Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Head gasket, need help.

[CAT 385]

Ok, I was pulling pretty hard with the A/C on and apparently it got a little warm. When I caught it on the gauge it was barely out of the safe zone. Anyway oil in the antifreeze and making oil. Plus real hard start after being plugged in for 3 hours in 30 degree temps.



How bad does it sound and what do you guys recommend for parts.

 

[Cummins724]

If you ran the engine with antifreeze in the oil... . you will need a complete engine rebuild because antifreeze ruins rod bearings, main bearings & more. I wouldn't even start the engine because it will only do more damage.

 

[CAT 385]

That is what I was afraid of, but 215000 miles is it probably would not hut anyway.


Thanks

 

[Cummins724]

215k miles is nothing for a Cummins... . they break in at 100k. I saw a 12v truck once with 676k on it. I would have a technician look at it before drawing conclusions, but sounds like it needs rebuilt. It doesn't take long for antifreeze to kill a engine internals.

 

[CAT 385]

I would hate to put in a new head gasket and have a bearing failure 10000 miles later and start all over, so I think I will just do the whole engine. Then I will have some piece of mind about it.

 

[JPNelson]

I would not be so quick to tear the motor down IMO. I had some coolant get into the oil past the HG. Drained the oil, replaced the HG, drained the coolant, put it back together(actually the guys from the local Cummins hotrod shop did all the work, I highly recommend their work!!!) Everything works great, no problems whatsoever.



Time will tell tho!

 

[Partyat33]

I agree, I ran with coolant in the oil for 50k miles (did not know it then). No damage at all. Everything was good except the melted pistons.



Just my opinion.

 

[Cummins724]

He said that oil is in coolant & the engine won't turn over..... you guys may be right. The cylinders may be filling with antifreeze & not letting the engine turn or the gasket is so bad that the cylinders aren't building compression. It's hard to say without seeing it... . this is why I recommend getting it looked at & no running it till then.

 

[CAT 385]

The engine turns over but takes several revolutions to start. I fixed the problem by trading it for another ford. The steering on the dodge really wears me out and the super duties drive real nice.

By the way drove a 6. 4 not much diffrence than the 6. 0. 6. 0 with bully dog an tow mode will eat it alive.

 

[Ragain]

Here's a thought... before you tear into the block to do rod/main bearings, I would send an oil sample to the lab & see how much bearing material you have in there.

 

[16919]

The engine turns over but takes several revolutions to start. I fixed the problem by trading it for another ford. The steering on the dodge really wears me out and the super duties drive real nice.



By the way drove a 6. 4 not much diffrence than the 6. 0. 6. 0 with bully dog an tow mode will eat it alive.

Did you just say you traded that truck for a ford?

 

[Cummins724]

Did you just say you traded that truck for a ford?

He'll be back to Dodges when he sees the problems with the 6. 0. They are nightmares.

 

[16919]

He'll be back to Dodges when he sees the problems with the 6. 0. They are nightmares.

If he has any money laying around after paying for all those repairs.....