D-Max Head Problems

[Double 6]

My neighbor has a Duramax and has had it in the shop several times for head gasket trouble, the dealer keeps changing them out. He was told that the cast iron block and aluminum heads have different expansion rates when heating up and cooling down and that with the high compression of the diesel, that just adds up to trouble.

I think that GM did not design the head gasket correctly and they are trying to cover it up, What do you all think?

I'm glad I have a heavy all cast iron Cummins!!!

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

since he's your neighbor could you post the work order for the repairs. that way we could have some solid proof of the problems.



jim

 

[fj40charles]

Unless you post the VIN and work order number, the Maxipad boys will deny that such problems exist. They are very tight lipped about any problems with the motor.



Not surprising to hear about the head gasket problem. Many people predicted such problem due to different expansion rates of aluminum and cast iron. .



Charles

 

[BPINE]

Can you say Vega all over again... ... I sure hope not.

 

[PHaller]

different expansion rates?

Hmm, I could have predicted this discussion and wasn't it you Blair who just replaced your head gasket in your Cummins? Proof enough that even cast iron heads and blocks fail from time to time, and even in trucks as meticulously cared for as yours.

I would also like to point out that cast iron blocks and aluminum heads have a distinguished service record in the Toyota 22R engine. How many of those engines require regular head gaskets?... And while they probably do not tow heavy 5er trailers, they are a very durable engine in their own right.

I think the point I'm trying to make is that the engineering is probably the deciding factor in longevity, not the use of dissimilar metals.

-Paul R. Haller-

 

[Alan Reagan]

Paul, You are right on failures happening on Cummins. They do. Thing is, on this website, when someone tells us a head gasket failed, we believe them and move on. No VINs or work order numbers required from Cummins owners on Cummins engines.

 

[Barry]

Talked with my Dodge Dealer yesterday and she told me that some Dodge owners are coming in and trading for the Duramax Diesel. (They are Chevy as well as Dodge) The main reason she told me is the 0% interest on the new Chevy trucks. I asked her what she was going to do when the buyer figured out that they had made a big mistake? She said; put them back in a Dodge! What a trip... ... ... ... ...

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Paul sez:



"I would also like to point out that cast iron blocks and aluminum heads have a distinguished service record in the Toyota 22R engine. How many of those engines require regular head gaskets?... "



WELL, *I* can tell you of ONE - *mine*! Had a Toyota with that engine, had head/gasket problems - got rid of the Toyota!



Does that mean that ALL those engines suffer early failures? Of course not - but then, THOSE are GAS engines usually operating under substantially different conditions than WE are discussing here...



The main issue that frequently surfaces here in regard to the new DM GM diesel as compared to the Cummins, is NOT that the Cummins is incapable of various types of failures, but that HERE, we discuss them OPENLY and HONESTLY! We are FAR more interested in evaluating problems - such as the notorious dowel/timing cover problems - rather than censoring such failures, REFUSING to acknowledge that they ARE occurring, and DEPRIVING owners of EXACTLY the warning and cures they need to head off such problems, and come HERE to obtain...



AS far as the successful use of aluminum as head material in serious medium-to-heavy duty DIESEL engines, I challenge ANY on this board to name as many in current use as they know of...



It will be a very SHORT list!



Doesn't mean it CAN'T happen - only that the past and current track record doesn't inspire much confidence in the "new technology"...



WE don't NEED, or REQUIRE any steeenking VIN or work order numbers - we TRUST our membership and contributors on this board!

 

[QRTRHRS]

What he said!

I agree with Gary,



All along, this engine has been touted as the next thing to sliced bread. Most everyone was suspicious right off about aluminum heads/cast block, specail head gasket and all. Comparing a compression fired engine to a spark fired engine is hardly worth mentioning.



I had not heard that GM was using 0% to sell trucks. I don't believe either Dodge or Ford has had to resort to that method except for cars, etc.

 

[JoeyD]

Is sliced bread that big of a deal? Anyway you can get 0% on all three trucks, I have been looking at them just trying to figure which one. They are all nice when brand new. I would have to say that one head gasket is believable but seven times?

 

[BPINE]

You caught me Paul... . I guess I am buying the first Margarita this weekend . I raced sprint cars for several years with a cast iron block and aluminum heads and never had any head gasket troubles at all so it can be done.

 

[Bad340fish]

Toyota

Toyota also had to Recall A WHOLE FREAKIN LOT of the 3. 0(?) V6 motors to replace the head gaskets. In the cases where the head gasket actualy failed they replaced the whole motor... regardles of mileage. I think the recal just recently expired but it cost toyota ALOT of money since the recall dated back to 89. And the 2. 2 and 2. 5 Chrysler motors?? Notorious head gasket problems. Seams mose aluminum headed motors crack a head if they don't blow a headgasket at some point in there lifetime. Just my . 02

Clark

 

[drawson]

Fuel leaks are the head problem

I was just in a meeting yesterday with all the local GM dealer ship service managers. I was told in this meeting that the problem is a fuel return line on the back side of the heads that leak. From what they where saying the head it self is tapped wrong. One truck they talked about had 4 heads put on it before it solved the fuel leak.

 

[NVR FNSH]

Fish,

Wasn't it a bad gasket design that caused Toyota so much heartache? After they fixed the root cause I don't think they have had any more problems with the 3. 0 V6



Brian

 

[FFutch]

V.I.N.

Those boys over at D. P. are already crying foul. You better have a v. i. n. ,dealer name,color of truck,r. o. #,and your shoe size . Some of these G. M. guys will never see the light. I used to work with a guy who was Mr. G. M. all the way,but was a diesel mechanic also. Guess what kind of Diesel pick-up he drives? A 98 DODGE!Worked at a K. W. dealer and seen alot of different diesels come thru the shop. He had heard about the Dura? coming out. He didn't want one when he heard it was a V-8 and had aluminum heads . When I told him the aluminum head part he goes . He used to have a chevy gasser. Said he got tired of his dad outpulling him with the campers hooked up. Gee,guess what his dad has . Doug

 

[danandamy]

I sell parts to garages and individuals for a living, beleive me, Toyota 3. 0=Piece of Crap. The little four cylinder is almost indestructable but the 3. 0 V6 is junk.

Funny thing, when we talk about a Cummins losing a head gasket, it's usually bombed and running WAY more than stock boost, not a year old and still under warranty and stock



Dan

 

[Double 6]

I will see if he will get me the W. O.

He says he likes the quietness and power of the D-Max, but this is starting to annoy him.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

BPINE sez:



"I raced sprint cars for several years with a cast iron block and aluminum heads and never had any head gasket troubles at all so it can be done. "



Yet ANOTHER non sequiter...



Were your cars DIESELS? Did you run them pulling heavy loads for HUNDREDS of thousand miles without any teardown or rebuilding? And NO, the analogy about "one mile on the track is like a thousand out on the road... " is hardly worth consideration here - two ENTIRELY different engine types in two ENTIRELY different circumstances!



C'mon guys, let's keep this apples-to-apples! Aluminum engines in aircraft, and race engines using various main components made of aluminum are nice conversation makers - but HARDLY comparable to what is under discussion HERE!



*I* will be one of the FIRST to aplaud - and maybe even BUY - one of the DM engines - WHEN they CONSISTENTLY prove themselves able to deliver at least 300,000 miles over-the-road service in varying load and weather conditions without serious failures or replacements.



Meanwhile I will continue to skeptically wait...

 

[Mr. Brewski]

I dont know about all aircraft engines, but Continental O-470's and Lycoming O-320's dont have head gaskets at all - they settle for a one piece jug that the head is integral with. I think that many other air cooled aircraft engine are the same design.



I think that whatever problems the D/M is having now, they will be worked out and it will probably still have an aluminum head. Frankly I'm getting tired of the Chebby commercials... They need to find another singer... Bob Seeger just isnt doing it for me anymore...

 

[Mopar-muscle]

jdecampov , unless something changed in the last week there is nothing available for incentives on any dodge truck , except for the 2002 1500 ???