Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Head gasket?

[CRegal]

This is an update from another post I started called Blue Smoke.



I am burning a lot of oil when I tested it today. I opened up the oil fill to check out whatever, only to find to my dismay... u guessed it... . antifreeze with my oil. Now my question to u is, what could of happened? On my dipstick there is no dillution at all, so is it possible that the head gasket went & it is only leaking up top? I am not sure how these engines seperate both uptop, but on all other engines I've lost head gaskets on, my dipstick shown the dillution rite away.



I know there are a few out there that blow the head gaskets on these things, but that is usally with high intake pressures or the like. I am still running the stock turbo, & since its been real cold I have been leaving the comp off & just running on the dd3's.



Now my next question is, what should i do? Would it be wise to take it in to the dealer & have them replace the headgasket to check & see if it got into the bottom end? I would do it myself, but if my bearings are on there way out, I dont want to have to go through that mess. The truck only has 35k on it rite now.



Sorry so long, but I need some good advise.



Cole

 

[Bigstick]

Hate to hear the bad news as I am going through this right now only mine was most likely another faulty gasket because mine blew from the high pressure oil passage I had no mixture of coolant and oil. I would say yours is most likely due to high boost pressure whereas the head has lifted off of the block. I dunno it all sucks believe me. In the past month I had had a lift pump go out that took my VP-44 with it and I had it replaced under warranty, then the steering box seal and the slave cylinder, and now this. I love my truck but this is getting really really ridicolous.

 

[Rob Thomas]

If your not confindent in it being only the headgasket, I would take it to the dealer (god forbid), mine went at about 42,000 miles, but like Bigsticks, it was an oil passage. I replaced mine myself, under $100 for parts, and only took about 6-7 hours (not working to hard, cause the day was already shot). When I torqued the head, I did it to 130lb ft (this is the "fix" according to a bunch of vendors) and have had no trouble since, even at 58#'s boost.



Later, Rob

 

[CRegal]

HOw are you sure it is a head gasket? The only signs are the coolant & oil resdue when I pull the oil fill, it isnt on the dipstick. The truck is burning blue/white smoke after heat-up, but once I noticed that, I didnt run it anymore. If mine came from high boost numbers, then the highest it seen was 35psi, cause its still the stock turbo. What is weird is, I havent even pushed any high boost since its been cold, I been really baby'n it. But I have heard others loose a gasket when idle.



I probally think it is from the extreme cold & weakend gasket (from previous towing during summer).

 

[LSMITH]

If the only coolant seen is on the filler cap it is because the leak is small yet, not big enough for it to be visable in the oil. The water and glycol will evaporate out of the oil with a small leak and the vapor rises to the filler and the valvcover. Fix it NOW before it gets bad enough to cause damage. I would NOT take it to a dealer, if I was not going to do it myself I would take it to Cummins.



I doubt very much that any other damage has occured with no visable coolant in the oil. Drain the oil can put in new oil before driving it at all, and change the headgasket ASAP.

 

[Rob Thomas]

BTW CReagal,



When my headgasket went south, I was runnin' the stock turbo, no boost at the time of failier (on expressway 65mph, just warming up, from a cold start), just a freak thing I quess.



Later, Rob

 

[CRegal]

Thanks for the input guys. I will probally change it myself. I didnt think it was to far gone yet, & like I said, I am not driving it currently.



Thanks



Cole