Head gasket leaking coolant

[LWilliams]

I guess things really do come in 3's. First I replace my a/c comp. clutch then my 5th gear mainshaft and now it appears the head gasket is leaking coolant. I have been chasing a leak that I couldn't find and using a mirror and a light last night it looks like coolant is coming out of the head gasket under the thermostat housing. I have searched the archives and didn't see anything on this. Please tell me I'm not alone! #ad

 

[JJW_ND]

Larry,

My 96 has been leaking in the same location you mention for over 60K miles now. About a gallon every 30K miles. Lots of negative oil test. From what I have heard and read the leak is always external. I know mine is. No harm other then the mess. I will get mine fixed one of this years.

jjw
ND

 

[HVAC]

Is your a 12v engine?

 

[Sled Puller]

PLease tell me he IS alone!

No offense, I just don't need any more problems!
Gene

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1997 Cummins Dodge 4x4 "One Piece At A Time" Bombed & Amsoiled. Amsoil Premiere Direct Jobber, Member of: NRA Business Alliance, GLTDR, WANTED: Wrecked Dodges.
www.awdist.com

 

[Alan Reagan]

Larry, are you sure it's not the thermostat leaking?

 

[LWilliams]

I have a 96 12v 3500 5sp with 124k miles. I looked really close and it does NOT appear to be from the thermostat housing. I wish it was.

 

[BPINE]

Sorry to be the barer of bad news but this is a fairly common problem. If you do a search on Blown Head Gasket you will find a topic I started on this one. My truck only had 50k on it when it started leaking in the same place. There is an updated Head gasket that addresses this problem. It is really not that bad of a job it only took about an hour an a half to get it off.

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1996 4x4 3500 4. 10 5spd, Diesel Dynamics stage 3 injectors, #5 TST plate, Govoner spring kit, Ported Head, ATS manifold Jet-Hot coated, 16cm2 housing Jet-hot coated with 4" Jardine exhaust, Cummins exhaust brake, US Gear overdrive, Grover air horns and Mag-Hytec rearend cover. Special thanks to Piers and BD Performance.