Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Stuck Thermostat? Headgasket blown

[12Vmudder]

Well I was on my way to my buddies shop today to start rebuilding the front end on my truck. . I just spent 3,500 bucks on parts to make the front end on this thing bullet proof and ride good at the same time. .

Anyway I was about half a mile from his driveway when I noticed my temp gauge was almost maxed out. . So I coasted some and took it nice and easy to his driveway and coasted in and let the turbo cool down for a couple seconds and shut it off. . I popped the hood and jumped out to find coolant running out from under the number 5 exhaust manifold... . So I pulled the truck up to the shop and pushed it in and started tearing the front end apart all day.

Is it possible a stuck thermostat could do that in that short of time to is there something more serious wrong? I plan to pull the thermostat tomorrow and maybe throw it in a pot on the stove and see if it opens when it gets hot.

What should I do next??

I figure if I'm pulling it apart I might as well throw some ARP 12mm studs at it and O-ring the head along with some heavy duty valve springs. .

I just need some ideas of what I should do or ideas of what might have caused this...

Any help or reassurance is appreciated

Thanks,
12Vmudder

 

[Dave M]

Sorry to hear that. When you take it apart (especially the head gasket) take some pics and post them. Carefully examine the head gasket before removing it. Did this happen just after you had the timing changed and 3K GSK put in?



At least now you can bullet-proof the engine some with the heavy duty exhaust springs, ARP head bolts and O-ring the heads.



Good luck on your front end and head job.



Dave

 

[ata]

I'll bet you find that the thermostat is just fine. The head gasket let go and the water level got low and the engine got hot. Looking at your fueling you probably just went past what your high mileage head gasket could take.

 

[Dave M]

I'll bet you find that the thermostat is just fine. The head gasket let go and the water level got low and the engine got hot. Looking at your fueling you probably just went past what your high mileage head gasket could take.

So what your saying, if I understand fueling properly, that by removing the fuel plate and adding a 3G GSK and up timing to 16. 5 would these mods increase the compresssion pressure in the cylinders and along with causing boost pressures to increase above 30 psi contribute to the blown head gasket? In other words, over-fueling can cause a blown head gasket, especially if boost rises high. I'm asking cause I want to understand what to expect when I do the same on my 230K mile engine.



Thanks,

Dave

 

[WDimig]

16. 5 deg. of timing is right on the limits of what a stock gasket can hold anyway, and considering the age, it was on borrowed time, do it right, oring it, or even fire ring it. have the head decked, and you wont have any problems.



wes

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

If you are still running the stock turbo, 60 psi is FAR too much boost for it.

 

[12Vmudder]

My boost maxes out around 36-38 psi... .

anyway. . I pulled the thermostat out today and put it in a pot and had the water boiling pretty good and didnt see anything happen but I'm not sure it would do anything anyway without pressure on it. . not sure how it works. .

I plan on pulling the head during a couple evenings this week and taking it to Forest City Diesel and have Keith check and make sure the head is ok and have him o-ring it while he has it. . I also plan to install a set of ARP 12mm studs and some 60lb valve springs.

What is the best head gasket to get? Should I be looking at anything else while I have this thing tore apart?

Once I get all this done I'll be ready for some 370's and my buddies HX-40/55 hybrid

 

[bigdaddydieseldan]

I say blown headgasket too. Sorry to hear about your bad luck at least you didn't blow it up. :{ :{

 

[WPeschel]

Well I hate to tell you I know just how you feel... . Last week I blew my head gasket while test driving it after installing the 60lb valve springs and setting the timing to 16 degrees..... I was dogging it pretty hard... I got the head off and noticed the there was a small crack in between the valves on the #1 hole... I ordered a new head from Pure diesel Performance, i havent got it yet but I had him 0ring it right away... I will be installing it on wen. . Attached are some pics of my blown HG... Have fun... :-laf

 

[12Vmudder]

Wow... I'm crossing my fingers that my block and head are both OK... If I start pulling the head and see that it is cracked I might just bolt it back together and take all my go fast parts off of it and push it in the lake. . We'll find out later this week...

I hate to ask but whats a new head run? 2000?

 

[WPeschel]

Wow... I'm crossing my fingers that my block and head are both OK... If I start pulling the head and see that it is cracked I might just bolt it back together and take all my go fast parts off of it and push it in the lake. . We'll find out later this week...



I hate to ask but whats a new head run? 2000?

Not near as bad as you may think... I think I will have 1500 hundered including studs, HG, Head, and oring. . Cummins 6B 5. 9L 12 Valve Diesel Loaded Cylinder Head Dodge Ram