Head Gasket Troubles!

[Wally19]

I think I blew the head gasket on the way home from work today. Uh Oh! I went to pass a car, and after I got around him, I left the pedel down. Well, white smoke started to roll out the back. I was only a mile from home, so I eased it on home. Now it sits in the driveway, with what looks like a 1/2 gallon of coolant all over the engine. It looks like it came out to the Overflow bottle, and also looks like some is leaking from in front of Cylinder #1. :--) Is it safe to drive this truck, what else shoud I check.

 

[rubberneck]

Bingo

I think you are probably correct about the head gasket. Welcome to the club. We had one do this in our neck of the woods not too long ago. Same symptoms. I wouldn't drive it, time for some wrenching sorry man.

 

[BigCarl64]

Oh man, another one bites the dust. hey! hey!



I would recommend not driving the truck very far, if at all. I blew mine last month from being a little too happy with the propane and the PM3 set on kill. She let go near 50 psi.



It blew some oil out between the head and block at the front of the engine at cylinder #1. I thought I could drive it about 30 miles to the shop, big mistake. The leak got much worse and I had the biggest mess you have ever seen. It blew oil from front to back on my truck and took forever to finally get it cleaned up. I would have the vehicle towed, if possible to wherever you plan on getting it fixed.



Good luck on the replacement!! Feel free to ask questions if you need any help.

 

[rubberneck]

Oh come on bigcarl 4 hours with the pressure washer and 2 or 3 cans of engine degreaser isn't that big of a deal. LOL



Seriously, if all you blew was water, you are lucky, poor bigcarl had oil dripping out of the back bumper and the dually fenders. Ouch. Try working on the truck when everything is slimy. Hindsight being 20/20, we should have pressure washed the truck before we fixed it. but that wouldn't have made it so much fun

 

[Wally19]

This Suck! But on the bright side, I will finally get to see deeper inside this mighty cummins , with a not so mighty head gasket.



Luckly, no tow is neccesary. Happend about a 1/2 mile from home.



I will probably do the repairs my self. Already got the parts on order. So much for the road trip this weekend. Maybe I can get it done before then.



Jason

 

[DEZLPWR]

Hey Jason...

Just take it to the dealer... I'm sure they'll be glad to fix it under warranty for you!

 

[Wally19]

Re: Hey Jason...

Originally posted by DEZLPWR

Just take it to the dealer... I'm sure they'll be glad to fix it under warranty for you!

DEZLPWR,



I called them, they said, "Warrnty, you mean we are suppose to warranty the trucks we sell. " Then When I told them my name, they hung up. Maybe Ill stop buy tommorow, cause we all know they have the best mechanics.



p. s. As you can all see, I have had to edit every one of my posts. Man I can sure type!

 

[BigCarl64]

Rubberneck,



Sounds like a preemptive gasket replacement may not be a bad idea on the 'ol ETH. I don't see where proapne was even the culprit in this case.



I wonder how Blkdawg made out with his ETH head gasket replacement?

 

[Wally19]

Propane

Well, I got the propane kit sitting on the workbench and a spot right next to it for a head gasket set. I was planning on the install of the propane this weekend. Guess again! Well, I am going out right know and am going to start pulling things off to get at the head. Anything I should know before I start pulling parts off. Plan to picture document everything.



jason

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Wally,



Why don't you install a thicker head gasket. This way you can give it more boost & propane and not have to worry about blowing it out again?.

 

[Wally19]

Thicker Head Gasket

Does anyone know the part number for a thicker head gasket. The parts are on order to be shipped first thing in the morning. I can still call and change it. Should I just give them the engine Number off of somebody's 24 valve ETC truck? Somebody got the number off their 2001 ETC?



Any Other Ideas... ...



Jason

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I was just looking for that Wally. Not sure if the 24V engine has its on thicker gaskets. But it seems the 12V ones will work with a minor mod.



More info: https://www.turbodieselregister.com...&threadid=28524&highlight=Thicker+Head+Gasket



TDR#25, p43.

3283335 stock

3283337, +0. 010" thick

3283339, +0. 020"

You can get it from Cummins

 

[LSMITH]

Jason, as far as I know all of the 24V headgaskets are the same. HVAC has some copper headgaskets that might be a bit stronger, give him a call and see what he recommends. The part numbers for the thicker headgaskets were posted in the 12V forum for sure, but I am not sure if they will work on the 24V.



Nowel - 650. 726. 6999

Blair - 408. 266. 1333



These guys are as good as you will find and have been through a few headgaskets. If it were me I would call them. Hope this helps, sorry to hear of your trouble too. Let me know if I can help on this end, Howard.

 

[Wally19]

Hemi Dart

Hemi,



Thanks for the link. Off to call Nowel. More R & R



Jason

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Kwik Kurt just did his recently too.



Phone #602-525-5990

 

[rubberneck]

Ok, this is what i know (quit laughing). The 0. 020 thicker head gasket is for the 12 valve engines. It is my understanding that the only difference is that the 24 valve gasket has larger passages in it for the coolant. I. E. we should simply be able to put the old 24v head gasket over the new 12v thicker gasket and enlarge the coolant holes. I believe someone out there has done this. If you have please speak up. Inquiring minds want to know. Any tricks/tips to doing this, did you need to use any sealant around the coolant passages after enlarging the gasket.

bigcarl, I may be doing this as a preventative measure, as this is the second headgasket in the last month i have heard of going kaput without the aid of wonder gasses.

 

[Wally19]

More Info...

Well, Got the garage cleaned out, and pulled truck in. Theres Oil in the coolant, and coolant in the Oil. So, this know means a coolant flush, (was due anyways) and an oil change. (time to put in that Amsoil) Is there anything I have to worry about with the oil in the coolant. I read through the service manual, and I think I can do it in about 6 hours with some help. How long should this take?



Jason

 

[Jetpilot]

Well I don't know about you but I double all repair estimate times and occasionally I should triple them! So my guess is 12-18 hours, at least for me.



Doug

 

[HVAC]

Head Gasket Problems

Well I just rec an email from Wally. Sounds like the same old same old.



Some one is listening cause I see a lot of info here that I have dropped on other topics.



Someone mentioned Blackdawg in Austin. He is the smartest one I've spoken too since he understands what I have said about the water jackets and has taken appropriate action to open up the water jackets to compensate. I predict he will be one happy camper with the compression down . 5 or so.



Wally, I'll give you a call in the AM.

 

[rubberneck]

Thank HVAC

HVAC, I knew you had mentioned to me someone had done it. I wasn't positive on the username so i didn't want to throw any out there.



Blackdawg, any tips on this or is it as straight forward as it sounds.