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Head gasket question

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Old Oct 19, 2015 | 07:40 PM
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Head gasket question

How much of a possibility is it to have bad head gaskets and not ever overheat?
Also why are these things so sensitive to coolant level?
 
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Old Oct 19, 2015 | 07:53 PM
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Out of 4 that I have seen from friends only one overheated
 
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Old Oct 19, 2015 | 08:06 PM
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Headgaskets failure mode is most commonly high pressure gasses from the cylinder being pushed into the coolant system so the degas cap vents. If it looses enough coolant out of the cap the overheating starts. If the leak is bad enough, coolant pressure is higher on shut down causing coolant to be pushed or just drain back into the cylinder(s). Aside from the danger of hydrolock, over time it will lower the coolant level enough to cause it to overheat, but in both cases, the overheating is from low coolant level. The combustion gasses also displace coolant as they find their way to the degas tank which reduces cooling effenciency, I'm not sure that has a big impact on engine temperature until it gets to be a huge leak.
 
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Old Oct 19, 2015 | 09:52 PM
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Can you hydrolock from coolant with egr cooler removed?
Reason I asked the question (and I've tested it multiple times) is every time I put more coolant in then the normal (mine normal is well below the min on the sticker) it pukes. Never overheat and don't loose coolant other then the extra then don't loose anymore.
 
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Old Oct 19, 2015 | 11:02 PM
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Coolant pressure in the degas bottle is generated by the coolant liquid expanding as it heats up. The expanding liquid compresses the vapor space in the degas bottle and creates the pressure. The smaller the vapor space, then the higher the pressure goes with the liquid expansion. If you get much over the appropriate level in the degas bottle, the cap pressure will be exceeded as the coolant expands.
 
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Old Oct 19, 2015 | 11:42 PM
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Not sure on this one guys,,, I've ran trucks during coolant flushes,, with the degas bottle completely full. The pressure is definitely higher (just like Mark's above post says), but lots of them are bone dry on the degas bottle after the drive. Flushing them at the top cleans the bottle during the flush. Some of you might be skeptical because of the higher pressure causing undue stress on the coolant system,, but I've yet to see any negative recourse from it. Just throwing it out there.
 
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Old Oct 20, 2015 | 01:10 AM
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Originally Posted by run6.0run
Not sure on this one guys,,, I've ran trucks during coolant flushes,, with the degas bottle completely full. The pressure is definitely higher (just like Mark's above post says), but lots of them are bone dry on the degas bottle after the drive. Flushing them at the top cleans the bottle during the flush. Some of you might be skeptical because of the higher pressure causing undue stress on the coolant system,, but I've yet to see any negative recourse from it. Just throwing it out there.
Sorry for

Anthony is alive!

Bact to the cooling presure. Why one put a pressure gauge on it to see what's it doing?
Also with the EGR cooler gone you could use the combustion gas test kit.


Trade you trucks. My FICM is acting up I think. Towed home today.


Sean

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Old Oct 20, 2015 | 02:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Yahiko
Sorry for

Anthony is alive!

Bact to the cooling presure. Why one put a pressure gauge on it to see what's it doing?
Also with the EGR cooler gone you could use the combustion gas test kit.


Trade you trucks. My FICM is acting up I think. Towed home today.


Sean

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Bummer. Don't want to trade yet haven't done the front end yet
 
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