Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Blown Head Gasket

[pathaymond]

Heres my symptom



Radiator overflow pushing coolant out the top of it

Engine temp not as stable.

Engine temp still normal

Top radiator hose very hard when engine running as in Pressure

with engine Off and remove radiator cap lots of pressure and very aerated looking coolant.

Coolant level a little low not bad

Coolant not anywhere near to hot to touch.

Just had a new Head Gasket installed 2 weeks ago.

Max boost is only 34 lbs which I never try to hit.

Any Input is very appreciated.

what could this be other than what I am thinking?

Thanks for your input Patrick

98 12 valve with some recent upgrades by southern truck parts.

 

[Dbonzi]

Sounds like you hit the nail on the head (gasket)

Doesn't sound like any fun.

Dennis

 

[patrobertson]

How much?

Did you do the head gasket or someone else? I did mine and it blew again, but that is because I had a bad torque wrench and the bolts were not at proper torque. I just did my second over Christmas and its fine, new bolts and I went the . 020 over gasket, I can increase my timing more now though. If you keep blowing coolant out the top of the overflow, its a head gasket, both times my blew compression into the coolant. You could see were the gasket (soft material) was gone. Its not a hard job to do yourself, tear it down in 4 hours, put it back together over a few days if you have the time, you can do it all in a long day, but its a loonnnggg day. Keep us posted.



Shane



P. S. if someone else did it take it back, they did something wrong, it shouldn't blow with only 34 lbs, I push 48 at sea level.

 

[pathaymond]

Thanks for the replies. Yes someone else did the job same folks that did my transmission and turned me up some power. I paid alot for the job and they were to have replaced head bolts etc. I sure was not prepared to go through not having a truck again!!I guess thursday for me will be spent taking the truck in for Another head Gasket. I do not feel I should pay a dime for it either. As I have said before if it can happen it can happen to me!!

Patrick

 

[Reb.B]

they could have just over filled water in the radiator and it is finding its expansion rate level. also if your head is cracked it will blow bubbles in your radiator. U need to check for bubles when the truck is running and it has just started to get warm, not after its already hot. If u paid for the guys to surface the head and lightly surface the top of the block then u have a gripe about a blown head gasket, but if u insisted they not take the time to do the extra labor, then u get what u paid for. Need to see if they got all the oil out of the head bolt holes and retorqued the head after it warmed up. I really don't think your gasket is blown though.

 

[Brandon]

blown hg

 

[pathaymond]

Yup shes blown as far as we know. I limped the beast down to southern truck and they are going to tear it down soon. I never put dollars into the repair equation they are supposed to be the experts and do what is needed. I am not one to be Cheap about doing it right the first time so As is mentioned here and they meaning southern truck realize all I want is a dependable truck again. They are going to dig deep and find the reason for the failures. I will post there findings as I learn them. Please understand I have no gripe with the servicing entity. they are treating me as They would want to be treated. I have to say I wish my 93 had been a 4 wheel drive At 500K that truck was still a brute and never gave the first moment of trouble. It spoiled me I guess. wish I still had it instead of my Buick lesabre. hard to tow My skid loader with it!! Thanks for the support guys

Patrick

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Use a sharp scraper, clean the deck thoroughly, then use lacquer thinner. Then do it several more times. You can't get it too clean or take too long doing it.

Use about 100 Q-tips to mop out all the bolt holes in the block.

Be careful not to scratch the surface or gouge it, of course.

Remember that there are 6 oil passages on the deck and don't send any crud down them!

Make sure if anything was resurfaced that it is super smooth, the Cummins spec is 60-128 microinches. If you can catch a finger nail at all in a scratch at the fire ring, the gasket will blow...

I have the suspicion that those folks with more head gasket problems (not the twinners with 100 psi, but those of us still using one mortal turbo and not over half that much boost) might be able to trace their problems to the above, or to bad head bolts/torques.

 

[Brandon]

joe I resemble that remark

 

[pathaymond]

Thanks Joe

I am printing and forwarding your feelings to my technician. I am sure if he is any kind of tech he wont mind seeing some helpfull hints. and maybe he has done all you have stated or maybe not I thank you for your input I just want my truck to be DEPENDABLE again cost is not the issue here for sure.

They informed me after my 80 mile drive there that I have oil in the radiator again. This sucks. . Patrick

 

[CumminFast]

Not to scare you but Southern Trucks Parts will never touch my truck again. They screwed one of my friends w/ one of their "warranties" on his transmissions. If they don't do it for free take it to Garmon Diesel Performance in Mcdonough. Jeff will do it right the first time.

 

[pathaymond]

Cummin fast.

Thanks for the heads up. I thought that Jeff Garman was part of the southern truck scene but I have seen since that he isnt? Here is what I was told this afternoon.

The head is warped.

So its to be millled into specs

Cummins is sending a tech out to check my block monday Am if it checks out Ok then I should have my truck back by tuesday night.

Anyone.

I just want my truck back and dependable.

What I am told makes me feel that we are in the right direction

My question is this though What things could or would cause a Head to warp? Maybe it has always been off. and the extra boost kills it?

I expect to be billed for the milling work. to the head and any things related to that

I am told that the head gasket is under warranty.





Please cumminfast can you pm me with what your friend experienced. My transmission was upgraded by the entity mentioned above as well as all my power mods And I have to say with the exception of this pain in the ass head gasket I am very pleased with the performance of my truck it pulls 10K hard and wont hit over 1000 egt pre turbo on the longest and hardest of pulls.

 

[patrobertson]

Well

In my opionion they should have checked the head before they put it back on. It should cost that much to surface the head, I had mine, milled . 008, new valve seals and checked for any cracks and it was around 180 -190$ Good luck,



Shane

 

[pathaymond]

Patrobertson

I agree!! I am hoping that my solution is close at hand. I have not got to many choices at this point. Could have should have it matters not, destination now has to be a total fix. Am I happy NOT YET.

Thanks for the replies Patrick