03' GMC LB7....Trouble Brewing?

ToddyKioti · 07-24-2008, 04:34 PM

Hi Everyone.

First of all, I have been searching posts and soaking in a lot of great information from the posts that I have read. This is an excellent site and I hope that some day I will be able to give back to this community. Yes, I am a diesel newbie with the exception of my tractor.

I purchased a used 03' GMC 2500HD a little over a month ago. For a while, I was impressed but it seems that it is slowly loosing the power that it once had.

On Saturday, the SES light came on. I checked all fluid levels and everything was normal except the oil...it wreaked of fuel and was at the top edge of the "bullet" on the dipstick.

I have put 2,000 miles on the truck since the purchase and at the time of purchase I checked the oil...It was right on the "F" indent.

Thinking the worst (injector issue) I take it to the local GMC dealer. There I am told that it is "Just the EGR Valve", and that they "could not verify fuel in the oil." At checkout I express my concern because to the best of my knowledge, no engine has ever been produced that can create it's own oil. The lady laughed but I failed to see the humor...I was serious.

Long story short. I drove the truck home (unfortunately did not check oil at dealer) and now it is 3/4" above the "F" mark on the dipstick. It is "watery" and wreaks of diesel.

Please help me understand the following.

1.) How much of a fuel smell is normal in the oil of a diesel motor?

2.) A $467 EGR valve replacement is a good price?

3.) How can I prove that there is diesel in the oil? (i.e. test lab, etc?)

I do not want to sound like I am trying to pin it on the injectors but something just does not seem right here. I understand that the EGR could reduce engine power but driving this reminds me of my old 1996 ford 7.3 without turbo. I highly doubt that this is normal.

Thanks again for all the information you folks have provided.

Todd

tjtolleson · 07-24-2008, 04:54 PM

if you have a lb7 you should not have a EGR.

ToddyKioti · 07-24-2008, 05:39 PM

Please do not tell me that tj, cause that is what I have. That is what they replaced

mromoney · 07-24-2008, 07:49 PM

My 04 does'nt have a EGR, your should'nt underless it from Cally. So trucks have it. not a goodthing if you smell diesel in the oil, drain the oil and change it to check for diesel. Runs Amsoil too. 15w-40

**deeretracks** · 07-24-2008, 08:06 PM

I thank you need to go to a different dealer and have it checked out. And if it is the injectors they have a 7yr. 200,000mile warranty on them regardless of who owns the truck.

**daddysLBZ** · 07-24-2008, 08:32 PM

Sound like injector prob to me,hopefully for you it's not,but the clues point to that,insist on them checking the rates on the injectors,when they can tell you know what your talkin about,they will help you,and they won't think about taking you for a goose chase...

ToddyKioti · 07-25-2008, 06:41 AM

Thank you for the replies!

I took the truck to a respectable dealer in hoping that they would be thorough.

The work order clearly states that they replaced the EGR vavle because it was "stuck open" and that the code was a p0404 "EGR open position performance. "

Now I am confused and getting very frustrated. I do not want to shell out another $500 for diagnostics.

gr8shot · 07-25-2008, 07:39 AM

It must be a cali truck then if its got egr stuff on it. But yeah it's got to be the injectors. "making oil" is one of the big BIG signs that there's one bad. I would INSIST that the dealership check the injectors, and since its there, if you haven't changed the oil, make SURE that they check it, and smell it!!! Since it is most likley the injectors that are bad, you shouldn't have to pay a penny to get them replaced.

If they say that they're not bad, tell them they're morons!! Also, you might find a copy of the TSB on this site, and print it out and take it with you. That way if they give you any static, you can just whip it out and show em your not an idiot.

ToddyKioti · 07-25-2008, 10:44 AM

The carfax report that I pulled before buying the truck shows that it was originally sold in Massachusetts. Not California. Is there any way to know if this truck came stock with an EGR?

**ob_1jr** · 07-25-2008, 11:39 AM

if you had federal emissions, the LB7 engine did not come with EGR period. You need to know what emissions is on your truck. It sounds like your injectors are going bad (actually already have). That is a line they are giving you about not being able to test your oil for fuel in it. If you really needed to (I think your nose was good enough since the oild should NOT smell like diesel) you could take an oil sample and send it in. Go to my garage and download and print out the special policy 04039...there is a newer one out than what I have, but it only adds VIN numbers to the policy (additional trucks).