2013 is starting to suck...

[83GMCK2500]

I haven't mentioned anything on here yet, but this year is starting out pretty rough. I decided to go back to school after a couple years off and finish my education. Going back to school has been a whirlwind with it's own sources of stress and frustration. What I did not need was for my only vehicle to be a source of stress as well...

About a year ago I was fed up with the timing cover spewing oil out and preserving my truck from the bottom up, I pulled it and the oil pan, new gaskets, speedi-sleeve on the HB and lots of Ultra-Black. Also, new water pump and thermostat. Everything was fine until about 4 months ago, I had been checking my oil once a week and topping off as needed, very little in fact...much less than the 2-3 qts/3,000miles when it was leaking. So yeah, 4 months ago or so a friend of mine pointed out the blue puff when I started it from the driver's side (dual exhaust, no crossover). I can see it now on both sides, it isn't bad but it is noticeable on startup.

Last week I did an oil change and for the first time I put the big 1-1/2-2 qt filter on. I wasn't paying attention to that big friggen jug of Castrol GTX that I bought and I didn't see that it was a 5 qt jug. Ended up about 1 qt OVER the Full mark when it was all said and done. It has been consuming/leaking (again, wet around fuel pump) about 1.5-2 qts/3,000 mi. Part of me wanted to give that big filter a chance to saturate and see where it leveled off at and another part of me wanted to say F-it and let it consume/leak down to operating level. I did... I left it alone. I have driven it approximately 300 miles since the oil change, including up and over Snoqualmie Pass on I-90. Basically to Ellensburg, WA and back from Seattle, WA. Today on my way back I was stopped at a light briefly and I smelled that lovely smell of burning oil. It wasn't strong, but it was noticeable. Like when you spill a little on your exhaust manifold because the F***ING funnel spins or something stupid and it burns off shortly after you fire it off. I normally keep it down around 60-65 (limit 70) because I can get almost 14 MPG that way. Today I was late on the way there and impatient on the way back...I kept it near 3,000RPM (75ish) for the majority of the drive. Everything's been skookum on the guages, idle oil pressure is just over 45, running down the road the needle was bisecting the 6 in "60", so 65-68??? Temperature was 155-160 on the flat, 170-180 pushing it up the pass. I got home, parked it, let it sit about 5 min, went out and pulled the dipstick... :ADD: F!... REALLY? 2 qts gone in 300 miles? FML...

Thoughts?

Oh yeah, if anyone has read my History it should illustrate how deeply I care for my truck, how much I appreciate it, how much I try to take care of it. As of last week it is no longer as pristine and straight as it was. I had taken an exit ramp off US18W and the road was wet, I was traveling slower than posted, and when I clutched to downshift I applied the brakes, locked up the rears, put me into a spin...last revolution I hit a guardrail. Words...text...typing cannot describe my fury and anguish. There is no amount of CAPS Lock and !@#$%^&* symbols to describe how I feel...

Anyone have ANY IDEA where I can find another one of these bumpers in near-show quality condition? Any idea what company made it? My dad put it on when the truck was new.