[01stepside]

Hey guys long time no see lol anyways...my 01 silverado 1500 stepside was flashing the change oil light and I knew it was about time to change it but was going to hold off until payday, but yesterday I was helping my girlfriend clean up her yard a bit and hauling stuff to the scrap yard and dump when on our last trip the light for check eng oil level started flashing. It kinda freaked me out so I cut the truck off and checked it. Of course it was just at the first hole on the dipstick so we just quit for the day. I honestly figured that it was probably only a quart low cause we had drove it about 60 miles with only about 10 minutes in between stops and the oils just hadn't had a lot of time to run back down into the pan. We let it sit for the rest of the day and when I drove it home no lights came on. Well this morning I was going to go ahead and change the oil before church and I pulled it into the garage, got under it, and found a belt hanging under the truck...so instead of going to church I worked on it. It scared me at first but I just changed the oil and pulled the belt out. Now, first thing I noticed was when I pulled the drain plug out, the oil was black which after 5000 miles I kinda expected but it came out super slow instead of shooting halfway across the garage like it normally does. Also it was freezing cold, and yes it's been about 30-40* or less around Jacksonville, NC the past week and all I did today was move it from outside to inside the garage today. The belt however, is the AC belt which is ok I guess since I don't use AC in the winter but what scares me is that it is super oily and split about halfway in the grooves of the belt. I'm not sure how long it has been hanging off the crank pulley but around the oil pan is also really oily...is it possible the crank is leaking by the pulley? Should I not be overly concerned and just keep an eye on it? Or should I not drive it till it gets fixed?

I really appreciate any and all help guys.

Here are some pics after I got it out

 

[j cat]

first the oil change must be done with the engine at normal operating temp.oil changes with cold oil drain are not recommended.

the belt issue with this oil I would say you will need a new ac compressor. these have belt for ac only and this is good on many GM vehicles this is a killer since the belt is one and is for everything...
the oil on belt etc may be the compressor oil seals blew out then the seizing of the ac compressor. I had this also occur on my 1996 impala.

see if you can rotate the ac drive belt pulley / also compressor. if not then disconnect the low pressure cutout switch until you have time / money for the ac compressor repair.