Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Help - Blown Head Gasket

[rblomquist]

Hey guys what would cause a head gasket to go? Here's what I have going. Last Saturday I brought home our new camper which is about 1500 lbs heavier than our last; new camper weight is about 7k-7. 5k.



Anyway, it was about a 30mi drive home from the RV dealer. In the process of moving into our new camper I notice that the right fender well is wet. I pop the hood and the coolant resivor is full and has blown out some coolent onto the inside of the engine compartment. I start freaking out and post in the 911 forum. Illflem responds back and says I probably have a blown head gasket. In the mean time the neighbor comes over and says to check the radiator cap in which we noticed that we didn't even have to push down on to twist on; cool, we're thinking it was just a bad cap so I run to Checker and get a new 16psi cap, go for a test drive (towing), everything seems fine. I ran the truck back and forth to work everyday this week with no temp problems and no overflowing. Never noticed any fluid drooling out of the head gasket area.



Friday night we set off on our 1st trip with the new camper, go up and down big passes south of vegas, no problems until we get about 75mi south of home and I notice that it's running around 190 in the flats and we're only going about 45-50 because of construction (which if hotter than normal in that situation). Within the next minute or so I can watch the temp gauge steadily rise until it gets close to the upper mark at which time I pull off, cool down, and shut off. I pop the hood and the resivor is full again and it's about to start to spew. At this time I notice a little bit of fluid that is on the front of the engine around the head gasket but wasn't sure if it was blown there or was coming out.



Next I limp it in to Baker, CA with the TTPM unplugged for good measure, (temp was fine for the 8-10 mile leg), pop the hood and notice fluid had leaked out of the head gasket back around the #1? (closest to firewall) exhaust manifold. At this point I call my neighbor and have him drive 100 miles at 9pm at night so he can hook his power stroke onto my trailer and haul it home :{ . We eased my truck all the way back to Vegas empty and it never got hot, boiled over, or lost fluid.



I just put ELC and a new Cummins T-stat in it about 2 months ago.



Obviously, I'm going to have to take it in to the stealer tomorrow, it still should be under warranty 76k. Should I put the old OEM radiator cap back on so they can't say I put a non-approved part on? Should I ask for the TSB on the exhaust bolts when it's in for the head gasket? I noticed a couple of the bolts were slightly loose when I was looking at the head gasket.



And last, would like your opinions on whether or not a head gasket could "leak" just under load (whenever it decided it was ready to) and not running around empty (does that make sense?)



Thanks for your help/opinions.

 

[DavidC]

rblomquist

Firewall end is #6. There have been a few posts on a freeze plug problem near #6 cylinder . I believe it is below the exhaust manifold. If it has a pin hole or not sealing to the block it would leak only when the system is pressurized 99% of the time. I would take a good look in that area before condemning a head gasket.



Dave

 

[Archive]

I have the exact same problem right now, i just picked up my truck from the stealer today after 2 weeks they say there is nothing wrong. Same symtoms but mine has gotten much worse now i have lots of oil in the coolant and lots of coolant all over. Stealer changed the oil cooler but they were wrong again. I even tried other stealers but none of them will touch it , they all say it is impossible for a cummins to blow a head gasket. Lots of luck.

 

[LSMITH]

Originally posted by jeepmodman

I have the exact same problem right now, i just picked up my truck from the stealer today after 2 weeks they say there is nothing wrong. Same symtoms but mine has gotten much worse now i have lots of oil in the coolant and lots of coolant all over. Stealer changed the oil cooler but they were wrong again. I even tried other stealers but none of them will touch it , they all say it is impossible for a cummins to blow a head gasket. Lots of luck.

If I were you I would take it out on a HARD tow and blow it sky high, run it till parts fall out the bottom. Then you get a new engine, and not one that has been run with lots of coolant in the oil. They can do it right the first time, second time... ... ... You have documentation that said there is nothing wrong, so take them to task.

 

[rblomquist]

Originally posted by DavidC

rblomquist

here have been a few posts on a freeze plug problem near #6 cylinder . I believe it is below the exhaust manifold. If it has a pin hole or not sealing to the block it would leak only when the system is pressurized 99% of the time. I would take a good look in that area before condemning a head gasket.



Dave

Dave, I pulled the airbox out and stood on my head with a flashlight looking at that area. It looks to me like the major leak that sprung came out of the head gasket right near that freeze plug but I didn't look like it came down from it. Also, I'm 99% sure the HG was leaking slightly out the very front of the engine. I guess it's possible that the t-stat stuck, boiled the fluid in the block, then released the fluid gushing it out? I'm just glad I didn't have some cheesy autozone t-stat in there which DC could say caused the blow-up. At any rate this sucks, I'm keeping my fingers crossed the dealer doesn't try to screw me and not cover it.

 

[DavidC]

rblomquist

Sorry you could not trace this to something easier to repair than a Head Gasket. Good luck and please keep us advised of what the Dealer reports and does to repair.



Dave

 

[KLockliear]

I'd suggest making the drive to Pahrump to Saitta/Trudeau Dodge... I think you'll find them the best to work with around Vegas.

 

[rblomquist]

Keith,



Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, I have already dropped the truck off up @ Nevada Dodge (using the early bird key drop box). My neighbor is a big rig guy and he says they have a couple of good diesel mech's up there and because we live fairly close to them I just left it there (wish me luck). I'll be out of town on business Monday so I guess I'll give them a shot. If I don't get results with them I'll definetly head to Pahrump.



Dave et al,



After reading those #6 freeze plug posts I see a lot of similarity i. e. no problems at all when not towing a heavy load; coolant blowing out of the catch tank well before the temp needle gets anywhere near the upper mark (let alone the red area) but a couple of differences also i. e. I know mine started to blow coolant out while driving because I had coolant splatter on the front of my camper (2 separate times). Seems like the other posts mention the dumping happens after they shut down. Also, I suppose the little bit of fluid I saw on the front on the engine may have came from under-hood splatter of the coolant spraying out of the catch tank and it is hard to see that freeze plug so I suppose it is possible that it originated from there and because of the lip at the head/block mating surface the leaking coolant may have pooled up as it water-falled over the edge of that surface and just fooled me into thinking it was seeping out of the gasket vice coming down from the freeze plug.



Will report back when I hear something (hopefully good & right).



Rich

 

[rblomquist]

Well got my truck back tonight. It was a blown HG. Jeepmodman: I asked if they had ever seen a cummins in with a blown HG and they said as a matter of fact they had one in last friday. It must happen once in a blue moon becuase they actually had the parts in stock to do the job.



The good parts: It was covered by warranty, the shop got the truck in 1st thing Monday morning, and a respected diesel mechanic worked on it. Also, got a valve adjustment job out of it.





The bad parts: Dealer said DC would not authorize an oil/filter change or antifreeze change in conjunction with replacing the head gasket. Maybe diesels are different but I find it hard to believe that DC is confident enough to say that on every truck with a blown HG no oil had migrated into the Anti freeze and vice versa. Maybe someone can enlighten me but I thought about it all day and I still dont' understand it. I'll be changing the oil/filter out tomorrow myself. Also, they wouldn't go for the TSB on exhaust manifold bolt straps.



The HUGE suprise part: The service tech tells me as I'm about to walk out the door that my truck had a new engine put in it a year ago last October :--) They said another dealer in town had performed the work and that they noticed that the head bolts were only torqued to 60lbs and they say that is probably why the HG blew out. I'm pretty ****** at the guy I bought the truck from as he told me the only things ever done to the truck were a water pump and a new transmission. Just goes to show that you can't necessarily trust anyone; this was an older (won't say gentlemen) guy that looked me right in the eye and told me the same story twice. I'd advise anyone to go to a dealer and ask for a service history inquiry before buying a used car or truck (now I know better). I guess if there's any good news its that I have a truck with a fairly new cummins in it (as long as the dealer knew what they were talking about). I'm thinking about calling the old lying dirt bag but the wife thinks I should just press on.

 

[Texas Diesel]

If it were me, I'd never rest until I got the complete story by talking to the guy you bought it from. Perhaps he did lie or perhaps there is more to the story, at any rate you wont know if you dont ask.

 

[Archive]

I wish we had stealers here in PA that would fix diesels. i was told i didnt know anything several times. My truck has been down for 3 months now because of dumb people so tuesday i called Piers and ordered a new gasket. i cant wait the dd3s and pdr40 are going on at the same time

 

[RichB59]

Hey Rich,

glad to hear you got your problem fixed. I would'nt let the guy off the hook I would just have to know why he told you his story. I had heard Nevada Dodge has a good diesel tech guys name is Craig or Greg??





LOL RichB

 

[rblomquist]

Went by Cummins tonight to pick up a stratopore for my post HG work oil change. I asked one of their mechanics about Dodge not paying for an oil change as part of the HG job. He said if it was verified that the leak was on the external side and the tech knew what he was doing that would be correct. He even said that Cummins won't pay for an oil change is that situation either. Something about they would demand proof of contamination and furthermore proof that the technician didn't cause the contamination during the job. With that said though; the mechanic said he'd change the oil





RichB59



Yeah I think I'll probably call the guy this weekend and ask him to come clean so I at least know what I have. It's not like I'm going to ask for a refund after 9 months.



You heard right about Nevada Dodge (now Tom T Dodge). The guys name is Craig. I didn't get to actually talk to him but I can tell a little by the engine compartment; it looks clean and everything looks put back in the right places. The service advisor's name was Frosty, real cool dude in this late 20's - early 30s. I would go back there in a heartbeat. They got started on my truck monday a. m. without even seeing me face to face and were real friendly and responsive when I called them.