oil. Carlo has a good suggestion to get
he oil analyzed. If Jim doesn't have a kit handy you can get one from
lackstone Labs. They are listed on line and will mail you a free kit. Send the
il sample back to them with around $25 and they let you know what the problem
s with the oil.
Roy
______________________________________________
MCnet mailing list
ist Information and Subscription Options:
ttp://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA [message #102728 is a reply to message #102719] |
Tue, 12 October 2010 18:02 |
 |
USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Kelvin,
When I removed the intake on Double Trouble to plug the crossovers with Dick
Paterson's gasket and plates I removed everything from the manifold and got
all wires out of the way. I took a thin paint scraper and tapped it in under
each corner of the manifold to break it loose from the turkey tray, heads
and lifter valley. I attached a chain to the carb bolts and stood directly
over the manifold and lifted it straight up. As soon as it cleared the
engine I swung it back towards the aisle and put it down on a piece of
cardboard. THAT SUCKER IS HEAVY with a capital H! I then hauled it outside
and turned it over - Hoollee Doollee - what a mess!
I then went back in and used the paint scraper to CAREFULLY separate the
turkey tray from the heads and valley. I tried to move the turkey tray as
little as possible. When it was completely loose I carefully lifted it out.
Another mess! Only a few little bits of carbon fell into the lifter valley.
I used a shop vac to clean up any bits that fell in there.
Unfortunately the manifold was cracked and couldn't be re-used with the
block off plates. Had I realized that I could have filled it with aluminum
and reinstalled it that's what I would have done. I wound up installing one
of Gary Rockwell's aluminum ones.
You can't remove the oil pan without removing the transmission, final drive,
and lifting the motor. I did that this year when I replaced the leaking oil
pan gasket and installed a dual bung oil pan.
Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Kelvin Dietz
Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 5:01 PM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA
On 10/12/2010 2:31 PM, Desmond's GMC wrote:
> I had no idea that crossover caused this much crap or I would have
> changed it long ago. I thought it just ran better without it. Being a
> new GMC owner is harder than it looks. So much to learn at once.
Give yourself 3 years. You'll have most of it figured out by then.
Then it's just filling in details and adding useless stuff to your
brain. :^)
> Do I need a whole rebuild to clean this out or can I get it to break
> down and eventually filter through?
You can remove the manifold and have it filled from above. Clean out
all the crap that is caked to the bottom of the "turkey tray" and has
dropped into the cam valley.
I had hockey puck sized pieces of coked oil in there.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=10758&cat=3954
If there's lots of stuff in the valley then you can expect some to have
migrated to the oil pan. It's too big to filter and will obviously
start to plug up the oil pickup screen. Maybe mine was worse than most
but I'm guessing they all have problems like this.
I don't know that you can get the oil pan off without lifting the
motor. I didn't try.
Don't know if this would be the "dirt" on your dipstick but it's
something that's well worth fixing on any GMC motor. You don't need the
crossover unless you're driving your Toronado for groceries during a
Detroit winter.
Kelvin
'73 23' in Eugene, OR
> DC
>> my guess is your crossovers are not blocked, look at this from Kelvin
>>
>> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=10860&cat=3954
>>
>> gene
>>
>>
>>
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA [message #102730 is a reply to message #102728] |
Tue, 12 October 2010 18:06 |
Dennis S
Messages: 3046
Registered: November 2005
Karma: 2
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Rob,
When you pulled the oil pan did you find anything in the oil pump pickup/screen?
Dennis Sexton
73 GMC
Germantown, TN
USA
-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Mueller <robmueller@iinet.net.au>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Tue, Oct 12, 2010 6:02 pm
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA
Kelvin,
When I removed the intake on Double Trouble to plug the crossovers with Dick
aterson's gasket and plates I removed everything from the manifold and got
ll wires out of the way. I took a thin paint scraper and tapped it in under
ach corner of the manifold to break it loose from the turkey tray, heads
nd lifter valley. I attached a chain to the carb bolts and stood directly
ver the manifold and lifted it straight up. As soon as it cleared the
ngine I swung it back towards the aisle and put it down on a piece of
ardboard. THAT SUCKER IS HEAVY with a capital H! I then hauled it outside
nd turned it over - Hoollee Doollee - what a mess!
I then went back in and used the paint scraper to CAREFULLY separate the
urkey tray from the heads and valley. I tried to move the turkey tray as
ittle as possible. When it was completely loose I carefully lifted it out.
nother mess! Only a few little bits of carbon fell into the lifter valley.
used a shop vac to clean up any bits that fell in there.
Unfortunately the manifold was cracked and couldn't be re-used with the
lock off plates. Had I realized that I could have filled it with aluminum
nd reinstalled it that's what I would have done. I wound up installing one
f Gary Rockwell's aluminum ones.
You can't remove the oil pan without removing the transmission, final drive,
nd lifting the motor. I did that this year when I replaced the leaking oil
an gasket and installed a dual bung oil pan.
Regards,
ob M.
SAussie
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA [message #102734 is a reply to message #102714] |
Tue, 12 October 2010 18:31 |
980
Messages: 192
Registered: July 2010
Location: United States
Karma: -1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
On 10/12/2010 02:29 PM, Dennis S wrote:
> Desmond,
> The oil dipstick tube comes close to the exhaust manifold/headers and may have resulted in some oil cake in the tube at that point -- you may be dragging that out when you pull the dipstick.
> What is the nature of the dirt? Hard, black, cake -- is it solft enough to crush easily?
>
>
Cake in the tube, I'd buy that gladly. It was tiny little pieces and
felt like fine grit sand. It didn't stick to a magnet and it was pitch
black, almost a little grayish. I noticed in the stick tube that it was
a little "crunchy" in the elbow but I got much more crud when I reached
to the bottom of the pan. It's possible that just having a wetter
dipstick made more crud from the tube stick to it on the way to me.
I just had the shop replace the intake manifold gasket and exhaust
manifolds to fix an exhaust leak about 500-600 miles ago when I also did
the oil change. They didn't say anything about gnarly deposits in
there. I guess it's possible that they didn't lift the intake all the
way to get the gasket in so they never saw inside.
DC
--
1977 GMC ex-Palm Beach, 26-3
Treasure Island, CA
KC6VHG, KAG0675 "980"
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA [message #102735 is a reply to message #102734] |
Tue, 12 October 2010 18:40 |
 |
jaholland
Messages: 565
Registered: June 2010
Location: Sweet Home Alebamy
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
We, also, have been plagued with a Dirt Dauber problem this year
BUT
This Is The 1st Time That I Have Ever Heard Of Them Building A nest
In The Oil Pan ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ Joe ~
/_]*[__][] *[__|] ~ * '73 TZE063V101887 "
"
O----------OO--]* ~ '78 TZE168V100234 "
"
" Joe & Lavelle " "
"
'sweet home alebamy'
[Updated on: Tue, 12 October 2010 18:41] Report message to a moderator |
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA [message #102738 is a reply to message #102735] |
Tue, 12 October 2010 18:54 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Sounds to me like maybe some caked oil crud got dislodged from the bottom of
the manifold or the turkey pan type gasket. There is easily enough crud to
be found there to be a problem with clogging up the oil pump pickup screen.
Ask the people who did the R & R if they encountered any coked up oil, & if
so what they did with it. This is one place where it is better to be safe
than sorry. If you have a mess in the oil pan, the only sure way to remedy
it is to pull the engine and remove the pan and oil pump & clean the screen.
Hope that there hasn't been any damage to the rod & main bearings, but they
should be checked also. At the least, have an oil analysis done.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 Royale 403
On Tue, Oct 12, 2010 at 4:40 PM, J A Holland <acts238bishop@yahoo.com>wrote:
>
>
> We, also, have been plagued with a Dirt Dauber problem this year
> BUT
> This Is The 1st Time That I Have Heard Of Them Building A nest
> In The Oil Pan ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
>
> ~ Joe ~
> --
> Joe & Lavelle of ALEBAMY
>
> Previously owned a '65 6cyl Cortez, '68 8cyl Cortez, 1973 GMC 26'
> Canyonlands & Now a'78 Eleganza II 26' {"The Ole Gospel Ship"}
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA [message #102751 is a reply to message #102730] |
Tue, 12 October 2010 20:34 |
|
USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Dennis,
When I pulled the valve covers two years ago - no sludge / crud to speak of.
When I pulled the manifold - no sludge / crud to speak of.
When I pulled the oil pan - no sludge /crud to speak of in the pan - no crud
in the oil filter screen.
This stands to reason as our GMC's are usually driven long distances at a
time and the owners change the oil regularly.
Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Dennis S
Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 6:07 PM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA
Rob,
When you pulled the oil pan did you find anything in the oil pump
pickup/screen?
Dennis Sexton
73 GMC
Germantown, TN
USA
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA [message #102755 is a reply to message #102751] |
Tue, 12 October 2010 21:23 |
Dennis S
Messages: 3046
Registered: November 2005
Karma: 2
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Rob
Thanks for the feedback -- seeing Kelvin's photo and hearing Desmond's concerns prompted my initial question.
Regards,
Dennis
Dennis Sexton
73 GMC
Germantown, TN
USA
-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Mueller <robmueller@iinet.net.au>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Tue, Oct 12, 2010 8:34 pm
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA
Dennis,
When I pulled the valve covers two years ago - no sludge / crud to speak of.
When I pulled the manifold - no sludge / crud to speak of.
When I pulled the oil pan - no sludge /crud to speak of in the pan - no crud
n the oil filter screen.
This stands to reason as our GMC's are usually driven long distances at a
ime and the owners change the oil regularly.
Regards,
ob M.
SAussie
----Original Message-----
rom: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Dennis S
ent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 6:07 PM
o: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
ubject: Re: [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA
ob,
hen you pulled the oil pan did you find anything in the oil pump
ickup/screen?
ennis Sexton
3 GMC
ermantown, TN
SA
_______________________________________________
MCnet mailing list
ist Information and Subscription Options:
ttp://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA [message #102756 is a reply to message #102738] |
Tue, 12 October 2010 21:34 |
Dennis S
Messages: 3046
Registered: November 2005
Karma: 2
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Desmond,
Perhaps you might drain the oil pan and catch a sample to check for the same "dirt" you see on the dipstick. If you saved the small particles, try crushing them -- use a smooth side like the bottom of a spoon and crush against a flat metal plate. If they are small enough to get through the oil pickup screen, in my opinion, they will either get crushed by the oil pump gears or filtered out.
As for the replacement manifold gasket -- they would have had to remove the manifold to install the new gaskets and would have seen into the valley at that time. Did they install block off plates then or did you already have them?
Dennis Sexton
73 GMC
Germantown, TN
USA
-----Original Message-----
From: James Hupy <jamesh1296@gmail.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Tue, Oct 12, 2010 6:54 pm
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Trip report: Fleetweek and Chico, CA
Sounds to me like maybe some caked oil crud got dislodged from the bottom of
he manifold or the turkey pan type gasket. There is easily enough crud to
e found there to be a problem with clogging up the oil pump pickup screen.
sk the people who did the R & R if they encountered any coked up oil, & if
o what they did with it. This is one place where it is better to be safe
han sorry. If you have a mess in the oil pan, the only sure way to remedy
t is to pull the engine and remove the pan and oil pump & clean the screen.
ope that there hasn't been any damage to the rod & main bearings, but they
hould be checked also. At the least, have an oil analysis done.
im Hupy
alem, Or
8 Royale 403
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
Current Time: Sun Nov 17 02:13:51 CST 2024
Total time taken to generate the page: 0.02910 seconds
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
