Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Time for new Headgasket again

[CToney]

Did headgasket last January and now its seems to have gone again. Last time my oil ended up in my rad. This time hard to start and smoking bad on start up. Got my timing checked 13. 5 and got it reset to 15. 5 get home check oil the next day and coolant condensed under oil filler cap. I phoned to track down oil analysis results which were late coming and my potassium level was at 54 ppm and was flagged for possible coolant. I guess this time I will use an engine hoist to place the head on the block. I must have either got a bad gasket or damaged that one. The first time it went my truck was fueled a bit higher and I detuned it so I wouldn't have this problem again. Now I've spent $133 on new water pump, $429 on new rad, $624 on new injectors, $100 on new overflow valve, $1000 doing the headgasket the first time. Maybe I should just sell the truck and get my first gen engine into a F**D. Sorry about the complaining but, I needed to vent. How many times have you other guys had to do a headgasket?



Hoping the third time is not a charm, the second better work.



CR Toney

 

[JoshPeters]

Well if it makes you feel better..... I've done a total of 4 headgaskets.

1 normal with the wrong torque specs

1 with regular head bolts

2 with studs Head warped on one, blew the compression ring out of the gasket on the other.

I then fire ringed it. The headgasket held this time... it appears as though I'm having bottom end issues now.



Make sure you have the head machined so it's flat. I'd also recommend at least studs.

I will say, I have it down to just over an hour to pull the head... . and thats with studs. I think with just normal head bolts I could get the head off in 30 min or less.



JP

 

[JKure]

Well

dont feel to upset i had mine off for the same problem once had it off second time due to eating antifrezze. I had it pressure checked the first time and machined. Now when it was off the second time i had it checked once again. Put it back on seemed fine now until i noticed that its externaly cracked just above the all the lower head bolts behind the exhaust manifold haha i want to set this thing on fire. Now i need a 12v head.

 

[CToney]

I got the head machined and the valves done when the head was off. In the book it says torque to 89 ft lbs then turn 90 degrees. Joe D. said to torque to 115-120 ft lbs when I did my brothers first gen head. I only run 32 psi of boost so I thought the gasket could handle that without studs and/or orings. Maybe its the 15. 5 dgrees of timing causing the trouble. They say 1 degree over the stock setting is safe. The head gasket was upgraded in '98 so it should hold better. I hope that my head is not cracked as that would be pricey. I guess I'd have to get one from Piers. I think I would have been better off with 75hp DDP injectors and stock plate ahead a bit and timing at 14. 5 than the #10 plate slid back. I hope to figure this out. Last time the head was more expensive due to oil cooler gaskets, coolant sensor, kdp, front gasket and crank seal. I guess I might get quite good at changing head gaskets if I don't get it done right.



CR Toney

 

[dtygart]

I used an engine hoist when I did mine, still tricky trying to get it under the doghouse. I used the torque-turn method with original bolts (checked them for strech). I am running 32-25 psi boost, and my performance shop said that wasn't high enough to cause gasket problems. I used a thicker marine gasket. Fingers are crossed now.



david

 

[CumminsPower98]

I have done two on mine and two on a '97. Mine blew from a few brief 38 psi blasts while towing in sub zero temps and wind at 248k miles on original gasket. Second gasket blew because I didn't re-torque the studs enough times before working it hard. I now keep the boost below 30 to be safe since it's my money maker right now. Both times I had a slight compression to water jacket leak and was able to drive somewhere between 1200-1500 miles home each time keeping boost below 20 with no more leak. So far it's been holding fine and I did have the head surfaced and valves done. The '97 I worked on previous to mine blew the same way but I was stupid and didn't have the head surfaced so it blew again. Fixed it right and it's also still holding. A hoist of some sort is a must in my opinion. I know I can't begin to safely set that thing in there by hand.

 

[CToney]

Got er done

Changed the gasket on Sat w/ the father in law. The Gasket was deteriorated nest to # five on the passenger side of the engine just ahead of the # 5 cylinder. The fire ring next to #5 also looked different than the rest. We checked the block and the head to see any imperfections but couldn't find any. I hope it holds. I have an adjustable boost elbow which I have given a 1/4 turn out to lower the boost pressure maybe I should turn it out a bit more as my egt's with the new injectors have dropped 50-100 degrees. If the truck gives me much more grief she might be for sale.



TTFN



CR Toney