As many of you know i just got my 7.3 running from a complete overhaul and its running like a top except for one coolant leak i have. I have a tad bit of water coming out between the head gasket on the left bank right above the motor mount. Its so little of an amount that it will make a drip on the ground about every 30 min.

I know the mating surfaces were very clean and the bolts were torqued numerous times per the book. It only has about 20 miles on the motor since the overhaul so im a little leary to do anything about it. Do you guys think it might heal itself over time? I know funny things can happen untill they get broken in.

 

Yikes! Maybe it will fix itself. You could try and get some of that snake oil block sealer radiator stuff the parts store sells. What I wouldn't do is forget about it beacuse it will either get better or worse with time.

 

Btw heads were fluxed and machined and block was decked.

 

I would fix it. With the high compression of these beasts I would n't chance it blowing the gasket out. It could be it was a bad gasket or you may have nicked it when putting the heads on. But either way it would be a bad thing if it is leaking inside just as bad and you can't see it. Believe me, it is a sickening feeling when one hydrolocks and you may not get as lucky as I was and have no damage to anything other than the gasket.

 

fix it....the 83 had the same coolant leak...then hydrolocked.....i managed to get it fixed...when i was taking it apart....i had nicked the head gasket when i put the head on...

 

Why does it seen to be so hard to get a good seal on that gasket? I had it happen on the driver side of my 6.9l too but I realized it right away and had to tear it all the way back apart to change the gasket. A lot of work for a tiny mistake.

 

Amen brother

 

Well if you are doing the heads in the truck... they are heavy and akward. I did mine the first time with the engine out and all was good till the cowl seal leaked and then the filter housing leaked and........oh well lol. I did it in the truck this time and used a hoist to get the head up there. But I then layed in there and carefully lifted and set the head down. guess it is a good thing to be called a neanderthal at times. that thing was heavy lol. But I never let it touch the gasket till it was on the pins first and sat right down in place. My back didn't like for a week but ohwell. If I had a way to get it to my buddies place to do the work I would have pulled the engine and did the work.

 

There is always next time I plan on putting something like a rag to protect the gasket that I can pull out when I get it close, that its the plan anyway.

 

Maybe if i cut a piece of poster board or something to fit just inside the dowls. Thats not a bad idea.

 

Yeah poster board our cardboard that would probably work great. Good idea.