Worth it????

[Jmagdaz]

2007 LTZ with 172,000.
Let me start by saying I love this truck I have set it up perfectly for my tastes over the last 4 years of ownership and struggle with the idea of having to step out of it into something with lower mileage in the near future.
At its last checkup a slight oil leak is developing from the driver side head. I’m told it’s common with high mileage 5.3 Ltr engines.
My questions revolve around what to do.
I’m guessing head gasket repair is out because of the mileage. Band aid on a time bomb?
Engine replacement?? What would advise for replacement. If I go this route I would prefer to put some performance back in its place, instead of the anemic stock version of the 5.3.
What would you guys recommend? Keep in mind it is my wife’s daily/family hauler, so reliability is key.

 

[swathdiver]

2007 LTZ with 172,000.
Let me start by saying I love this truck I have set it up perfectly for my tastes over the last 4 years of ownership and struggle with the idea of having to step out of it into something with lower mileage in the near future.
At its last checkup a slight oil leak is developing from the driver side head. I’m told it’s common with high mileage 5.3 Ltr engines.
My questions revolve around what to do.
I’m guessing head gasket repair is out because of the mileage. Band aid on a time bomb?
Engine replacement?? What would advise for replacement. If I go this route I would prefer to put some performance back in its place, instead of the anemic stock version of the 5.3.
What would you guys recommend? Keep in mind it is my wife’s daily/family hauler, so reliability is key.

Are you saying that the head gasket is leaking oil??? Well, if it is, you could fix it and go on your way for another 130K or more. These motors last a long time. Or you could remove AFM (get tuned), replace the oil pump pickup o-ring, put in a mild cam and put it back together and keep enjoying it. If you put a 6.2 in front of the transmission, which is a popular swap, you'll likely be needing a transmission sooner than later but those L9Hs are good for miles of smiles! Not sure how'd they work with a 4-speed though.

They also put aluminum 6.0s, the L76 in these with the beefed up 4L70s. They are rated for 366 horsepower or so stock.

 

[Ilikemtb999]

Are you sure it’s not just a valve cover gasket?

 

[Jmagdaz]

I’m not sure that it isn’t a valve cover gasket. I have the same “Indy” shop do all the work on it since I bought in 2014.
I’m taking their word for it. He says it’s common, to leak there around 200k.
I don’t mind spending the money, but was afraid if I make that repair, then it snowballs. Might as well pull both heads and half them gone through.... and a mild cam.... I don’t want to get caught in the old adage of “the operation was a success, but the patient died”...
always been told at these high mileages if you renew the upper end the bottom will fail in short order( don’t know if that’s true or not)

 

[kbuskill]

I am not certain it is a "common problem"... in fact this is the first i have heard of this.

I have an '08 Burb with 5.3l with almost 230k miles and she runs great.. and no oil leaking from the heads, or anywhere else really.

I too would suspect the valve cover gaskets before the head gaskets.

 

[Jmagdaz]

Ok. I’ll do some looking around under the hood.
I really trust this shop and wierd thing is, they don’t do heavy main line repair, so it’s not a case of “padding the work order” for a higher invoice...

 

[Ilikemtb999]

I’ve also just never heard of bone stock LS’s leaking oil from a head gasket. Usually it’s coolant and it’s either burning in the cylinders or dumping in the crank case. Even then a stock ls with HG failure doesn’t seem to be common.

 

[kbuskill]

How much oil is the truck using between oil changes???

I would get some brake cleaner and spray the area in question then watch it closely for a bit to see what happens. It will be easier to determine where the oil is coming from.

 

[Doubeleive]

ya I have never heard of these engines leaking anything from the head, like joel said they sometimes get a small crack and then burn coolant (happened to me on my nbs) but otherwise if there going to leak anywhere (commonly) it's going to be the rear main.

 

[Tonyrodz]

ya I have never heard of these engines leaking anything from the head, like joel said they sometimes get a small crack and then burn coolant (happened to me on my nbs) but otherwise if there going to leak anywhere (commonly) it's going to be the rear main.

Isn't that issue common only to the Castech heads?