Leaky Headgasket

[ScottLowry]

My head gasket is leaking from the front right corner (under the thermostat Housing). It's just leaking to the outside. No oil/water mix. Truck doesn't heat up. It holds a solid 175-180. I did a search on the site but I couldn't find an answer to my question. I saw this is somewhat of a common problem. How much should I worry about it. Will it last a while like that. I do tow and haul a lot with the truck. It has at least once a week it has 6-8k in on the bed. Sometimes it will have 6k on and be pulling another 10-12k. This doesn't seem to make it heat up. Any advice would be great.



Scott

 

[PToombs]

Scott, welcome to the asylu- oops I mean club! This is a common thing. Quite a few of the guys have this slight leak, my truck does it. Some people have changed the gasket and it still leaked. I think it is an older truck quirk. The other guys can maybe tell you more.

 

[JLEONARD]

The marine 6b users call this a "nuisance leak". They don't worry about it.

Happens on 12 Vs of all eras.

Jay

 

[Greenleaf]

I changed a gasket AND cylinder head (on a 1989 school bus) and it still leaks. Even put in new bolts. Leaks worse now than it did prior to the upgrade.



GL

 

[R C Cola]

Head Gasket ?

Same problem here. Did you machine the head for flat, while it was off ?

Would a guy have to machine the block also ? Right now I am thinking of letting mine go. Been this wayfor at least 10,ooo miles. Tightened the head bolts and it got a lot better. Now I can just barely see slight dribble. How often can I get away withtightening those bolts before one breaks ? R C

 

[DBF]

Same problem here. Did you machine the head for flat, while it was off ?

Would a guy have to machine the block also ? Right now I am thinking of letting mine go. Been this wayfor at least 10,ooo miles. Tightened the head bolts and it got a lot better. Now I can just barely see slight dribble. How often can I get away withtightening those bolts before one breaks ? R C

I got worried with this leak so I had the head pulled. The gasket didn't look particularly bad, but the head was way out of spec on flatness. The block was fine. I had the head milled flat, and a new (thicker) marine gasket put in. The valves were gone over in 3 axes as well (200kmiles+).



We re-used the old head bolts since they passed the Cummins gage test. I suppose you could take out one bolt and check it against the stretch gage; if it's out of stretch spec you'd be better changing them out.



Nobody could give me a guess on how much longer I could have run it with that leak.



I'll try to put a picture into my Readers Rigs of the old head gasket tomorrow.



DBF

 

[DValentine]

A year ago I was in the same boat. Pulled the head and couldn't find any tell tale sign for the cause of the leak, looking at the gasket. I had previously gotten the engine very hot, then noticed the leak. The head might have been warped. I never checked it. Long story short, I ended getting a PDR head. I can understand your concern..... but it seems to be common.

Good night and good luck,

Dave

 

[DBF]

I've posted the pictures of my old headgasket to my Readers Rigs area. DBF