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Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Blown Head Gasket !!!

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Last Thurs. I was out of town on a furniture buying trip to AR. The truck started to get a little hot pulling a small grade. I watched the temp. gauge as I cleared the grade and started to descend, no change. Temp. stayed hot. I pulled off the road almost immediately and checked the radiator overflow jug, it was empty. Fortunately I was carrying two gallon jugs of premix with me (as I was going to flush the radiator this weekend) The radiator took close to 1 1/2 gallons to fill :eek: I started back down the road constantly monitoring the temp. and oil pressure gauges, all seemed ok. I could find no leaks any where, at this point in time I was assuming it was a waterpump, and I was loosing fluid through the weep hole.



Made it back home, checked the rad. level again and it was still full. The next morning on my way to work I noticed the oil pressure gauge was pegged :( Slowed down and limped the last mile into work. I pulled the oil dipstick and to my expectations (or horror) little green bubbles were on the dipsstick!



Have I blown a headgasket, or is this something else? I am clueless to what else this could be. I can find no coolant leaks on the ground at all.

Also, I do have a cracked exhaust manifold and was waiting for a good time to change it out. I will go with the ATS unit, as I have read only good things on the board about their product. Who has the best prices and quick shipping times in the manifold?



Should I take my truck to a Cummins dealer or go to a friggin Dodge dealership (i do not like dealerships and have never had a good expirence)? I just know they will not warranty the head work if I have them put on a ATS exhaust manifold, I cant afford to get into a battle of wills or knee deep in redtape bs as this is my work truck. We do have one dealership in town (a Ford dealership) that is an authorized banks dealer. Maybe I should just go to them?



Sorry this post was so long, Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
According to your sig- 180K Miles, therefore your warantee is gone.



Sounds like a head gasket... I hope you did not wipe a bearing due to water in the oil!!!!!!!!!



DO NOT start the engine again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Have it towed to Cummins for head gasket R&R. The manifold you should be able to do yourself.
 
Thanks for the quick reply



I only meant that I want them to warranty their own work on this head gasket replacement. My truck warranty is long gone LOL, I realize Dodge does not cover my truck after 100K. I know they get real quirky in regards to non OEM aftermarket parts, and I don't want to give them any reason to void warranty on their own work.



Unfortunately I don't have time to do exhaust manifold myself, or I definitely would. This just seems like an opportune time (if they do pull the head) to get a new manifold stuck on at the same time.



The absolute only other thing I can thing that may have happened... . Earlier this summer I had my truck in for some AC work. The mechanic noted my clutch fan was not working as well as it should. I ok'd the replacement and off they went. Driving the truck I noticed a much different sound (with the clutch fan) than previous. Since then this noise has gone away??? Could the water pump gasket or bushing/bearing sprung a leak internally and this is causing the coolant loss??? Just grasping at straws here, probably just wishful thinking on my part.
 
A leaking oil cooler can cause the same symptoms. If you can have the truck exhaust checked on an analyzer; you can verify coolant chemicals in the exhaust. This would most likely verify the head gasket issue.
 
The water pump is just a cartrige and can only leak externally. Take it to a cummins dealer and have a quality job done and they won't think twice about the manifold change. Even if they did it will only void the exhaust gasket install. The truck shops around here get a kick out of working on the baby cummins. Either that or about any industrial equiptment shop as our little ISB's are used in tractors, backhoes, generators, ect. They will also do it in less time than the dealer, but probably at about 85. 00 an hour instead of 50-60.
 
53 block

I don't think it is a head gasket. A head gasket usually puts oil in the coolant due to the pressure difference of 40 psi versus 16 psi.



A 99 usually has an infamous "53" block which is prone to internal water jacket cracking that puts the coolant in your crankcase and overheating is the first symptom.



Definitely talk to your local Cummins shop and get on the phone to Cummins warranty service. Cummins has stepped up and picked up 50% of the tab on a Dodge many times around here even if over the 100k mileage point. They much more readily admit to the the 53 block failures than the infamous dowel pin carnage also available in the 99 model year.

Of course, the motorhome I saw earlier this year with a cracked block has a full Cummins warranty and they picked up the entire tab.
 
OH Crap, John ya just scert the hell out of me LOL. I have been reading an older post for about two hours now from back in Feb. It's given me goosebumps a lump in my stomach and I wont sleep tonight. The 53 block has come up again and again in this post. This poor guys #6 cylinder fried on him. I dont think I have a fried piston yet, but it will suck my radiator dry in just minutes. Anyway to tell if I for sure have the 53 block?
 
Finding the 53....

aaronisbad said:
OH Crap, John ya just scert the hell out of me LOL. I have been reading an older post for about two hours now from back in Feb. It's given me goosebumps a lump in my stomach and I wont sleep tonight. The 53 block has come up again and again in this post. This poor guys #6 cylinder fried on him. I dont think I have a fried piston yet, but it will suck my radiator dry in just minutes. Anyway to tell if I for sure have the 53 block?





Look directly under the injection pump just above the edge of the oil pan. The numbers are about 1" tall. You have to stick your head way up under the truck to see them. I have the "53" block & have 140k miles so far... . Hoping to see 500k.....



Clay :)
 
aaronisbad said:
... . Anyway to tell if I for sure have the 53 block?

Clay gave you the external test (visual).

Now the internal test. Get a pressure test on the cooling system. If pressure goes down you have a cracked 53 block.
 
Man I just dont get it, the truck has not been worked that hard (since I have had it) she only just rolled 100K when she came to live with me. I pull only a 16' enclosed trailer these days. Fairly light loads. Very rarely do I ever get into a real grade. Oil gets changed every 6K miles, running hard or not. Truck is stock, I have steered clear of boxes and injectors because it is my work truck.



I will get a hold of Cummins first thing in the morning tomorrw and get her towed in. I am just bummed right now. Last week I had the truck in for a new master and slave clutch fix. when it rains it pours i guess.
 
aaronisbad said:
Man I just dont get it, the truck has not been worked that hard (since I have had it) she only just rolled 100K when she came to live with me. I pull only a 16' enclosed trailer these days. Fairly light loads. Very rarely do I ever get into a real grade. Oil gets changed every 6K miles, running hard or not. Truck is stock, I have steered clear of boxes and injectors because it is my work truck.



I will get a hold of Cummins first thing in the morning tomorrw and get her towed in. I am just bummed right now. Last week I had the truck in for a new master and slave clutch fix. when it rains it pours i guess.



I think that's why Cummins is picking up part of the tab on an engine they technically sell without warranty to Dodge. A latent defect. DC picks up the tab until warranty expires.

Some crack, some don't.



Similar to the dowel pin in the front cover, so walk, some don't. Cummins has not been so generous to cover cost on those events.
 
JohnE said:
I don't think it is a head gasket. A head gasket usually puts oil in the coolant due to the pressure difference of 40 psi versus 16 psi.



.



I lost the head gasket on my 99 about a year and a half ago and got no coolant/oil mixture. As soon as it started to overheat we dumped the trailer and drove back home 100 miles (empty) with no problem. It was just under load that the gasket would let fluid by. Of course I got it fixed right away but it's not as uncommon as people make it out to be. If you go back and search for head gasket posts you'll find my ordeal (thought it was many other things 1st).



When I asked the mechanic at the dealership he said he sees them

periodically and had one in a couple of days before I came in with my blown gasket.
 
Well I talked to Cummins this AM, the tow truck is sorta on its way 2 hour @#!$ wait. Hopefully I will hear something later today.



Aaron
 
99 Cummins

aaronisbad said:
Well I talked to Cummins this AM, the tow truck is sorta on its way 2 hour @#!$ wait. Hopefully I will hear something later today.



Aaron



Keep us posted. Us 1999 owners need to know! :confused: :{ :confused: :{



Clay
 
rblomquist said:
I lost the head gasket on my 99 about a year and a half ago and got no coolant/oil mixture. ...

When I asked the mechanic at the dealership he said he sees them

periodically and had one in a couple of days before I came in with my blown gasket.



Mine finally blew out this spring to the point it pumped oil into the coolant. (Still felt good smoking that @ss hole that cut me offf!) On repair we noticed the gasket was really bad between 3 cylinders and explained why the soot levels were climbing in the oil.



Local diesel shop owner noticed his gasket was letting go at high boost (sled pulling) by not oil but combustion gas getting in the coolant and blowing the recovery bottle.



Aaron;

I really hope it is only a head gasket, but the symptoms (and truck year) really point to the block.



If it is only a head gasket and the job is relatively inexpensive, see if Cummins will go for a head stud install. I'd post a photo of a new Cummins head bolt that snapped on install, but it is in the other computer and the network doesn't function.
 
JohnE said:
Local diesel shop owner noticed his gasket was letting go at high boost (sled pulling) by not oil but combustion gas getting in the coolant and blowing the recovery bottle.



.





That's exactly what my 1st symptom was (boil over [shooting out of] the catch tank). Unfortunately, I was led to believe it was a host of other things and not the HG. That is, until we went on a trip with the trailer in tow and it puked out the recovery bottle and down the side of the engine along with the spike in coolant temp.
 
Ok here we go, cracked blocked is what Cummins is saying. So I enquire about the 53 block. Apparently they have no knowledge of this and I got the "pass the buck" answer. Go talk to Chrysler pa,l sorry about your luck, Chrysler wants to control everything so you'd be better off trying with them.



The crack is nearly 2. 5" long and is located towards the rear on the passenger side approximately 2"-3" below the freeze plugs.



Cummins was helpful in trying to offer some alternatives, lastly was the 8K for new motor and installation. Service manager talked to me about pulling the motor and drill and pinning the crack, but I gather this is done with very limited success.



I am begining to wonder if my block was cracked when I purchased the truck and the "stopleak" is just now breaking down now after over a year of use by me.
 
53 Block

Definitely talk to your local Cummins shop and get on the phone to Cummins warranty service. Cummins has stepped up and picked up 50% of the tab on a Dodge many times around here even if over the 100k mileage point. They much more readily admit to the the 53 block failures than the infamous dowel pin carnage also available in the 99 model year.





That just sucks! Did you talk to "Cummins Customer Service" or just a Cummins repair Facility? I certainly wouldn't throw in the towel until I got to speak to someone HIGH up the ladder. I too have a 99 with the infamous "53" block & if mine goes I guess all a guy can do is try to get Cummins to step up & at least pick up some of the tab..... Sorry to hear of this. Does the $8000 to replace the motor include labor?



Keep us posted!

Clay :eek:
 
klaybus said:
I certainly wouldn't throw in the towel until I got to speak to someone HIGH up the ladder. I

Keep us posted!

Clay :eek:



Agree totally. Chances are whomever you spoke with didn't even have the authority to authorize any help for you anyhow. Keep going up the chain, everyone has a boss. I would be polite but would also mention you're a TDR member and a lot of folks are watching how this pans out.
 
aaronisbad said:
... Apparently they have no knowledge of this and I got the "pass the buck" answer. ...



I have a one word reply for this Cummins person BULL.

Get the regional rep name and number and work it. As I stated Cummins has fessed up on this latent defect.



-John
 
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