Head bolts stretching?
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New User
Joined: Mar 2011
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Head bolts stretching?
My antifreeze overflow container shows the Premium Gold is below the minimum mark. I checked around and found some at a service place here in AK. Upon telling the gentleman at the shop what it was doing, he asked a few other questions and said it sounded like the head bolts are stretching and will soon go. He said they could do the work to replace the bolts with studs and it would never have the problem again. he said it would cost $5,000 to do this. I'm not doubting it's alot of work, I'm just looking for a few other opinions if it's worth the money to do or just trade it in because 5K is alot of money but not compared to 60K for a new truck. It's a 2003 6.0 with 93,000 miles. I have some other work into the truck and really hate to trade it. I guess the real problem is trying to talk the wife (banker) into it.
Opinions are appreciated!
H
Opinions are appreciated!
H
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 20
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Sorry, there was a bit of dried coolant around the cap and I've only smelled coolant a couple times. I can't find where it may be leaking from anywhere else. The temp indicator (dummy gauge)has never raised above halfway. The other work that has been done was a #3 injector replaced and ICPM and harness replaced. I'll check the cap and see if the seal may have went bad. The shop is very reputable in AK. It's just that $5000 is alot of money.
Thanks,
H
Thanks,
H
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,757
Likes: 5
From: Corvallis, OR
Yeah it is, and they may be hurting for business so being aggressive with their diagnosis. You can test for combustion gasses in the coolant, either get a kit yourself of have a shop do it. That should tell you if the headgaskets are popped.
Another very likely possibility is a plugged oil cooler, causing the EGR cooler to overheat and boil coolant, which will cause puking. Does it have the original coolant in it still? If so, you are way overdue for a change and that can cause oil cooler failure (EGR heat causes silicates to precipitate out of the coolant and plug the oil cooler with the sludge produced). Know anyone with an AutoEnginuity that can monitor oil and coolant temps while under load to see if the oil cooler is working efficiently?
Another very likely possibility is a plugged oil cooler, causing the EGR cooler to overheat and boil coolant, which will cause puking. Does it have the original coolant in it still? If so, you are way overdue for a change and that can cause oil cooler failure (EGR heat causes silicates to precipitate out of the coolant and plug the oil cooler with the sludge produced). Know anyone with an AutoEnginuity that can monitor oil and coolant temps while under load to see if the oil cooler is working efficiently?
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,739
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From: Virginia beach, VA
Its more likely an EGR cooler failure but could be headgaskets as well. Either way, $5000 is a hell of a lot for that job I would look around some more. It should be in the ballpark of $3000
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,757
Likes: 5
From: Corvallis, OR
EGR Cooler failure should cause white smoke out the exhaust that smells like coolant. This sounds more like puking due to a bad cap, plugged oil cooler causing EGR to overheat, or head gaskets.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 63
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From: Clarksville,TN
Just got a quote from the local dealer for head gaskets and oil cooler for $3100 and change. 5k seems kinda high IMHO.
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Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,201
Likes: 4
From: waynesville, mo.
Unfortunately, its developed into a real problem with the 6.0. Many shops have found its an easy moneymaker to replace head gaskets on the 6.0. I think theres a large percentage of these repairs that were totally unnecessary. Its a scammers dream.....a "well known" problem, a customer that knows of this problem (thanks to forums like these), and a "savior" shop that is more than willing to help you out. Bottom line, you can't just raise the hood and definatively diagnose headgaskets. Any shop that tells you otherwise falls into this "scammer" description. Go to a shop thats willing to do extensive pressure tests and electronic diagnostics first.
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 19,060
Likes: 238
From: Saratoga Springs,UT
I know my degass bottle had a crack in it and will leak alittle . doesnt do it much only in really hot hot weather. I noticed sometimes while the vehicle was running the coolant would go down in the degass bottle. but would go to the min mark when it was shut off and be just fine. this may have cracked the bottle?
and on a 2003 isnt the min mark on the degass bottle the actual full leavel. I thought that I read a TSB on this once. you may have just had to much coolant in it. I had the same symtomes but they stopped when I keeped the coolant at the min mark. I wouldnt jump on head bolts just yet.
and on a 2003 isnt the min mark on the degass bottle the actual full leavel. I thought that I read a TSB on this once. you may have just had to much coolant in it. I had the same symtomes but they stopped when I keeped the coolant at the min mark. I wouldnt jump on head bolts just yet.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,757
Likes: 5
From: Corvallis, OR
and on a 2003 isnt the min mark on the degass bottle the actual full leavel. I thought that I read a TSB on this once. you may have just had to much coolant in it. I had the same symtomes but they stopped when I keeped the coolant at the min mark. I wouldnt jump on head bolts just yet.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,347
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From: Eagle Mountian, Utah
Ok first thing is most people since the tsb run about 1/2 inch below the min mark on the early trucks. Next thing is the old style degas bottle cap has a red sticker on it. They fail big time, 2 days ago my boss 05 was leaking coolant out of the radiator because the cap was not holding any pressure. And the radiator wouldn't seal. I changed his cap and his mystery coolant leak is now solved. There are many reasons your truck will puke. I would get more then 1 or even 3 people all singing the same song before you fork out 5k.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,392
Likes: 1
From: Green Lane, Pa.
The guy that looked at your degas bottle and determined the problem to be stretched head bolts is clearly a genius and wasting his talent getting his hands greasy. Be careful this guy is a professional fisherman and he trying to set the hook. Buy yourself a new degas cap and see if this solves the problem. The new fill line is about a 1/2" below the Min. mark. If it pukes again, you have to test for exhaust gas in the coolant, or pressure check the degas tank for excessive pressure building up.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Be careful this guy is a professional fisherman and he trying to set the hook.
The techs here give sound advise ,and do a great thing by helping out other 6.oL owners. These guys having the experience and be willing to share their info shows how many good people are here on FTE