63k, no mods & a I need a new engine?

[ooutsider]

So Monday it was around 100 degrees here in Philly and my truck sat outside my office all day. It was my first very hot day with the truck (bought it used this Feb) so i was watching the temp and it stayed normal for the short trip even though there was quite a bit of traffic and lots of stop and go. I drove about 15 miles without the A/C because the muffler delete is a new mod and i am still in novelty mode with the sound... but when i got to my intermediate destination and got out i heard the sound of liquid dripping onto the ground. As i said, no AC and it didn't overheat according to the temp guage so i was thinking maybe the overflow was full or something. When i popped the hood i saw an ominous mix of (what i assume to be) antifreeze and oil hissing out the corner of the head. I let it cool down for about half an hour and drove it 5 miles to the dealer where it has been ever since. When they called yesterday they told me it was a water pump, which was difficult for me to believe was the culprit having seen where the liquid was coming from. But they said in order to pressure test the system they would have to replace the pump first. Today i called and i was told that they pulled the radiator cap and it had lots of oil mixed in the antifreeze... apparently enough that the cap was covered in goo. He told me that there was a definite possibility that they would have to replace the engine. How is this possible? How often does it happen? It's obviously under warranty, mileage/age-wise anyway, and i was told it was covered but that is my only saving grace. Do i just have rotten luck?

 

[firemansdiesel]

Did you get a truck history on the prior owner? It most likely had a problem when you bought it and finally got to a point of carnage and let go on you.



It may of had engine work on before and possibility didn't do a flush of the system (if needed it).



Atleast you are covered under warranty instead of a rough $10 grand.

 

[GColeman]

Sounds like a head gasket. Until they remove the head and inspect it along with pistons and cylinder walls for damage, it seems a little early to call for a new engine.



Keep us posted on what the dealer comes up with. If it is bad news, a factory warranty on your stock engine is a wonderful thing.

 

[WPeschel]

Sounds like a head gasket. Until they remove the head and inspect it along with pistons and cylinder walls for damage, it seems a little early to call for a new engine.



Keep us posted on what the dealer comes up with. If it is bad news, a factory warranty on your stock engine is a wonderful thing.

I agree... They will prolly just slap a new headgasket on it and call it a day... . Make sure you use comet to clean the oil out of the cooling system...

 

[Motorhead]

I'd take it somewhere ELSE! Obviously your dealer is clueless.

 

[ooutsider]

Update

Update: The dealer ordered a block today and the work was cleared through the service manager and the district manager. According to my service adviser since I am almost at the end of my powertrain warranty they are replacing the engine to ensure that damage doesn't create issues down the road. I take it from the responses that this is not the normal procedure for what seems to be a blown head gasket. Are there any downsides to this course of action? Should i be fighting to keep the old block? I was told i would have the truck back Wednesday.

 

[JCleary]

Update: The dealer ordered a block today and the work was cleared through the service manager and the district manager. According to my service adviser since I am almost at the end of my powertrain warranty they are replacing the engine to ensure that damage doesn't create issues down the road. I take it from the responses that this is not the normal procedure for what seems to be a blown head gasket. Are there any downsides to this course of action? Should i be fighting to keep the old block? I was told i would have the truck back Wednesday.

Wow. Your dealer is taking care of you.



No downsides. They're not going to let you keep the old block, as they'll send it in for remanufacturing. Hopefully they ordered a long block, there's usually no reason to replace the bottom end due to a failed HG...



I believe the warranty repair should have its own warranty, so you're good to go. Maybe the previous owner had some mods that he/she hid?

 

[ooutsider]

Thanks, JC, i should clarify though I did not think they would allow me to keep the old block, I just wondered if there was any reason to push for them not completely replace it. You bring up a good question though... does my cummins warranty reset with the new block or am i still running with the original warranty?

 

[JCleary]

It won't be re-set, but you should have the remainder of the original 7/70 and 100k motor warranty. Plus the repair itself should have something like a 1 year warranty IIRC.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

well, it was probably just a head gasket, but that is AWESOME that they're relpacing the engine under warranty!!!

 

[jgillott]

well, it was probably just a head gasket, but that is AWESOME that they're relpacing the engine under warranty!!!

I agree. It's more than what I would have expected them to do. Oo.

 

[GColeman]

Update: The dealer ordered a block today and the work was cleared through the service manager and the district manager. According to my service adviser since I am almost at the end of my powertrain warranty they are replacing the engine to ensure that damage doesn't create issues down the road. I take it from the responses that this is not the normal procedure for what seems to be a blown head gasket. Are there any downsides to this course of action? Should i be fighting to keep the old block? I was told i would have the truck back Wednesday.

Just curious, did they tell you what kind of damage they found? It had to be more than just a blown head gasket. Glad they are taking care of you.

 

[HBarlow]

You're a lucky man. A factory rebuilt engine is likely to be much better than one rebuilt by a dealer mechanic who rarely, if ever, rebuilds one himself. Total failures of the trusty ISB engine are pretty rare. I don't mean to imply a criticism of a dealership mechanic, just stating the fact that he probably doesn't rebuild them very often.



I wonder what actually failed and why? Since you bought it used I suspect a previous owner modified it and carefully removed the evidence and traded it in.