CRACKED HEAD?
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CRACKED HEAD?
Okay ! So I replaced the head gasket on my 4.9L.I.6- It was smokeing, loseing water,Num-3 plug was wet with coolant, The old gasket didnt have any obvious sign of failure.Now that I have made the repair it was fine up till last knight,now its starting to display the same things again, fouling same plug,smoke etc, One new thing I can hear a gurgeling in the heater core.How can I pin point my problem before I take it apart again( I need this truck for work ) so downtime is important.Im thinking maybe cracked head? Will comp test tell me ? any suggestions ? Oh I put maybe 50 miles on before it started again . Thanks in advance guys
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From: Lost
Pressure test the cooling system. That will tell you if there is a leak anywhere in the cooling system. If coolant is getting into 1 or more cyls, it could be a bad gasket, cracked head or cracked block.
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Or you could have a warped head and/or block. Simple machining operation can put them square again. Have you ever overheated the engine? Overheating or freezing can cause some warpage. Not a sure thing, but its a chance, especially if its not the original head. (original pieces tend to warp the same, since both are cast iron)
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Thanks everyone-- The motor has never been run hot. when I say the number3 plug is wet. I mean that coolant is getting on the plug, just enough to foul it. Just noticed that if I remove the radater cap it stops smoking and plug burns its self clean. Im thinking its because removeing cap releaves pressure enough to stop forceing water through gasket, or crack. What yall think ??
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Its possible that your radiator cap isn't relieving pressure properly, causing the system to become overpressurized. It may be worth getting a new radiator cap and seeing if that solves the problem.
You said that you installed a new headgasket, did you ever retorque the headbolts after the engine had gone through a few heating and cooling cycles? The fact that its fouling the same plug afterwards as before would suggest there is either a crack or warpage, but since it was better for a while, retorquing the headbolts may solve the problem. Head gaskets have enough compression to fix minor warpage, but the longer coolant seeps by, the greater the chance of a blown headgasket
You said that you installed a new headgasket, did you ever retorque the headbolts after the engine had gone through a few heating and cooling cycles? The fact that its fouling the same plug afterwards as before would suggest there is either a crack or warpage, but since it was better for a while, retorquing the headbolts may solve the problem. Head gaskets have enough compression to fix minor warpage, but the longer coolant seeps by, the greater the chance of a blown headgasket
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I work on so many different engines I forget which need retorque and which don't. I know diesels and Harley do, I honestly can't remember whether or not you need to on the sixes. Best of luck!
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