Hello everyone. I am new to this forum. I just bought a used 89 S-10 Blazer for 700 bucks. I had to put 1500 bucks into it for it to pass inspection. So I did all of that and ran it for about a week. Well guess what, now it is leaking oil pretty bad. Took it to a couple places and it appears to be the rear main oil seal that went bad. I'm looking at a bill of at least 1000 bucks. I have NO money left. What can I do? The engine is a 2.8 with 150,000 miles. Is there something I can add to the oil to try and stop the leak. I pretty much NEVER drive it. I ride a motorcycle all year so I only need the truck when it's pouring rain, snowing or ice on the ground. I would only drive the truck maybe 2000 miles a year. I can replace the engine probably at the begining of next year but I can't do it now. I pray that there is something I can do to get another couple thousand miles out of it. Right now I'm at the point that my only choice is to deal with the leak and keep the oil level filled but I hate doing that.

Please.... any help would be greatly appreciated.

"You ain't gonna like this"

Anything you "add" to the oil to attempt to seal the rear main will only cause other problems in perhaps blocking oil passages.

You didn't mention the type of tranny, but if it is a stick, drop the tranny, pull the clutch and put a new seal in.

I know it's not what you wanted to hear.

Good Luck!

Damn, your right, that isn't what I really wanted to hear. It is a manual and that is exactly what the tech told me I would need to do. Just that it's about 10 hours labor he said and at 85 bucks and hour I just can't afford it. I have the Haynes manual and have read and read how to take the tranny out but that is something I really don't feel comfortable doing. Ughhhh. This is not cool. I have a feeling I just lost a lot of money...

$85 an hour?

Go to someone else.

I only spend $50 an hour here and get excellent service.

If this mechanic told you 10 hours and he is doing this over a pit or on a lift....... no way!

Shouldn't take more than 1.5 hours on a lift to remove. Another hour, at most, to drop the clutch and flywheel and install the seal. and another 2.5 to reinstall everything. What's that,,,, 5 hours? OK, maybe 6 but certainly not 10!

And BlazerLT, if you look at his profile, you will see that he is from a high rent area. It is all what the market will bear. The cost of living is higher where he is from.

Like Mikaldo14 said, DO NOT add anything to your engine oil other than licensed engine oil. They(after market addities) ARENOT all that they always appear to be. Get the leak fixed. YOu maybe short in the pocket initially but in the long run you'll come out a head.

Damn, your right, that isn't what I really wanted to hear. It is a manual and that is exactly what the tech told me I would need to do. Just that it's about 10 hours labor he said and at 85 bucks and hour I just can't afford it. I have the Haynes manual and have read and read how to take the tranny out but that is something I really don't feel comfortable doing. Ughhhh. This is not cool. I have a feeling I just lost a lot of money...

What oil are you using and is it 5w30?

What oil filter are you using?

What oil are you using and is it 5w30?

What oil filter are you using?

I'm not exactly sure about either. I got it changed at NTB and would assume they would use OE stuff. Wouldn't surprise if they did not though.

I've actually had a week of good luck even with this bad news. Turns out in the Motorcycle Riding Club I am in there is an individual that works on cars. He is going to help me put in a new engine. Figured since the engine has 150,000 miles on it I might as well change it out and while I'm there throw a new clutch in as well. Hope it all works out for me.

I'm not exactly sure about either. I got it changed at NTB and would assume they would use OE stuff. Wouldn't surprise if they did not though.

I've actually had a week of good luck even with this bad news. Turns out in the Motorcycle Riding Club I am in there is an individual that works on cars. He is going to help me put in a new engine. Figured since the engine has 150,000 miles on it I might as well change it out and while I'm there throw a new clutch in as well. Hope it all works out for me.

Never blindly assume anything.

What is a NTB?

These engines go for 300,000 to 400,000 miles if kept in proper shape.

Replacing an engine just because of a rear seal is just plain silly and a waste of time and effort.

NTB = National Tire and Battery

Ah, but my thought still remains, dropping in a new engine because of a rear seal is just throwing money away.

Never blindly assume anything.

What is a NTB?

These engines go for 300,000 to 400,000 miles if kept in proper shape.

Replacing an engine just because of a rear seal is just plain silly and a waste of time and effort.

Wow, really, 3 - 400,000? Well if that's the case I agree, it would be a waste of time. One of the reasons I was looking into doing that is giving me an chance to upgrade to a 3.4. I understand I can swap to that engine without having to change a lot of stuff. The 2.8 at 150,000 miles feels very weak to me but not sure it's worth throwing away a couple years of good use from it.

Yep, to see other vehicles and their mileage go to the S-10 category and page 2, look at "show off your S-10 miles". My 94 4.3L blazer has 200,500 and hopefully will keep on motorin.

Exactly, these engines are bulletproof and just can't be killed if maintained properly.

I just went thru the exact same thing and a word of advice is"junk it".
My 2.8 was leaking oil bad from the rear main seal and got a price of 550 to fix it.I told him to do it.My guy pulled the motor and figured he would do the oil pan gasket while it was out.When he dropped the pan the thrust bearing was bad.He said it would be an extra $100 to change it so I told him to go ahead.When he removed the bearing it had grooved the crank which would add another $300 to the bill to replace.The machine shop told him that this is a known problem with the 2.8L.Now the bill is getting close to a grand if I let him do it and there is no telling how long the top end will last after the bottom is rebuilt.Everyone who knows anything about these vehicles told me the same thing."Cut my losses and get another one with a 4.3l" I towed the truck to my house to part out because it's in pretty good shape and bought another one with a 4.3L for $600.The engine crappin out was the best thing that ever happened.The new truck with the 4.3L is peppy and actually fun to drive.Now when I hit the gas this truck can really move unlike the slow-ass 2.8L. If your truck is really mint and you want to keep it then get the 4.3L that GM sells as a drop in for the defective 2.8L engine.You just have to add an electric fuel pump as there is no place for a manual pump that the 2.8L uses. It goes for about $2000 so the truck better be in real nice shape if your gonna drop that kind of cash into it. If anyone need any S10 or S15 parts drop me an email because im not gonna keep the other one in my driveway for too long. athreeway@hotmail.com
Good luck...