Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) BAD News....Blown Head Gasket.....!!

[Katmandu]

Looooooong Story Short.

For those that don't know about my situation already... ... .

Bought my 98 CTD on Fri Dec 23. Dealer was to repair an oil leak (as signed agreement before the sale). Took it in Mon Dec 26th. Was in the Shop almost (1) MONTH. JUST picked it up last evening (Jan. 18th)

Here's the WHOLE story in this thread.....

http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/showthread.php?p=873798#post873798

ANYWAYS... ... ... ... ... .....

BAD NEWS... ... My truck is BACK AT THE SHOP.

Got it back last evening. Drove around town today doing errands. Had to attend a meeting a work (56 mile roundtrip 99% Hwy). Go to get off the Exit off the Highway and then Guage Alarm starts DINGING. I'm like WTH ?? Look over the guages and notice the Oil Guage PEGGED all the way to the LEFT. ZERO OIL PRESSURE!! I coast over to a gas station (Couple hundred feet). Pop hood and check the oil level. I also notice that the Coolant overflow was spewing out some Coolant. (ODD I thought). There was barely ANY oil on the stick AT ALL. All indications it was DOWN 5-6 qts. I went and double checked the Coolant Temp guage (was NOT reading high a few minutes prior). The Coolant Temp was FINE (maybe 160-170 degrees). I went bought some oil and filled it back up. I live about 1/4 mile from the station so I babied it home.

Got home and started inspecting everything under the hood/truck for possible oil leaks. I then went and popped the cap for the Coolant recovery bottle. This is when I notice the bottle was FULL of OIL !!!!!! I'm like HOLY S$%TT !!!! :-laf

Called the Dealership. Got it flatbedded over there and got another loaner car.
I've only driven this truck < 100 miles since I picked it up yesterday evening. I gave absolutely NO indication of driveability issues or any steam out the tailpipe etc... . NO indication whatsoever that something was wrong!

So... . Looks like (at the very least) the head gasket is toast! What the hell would cause the headgasket to fail in this situation ????

The Dealership is going to assess the situation tomorrow and get back with me.
Not sure how/where to proceed from here.

 

[RoadGoesOnForever]

Without reading your thread on the other site, it sounds to me like an oil cooler issue, not a headgasket. Are you sure that is not one of the leaks the dealer fixed and possibly they did not do the job right?

 

[Katmandu]

Without reading your thread on the other site, it sounds to me like an oil cooler issue, not a headgasket. Are you sure that is not one of the leaks the dealer fixed and possibly they did not do the job right?

Oil Cooler ?? I wasn't aware it had one. How are they plumbed in ??

How could the Oil get into the Cooling system from the Oil Cooler ???

 

[RoadGoesOnForever]

It is bolted to the block just ahead of the turbo. The cooler is sandwiched between the block and oil cooler cover. If the gasket leaks or the cooler itself is compromised then you will get oil into the coolant since while the engine is running oil pressure is higher than coolant pressure.

 

[Katmandu]

It is bolted to the block just ahead of the turbo. The cooler is sandwiched between the block and oil cooler cover. If the gasket leaks or the cooler itself is compromised then you will get oil into the coolant since while the engine is running oil pressure is higher than coolant pressure.

Anyone have diagrams of this Oil Cooler ??

So it's cooled by Coolant and NOT by Air ????

 

[RoadGoesOnForever]

Anyone have diagrams of this Oil Cooler ??



So it's cooled by Coolant and NOT by Air ????

That is correct. The oil cooler has a steady flow of oil through it and it is surrounded by coolant.

 

[Katmandu]

That is correct. The oil cooler has a steady flow of oil through it and it is surrounded by coolant.

Very interesting... ... .

I'd like to find a diagram/picture of this setup.

 

[tp0d]

Here is what one looks like. . havent been able to find a diagram of how it mounts to the block. but all the previous posts are correct. .



http://webtruckparts.com/catalog/ak-3921558_3736773.htm



cost on this puppy is 98$. . not too bad...



good luck



-j

 

[Katmandu]

That is correct. The oil cooler has a steady flow of oil through it and it is surrounded by coolant.

Then the Cooling element (fins) are mounted INSIDE the Cooling passages of the Block ?? Is this Correct ??

#ad

 

[BPINE]

That is correct.

 

[DPS]

They fail regularly for several reasons, make sure they check it first before they pull the head off. oil cooler gaskets are about 25 dollars for the pair and and the core can be pressure checked with air on the work bench. All this can be done in about an hour so its for sure the cheapest place to start. The bad news is I have also seen head gaskets fail the same way as you describe, but I always start with the cooler unless I find combustion gas in the radiator.



Josh



www.dieselperformancesolutions.com

 

[Katmandu]

They fail regularly for several reasons, make sure they check it first before they pull the head off. Josh

Roger that Josh. I did ask the Service Mgr to check it as well.

They did a Pressure check today on the Cooling system while the engine was COLD. The SM said it passed. They are going to do more tests on Monday.

What are the chances of any internal engine damage if the Oil was contamintated with Coolant ?? It was driven < 5 miles.

 

[Signal73]

I think I would be in the return line with reciept in hand at the dealership asking for my money back by now. You are one understanding person I must give you credit for

 

[DPS]

Probably not a real threat since you were not beating on it. I drained 2 gallons of coolant out of an oil pan that had been run for several miles and the bearings showed no signs of coolant damage. However nothing is ever certain. Also double check on how they checked the cooling system. I have a 91 in the shop I am putting a HG in, it held 20 psi over night in the cooling system, but when it warmed up it started pushing combustion into the radiator. Ended up it had a small spot about a 1/16 wide that was opening up when hot, but cold it would hold pressure.



Josh



www.dieselperformancesolutions.com

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

If I'm not mistaken the last, or recent, issue of TDR mag had an article on the coolers.



Do you folks read the mag, or just look at the pictures. :-laf

 

[Joe Mc]

Do you folks read the mag, or just look at the pictures. :-laf

What mag are you getting? The one they send me has only pictures :{ :-laf

 

[Katmandu]

I think I would be in the return line with reciept in hand at the dealership asking for my money back by now. You are one understanding person I must give you credit for

Man, it comes at a Price believe you me! This crap is REALLY getting to me! Plus the wife is pisssed cause I spent so much money on a high mileage vehicle. And now this crap!

I owe ALOT of Credit to the folks here on TDR and DTR for the Moral support that has been given to me. I can't say enough how much that means at a time like this.

BTW, I've only driven my truck (3) days since I bought it Dec. 23rd. (2) days before it went into the shop and (1) day after it came back out! Another BIG pisser is I "just" made my 1st Payment on it this past Thursday!

I'm begining to really loose my patience with this whole mess... ... .

 

[Katmandu]

If I'm not mistaken the last, or recent, issue of TDR mag had an article on the coolers.

Do you folks read the mag, or just look at the pictures. :-laf

I haven't even received my 1st issue yet.

 

[PSchwering]

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=139360



This first gen thread shows the general setup of the oil coolers. P.

 

[Katmandu]

Just got a call from the Service Manager who confirmed it had a blown head gasket.

I'm going to talk with the Sales Manager tomorrow AM to ensure that the Dealershop is going to cover this repair 100%.

Lord help him if he gives me any grief.