Engine reseal cost?

I have an oil leak I was going to get repaired today. I was told it was the pan so I got the pan, mount, and gasket. Service department went to repair it and now they say it's leaking from the top and I need to get the engine dropped out and resealed. Any idea how much that would cost me?

It's probably the back valve cover gasket.

I have seen quotes in the $2,000 - $4,000 range on other web sites for "engine reseal" work.

What I suggest:

- find out where it's really leaking from by washing the engine then finding leaks
- if the rear main, if the leak is not too bad then have it fixed when you next have transmission service. If the leak is substantial you may want to "bite the banana' and have that repaired.
- if valve covers, DIY.
- might be the intake manifold gasket, that's DIY too but takes longer, there's lotsa stuff to move

So... from the shop's perspective if you buy into this Resealed thing it gets rid of their risk in terms of guessing that the leak is one thing and turns out to be something else... because they guessed at it instead of washing the engine, then running it a while and looking again in a few days/weeks. Also, seals do age although not really anything like they used to in the 60's - '70s.

Can you wash the engine yourself then use an inspection mirror to get a better look behind the engine, determining where the leak is?

Took it to a family members mechanic a d he says just need to replace both valve covers and oil pan. Does anyone know the part # for the valve gasket set that comes with the circle pieces?

Felpro VS50465R
http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=261178&cc=1022038&jsn=474

Assuming a 96-99 Riviera?

Ok thanks. I have this https://www.amazon.com/General-Motors-24503937-Engine-Gasket/dp/B00M38S7A2. . My mechanic said to order one more of those and the ones Larry posted. What's the difference? Do I really need all of these?

RivieraRyan wrote:

Ok thanks. I have this https://www.amazon.com/General-Motors-24503937-Engine-Gasket/dp/B00M38S7A2. . My mechanic said to order one more of those and the ones Larry posted. What's the difference? Do I really need all of these?

Got me, you need 2 valve cover gaskets. The Felpro part number I listed has 2 gaskets. Have a look on rockauto

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/buick,1998,riviera,3.8l+v6+supercharged,1303322,engine,valve+cover+gasket,10710

Ok I ordered the Fel-Pro. I also figure I'll get him to put in new trunk shocks so the lid will stay up and I have a bad socket where my 3rd brake light is. Wouldn't happen to have the part numbers for those as well would you?

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/buick,1998,riviera,3.8l+v6+supercharged,1303322,body,lift+support,1404

It is very unlikely that your high mount brake bulb socket is bad. I can tell you from experience that it is easy to install the socket back wards. If you look carefully at the socket, it has a clip that pushes on to contacts on the socket itself. It can clip on two ways, and if you clip it on backwards, there will be intermittent contact. I did that once and could not understand why that one bulb would not stay lit. If I moved the wires around with someone holding the brake pedal, the bulb would light, then not. It was because the wire connection was clipped on backwards. I just reversed the clip and that fixed it. That may be your problem. Not much can go wrong with a bulb socket in that location.

I'll have him check the socket out before I order that part then. Which lift support should i get? Do they come ad a pair or do I have to buy 2?

You have to buy 2 if you want to replace both. I would unbolt the ones on the car and see if they are both weak, or maybe one is. Then, based on that, order 1 or 2. I would get the Monroes. They seem to be the cheapest.

LARRY70GS wrote:

You have to buy 2 if you want to replace both.  I would unbolt the ones on the car and see if they are both weak, or maybe one is.  Then, based on that, order 1 or 2.  I would get the Monroes.  They seem to be the cheapest.

Larry is right --- but if this is your first replacement and you have the $$ replace both; one will be stronger than the other but either will be weaker than a good quality new one... they tend to fail on schedule... If in checking them you find that they are real uneven it's possible/likely that one was replaced and the one that remained is now weak. Confirmation of that might be if they are different brands, or (if you can decipher them) different date codes.

Oil leak is fixed. However, I need a power steering rack and pump. I think ill get a refurbished rack off ebay. Does anyone know the part# for a peer steering pump? Also, the part# for the 3rd brake light socket (the dealer removed mine after they determined it was bad)?

I have a1998 SC btw

Ryan,
rockauto is very easy to use. User friendly. Just click on what you need for part numbers.

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/buick,1998,riviera,3.8l+v6+supercharged,1303322,steering

LARRY70GS wrote:

Ryan,
          rockauto is very easy to use.  User friendly.  Just click on what you need for part numbers.

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/buick,1998,riviera,3.8l+v6+supercharged,1303322,steering

+ 1 on that.  They (rock auto) took a while to get the portal to be as good as it is.  When they can they show the GM part number along with the OEM's part number.  If you want you can then plug the GM part number into the search box at gmpartsdirect.com to compare prices and what not.

Those CHMSL light sockets are more or less generic.  I'd pull one off of a similar late '90s GM car in a pick and pull.

As for that PS pump and rack, people don't usually junk their cars over those, you are as likely as not to get a good one from a pick and pull or a junkyard. But check out RockAuto pricing on a delco reman. Might not be bad.

The rockauto site only offered remanufactured pumps and numbers. I spoke with parts department and they gave me part#26086103.

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/oe-gm/26086103

I don't think it comes with a reservoir cap. Is that a big deal?

RivieraRyan wrote:

The rockauto site only offered remanufactured pumps  and numbers. I spoke with parts department  and they gave me part#26086103.  

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/oe-gm/26086103

I don't think it comes with a reservoir cap. Is that a big deal?

My info is that SKU is the rebuilt core of the pump, comes without any peripherals - no reservoir, no pump, no mounting bracket, no pulley... I see the same SKU advertised as new and as rebuilt different places.

I'd get a JY part and either swap on the correct reservoir or a new reservoir from dealer, unless the JY reservoir fit the available space and/or was at least at large as the old one. As for a cap, if yours is NG just get one from almost any decent auto parts store in the HELP section.