Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Bad Head Gasket

[RManwell]

Sounds like I have a bad head gasket (Thanks Josh from 911) blowing stinky white smoke, rough idle, and very slow to pick up speed, blowing oil out the dip stick tube. After Josh gave me a little ammo I went and talked to two shops One said it would be about $750. 00 if its just a head gasket and the other said $800. 00 so that's cool but they also said I might have a hole in a piston and or scored cylinder wall and the scored wall would take a rebuild at about $5500. 00 that seems like lot more than $750. 00. I wasn't sure about the rebuild. Any suggestions?



Thanks



97 Dodge 250 Stock 4speed 4x4 180k

 

[hsmith]

Head has to come off anyway, so decide then. Hole in piston on stock engine would be an uncommon problem even with more miles than yours.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Very unlikely it's the engine. Before Cummins upgraded the head gasket design in '98, the stock headgasket was typically good for about 200,000 miles.



Vaughn

 

[CToney]

Make sure to get your head done ie resurfaced and valves done before putting it back on and check headbolts for proper length. Do the KDP fix and do any gaskets that are leaking etc.

 

[RManwell]

Compression is something like 200 on 3 of the 6 and the rest at 300 so it sounds like I might need to replace it???? Should I rebuild or used? I'd like to keep the cost down as much as I can. I'm in colorado if you know of any thing used. thanks

 

[hsmith]

I have the one I took off mine. Replaced with a new one just because. Has 150k on it.