Head Gasket or Oil Cooler?!?

[Blkdawdg]

You guys know of any ways to check and see if I have a head gasket or an oil cooler problem? I was driving my truck the other night and temp gauge went to 240, so I pulled over and oil was everywhere on front-passenger side of engine and the heater was blowing cold. There was oil in the radiator and in the overflow bottle. I got the truck home and found out that there was water also in the oil... . but I cannot find any coolant leak. I tried to pressure test the oil cooler but I don't think that I have the proper tools to do so. I don't want to go through the hassle of changing the head gasket if I don't need to. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Don M]

Tell me what kinda mods you have on your truck.



Don~

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

when mine blew the 2nd time i could see some off the gasket on the very front of the motor. when the motor was running i could see a little oil seeping out between the head and motor. my 1st headgasket blew out the back of #6 and i had no external leaks but i had lots of oil in my coolant.



once you find out what happened, here is a trick to get the oil out of the coolant. use a laundry soap water mix to flush out the system. the soap will cut the oil.



jim

 

[Blkdawdg]

I have Bully Dog 4's, PE COMP, and HX-40. (ATS manifold too but I don't think that it would have anything to do with this)

 

[rraulston]

When i worked as a cat mechanic in the copper mines, we would put a couple boxes of calgon in the radiator to break up remaining oil. The 3516 engines had a coolant capacity of 50 or so gallons so i would maybe use a cup. This soap is designed not to foam like in your dishwasher. RRR

 

[Sled Puller]

When mine blew, it pumped water out the overflow, and gurgled in the heater core, but the temps were fine, the heater worked, and no water in the oil.



Later, it put oil in the water, but never did get any in the oil.



Very little according to the dipstick, but a huge mess.



I have heard Cascade to clean it out, makes me nervous.

gene

 

[Sled Puller]

If it is the head, be very careful in your prep time, get new bolts, and get the marine gasket.

I am suffering right now because of a rush job during reassembly last April.

 

[Don M]

Gene,



When did it blow out? Was it after the timing was bumped up?

I found mine at a lame ole 14. 5 degrees Saturday afternoon.

I think I will try about 19 next time around.



Don~

 

[Sled Puller]

It blew at 16 Don. Where the perps set it.

Did you get the good gasket when you changed yours?

You may want to use caution, remember your post about hammering rod bearings? LOL!



Go to 25, be a man!:--)

 

[Don M]

I used the 20 thou marine jobbie when I reassembled it last month. I will start at 19 and maybe go to 21 or so if the dyno says the power is there. I still dont recommend anyone running over 15. 5-16 to tow and drive daily. Too hard on stuff. For max power, dyno stuff and playing around, the higher timing is cool.



I guess I wont "be a man" on the next try.



The fella that set it for me last time said it was at 15. 5. Wrongo, it was 14-14. 2 area.



Seems like you gotta do dern near everything yourself nowadays.



Don~

 

[Don M]

BD,



Sounds like the head gasket went south. Sorry to hear it. It is not tooo bad to change out. I have done a few now in one day.



Don~

 

[BigCarl64]

Yep, you blew the head gasket, no doubt about it. I blew mine not too long ago and it blew oil all over the engine bay. It made the biggest mess. You could see where the gasket separated between the head and block at the front of the engine. Too much propane along with the PowerMax 3 Comp set on kill was the culprit.



I agree with MGM. Prep the head and block, get new head bolts, and be sure to have 3 people or an engine hoist. That head is mucho heavy. Thank goodness Brandon and crew were available one evening to help me out. I owe those guys a huge favor!!



The new gasket set for the 24v is much better than the stock ones. I bought the whole upper engine set and replaced the head, intake, grid heaters gaskets while I had everything apart.

Truck runs great now and the propane has been turned down for good!

 

[rraulston]

in my earlier post i said calgon... NOT it was cascade i think been a while you know. Green box i believe RRR