Well I have been told by two techs that he Combustion gas test is not 100% reliable.. That the HG can still be lifting under load and will not show on those test..

opinions true or false

 

No test is 100percent reliable.

But that is the standard test.

If it is negative, and negative on repeated tests, then what?

 

Exactly then what... How can you be sure your heads aren't just lifting under certain conditions..

 

If there is lifting that leaves no evidence of gas leak... do you care?

 

I do... As it will come a time when they lift that they might not lay back down correctly ...and if I'm in front of the dealership when it happens ..no sweat but if I'm with my family 400 miles from home... There is an issue I would like to avoid if I can..

 

You are more likely to create a future non-warranted issue from an incompetent tech that messes around with a motor and not put it back exactly right.

It is hard enough to do that in a well equipped assembly line with well trained staff...

Have you seen how an average tech works?

Do you ever wonder how many of them actually torque their screws well .. or just put the thing back...

You are risking a lot for a hypothetical.

 

Don't forget to tell that mechanic to run a test for Herpes Simplex XI and then to fumigate the vehicle if it tests positive as a part of the customer satisfaction program!

Remember, a negative test can be false, and you can end up catching it and also cooties from having them sit in your seat.

Better safe than be sorry!

 

Sure I will get right on that... Do they do that for you...How does this statement have anything to do with the topic at hand.... We all have opinions I may not agree with yours and you may not agree with mine...To think I was putting value to your opinion until this ridiculous tirade...

Better safe than sorry.. enough said

 

I'm certainly not an expert, but it seems to me that if combustion gasses have gotten into the coolant a test would show it. Maybe a tech will chime in here and explain how it could be otherwise.

Are you considering testing to stay ahead of a potential problem, or do you have reason to believe your heads are lifting?

 

Steve..I have tested and it was negative... It was explained to me that the test would not show intermittent or small leaks...

I have no reason to believe they are leaking except for a recent degas puking which maybe can be explained away as air in system and or over filling...

I would like to know for sure... I'm going to see if the mechanic would hook up his gauges and let me take it one weekend to monitor and record pressure..just for peace of mind..

 

i haven't heard of air in the system but over filling was/is semi-common on these trucks. also originally had the same thoughts as Steven then it made me wonder if you have the updated degas bottle sticker which shows the fill to be at the very bottom of the original stickers MIN line. i'm sure that's confusing to understand but if you know you have the sticker changed you will know what i'm saying.
Also did you recently fill or add too the degas bottle? (before it puked)
Did you notice when it puked coolant or did you just happen to see the white chalky residue under the hood and on the bottle. (like did it happen when you were towing or driving hard? or just normal driving?) you say "Under Load" in your opening post/

 

If you haven't read the testing procedure here's the TSB for coolant loss:

 

Steve,

I am not an expert either.

But the chemistry involved is roughly Grade 12 high school level, and I have a building full of chemists a short walk away I can drop in to ask questions.

Here is the deal -

The test, within its relevant range, properly conducted, is the "gold standard" and as such, is written in the TSB in a post above.

You cannot have an intermittent fault that do not leave a gas trace, or such small trace amounts as to be undetectable.

(FYI, under detailed enough examination, at the parts per trillion level, you will find nearly anything contaminated with something else).


I am going to have no more to say about this topic, as it is pretty clear the intent is to find assertions to justify costly work on someone else's dime.

 

Gearloose1.. Do you actually read all the post or just your own... Your statement above... Could be taken as libelous statement in order to discredit me.....Please explain( pretty clear the intent is to find assertions to justify costly work on someone else's dime.). Were did you come to this assumption... Please do telll..... But if you actually read my other post regarding Head studs you would have read that it was going to be done on my dime( to try to prevent the heads from lifting)... I'm sure your read it since you did post to that thread.. Or maybe you didn't...... In that thread I posted that the head bolts were on my Dime...

Gearloose1 I would be more careful in the future about posting in writing statements as above that can make you and the administrators of this forum civilly culpable for allowing you to post such defamatory statements...

So to avoid any more issues.. I really would appreciate that you refrain from offering any advise on any of my threads or post looking for help...As there are more than enough truly knowledgeable people here that are more than willing to offer good sound advice without any condescending tones...Or ridiculous comments

So with that please take your ball and bat and go home...

 

Steve.. I did some more checking today and the way it was explained to me is the gasses have to be present during the test... That is why they ask that the auto be running... If the head gaskets are not leaking at idle or on acceleration the hydrocarbons will not be detected and the chemicals in the solution will not react... I had another diesel tech explain to me that the issue with the 6.0 is not the head gaskets but the bolts stretching under boost as the pressure is brought down the bolt pull the heads back down... Head gaskets will eventually fail and cause a constant HG leak ...

I dont realy think my Gaskets are gone but am thinking of changing my bolts to studs