head gasket failure question "help"

[ramman]

This morning my truck temperature went to red and coasting at idle didn't cool it down,made it to a water hose and sprayed the raditor down but there was a stream of antifreeze coming from what appears to be the head gasket at the number three cylinder,above the freeze out plug. After spraying the raditor and getting it to cool down enough to remove the cap I added some water and drove the three miles home and discovered the stream had stoped,the temp gauge was at the normal 185 and no leak,seems odd that it would have stoped leaking,I haven't driven it any more today but will try tomorrow. Any thoughts or previous experiences of others greatly appericated.

 

[DieselB59]

Well, they do not just go like that of a car. I'm wondering if maybe your thermostat didn't get stuck. Or have you been checking to see if there was sufficient coolant in the radiator/ overflow bottle. I have had a rash of trucks in the past months with no coolant in the bottle and a radiator that was half full. I have blown one from sheer excessive cylinder pressure and it caused the coolant to bubble inside the overflow jug, as combustion gases went past the gasket into the water jacket and found their way through the coolant. It would be in your best interest when you do take the head off, to have it professionally decked as mine was warped. It only took like two thousandths to make it true. You could still see the fire ring marks on the head. The stream of coolant more reminds me of a pinhole in a heater hose problem, however.

 

[ramman]

Thanks for the reply,I drove the truck to the bank and back today and it still isn't leaking in the same place ,I punched it hard on the way back and it forced water out thru the overflow tank. As to your question,yes the fluid levels prior was ok. I'm not sure about the thermostat but temp was normal today. How do you test for combustion gases in the antifreeze,I've NEVER seen anything leak a stream 1/2the size of a cigarette and then seal it's self.