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Changing Head Gasket
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Changing Head Gasket
HI TO EVERYONE NEW WRITTER LONG TIME READER.
thanks for all the info.
but to my question, has anyone out there changed there own head gaskets? is it that hard, or just leave it to the pro"s. my mechanical skill level from 1-10 about a 7.5 thanks for any help.
1990 F-250 7.3l after market turbo
thanks for all the info.
but to my question, has anyone out there changed there own head gaskets? is it that hard, or just leave it to the pro"s. my mechanical skill level from 1-10 about a 7.5 thanks for any help.
1990 F-250 7.3l after market turbo
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 250
Likes: 6
From: new york
Technically they are the same as changing a gas head gasket, other than the injection part of it. But you would want to get a manual and hopefully a friend that is a little more familiar with diesels.These heads are very heavy and are shoehorned in pretty tight. First though what are your reasons for wanting to replace the head gaskets? You want to be sure you identify the right problem before you change the head gaskets.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
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From: Nutter Fort, WV
Tripplets,
Welcome to FTE and the IDI diesel forum.
Changing the head gaskets is just like changing them on a gasoline engine.
The parts are much heavier on a diesel and the tolerances are much tighter is the only difference.
Welcome to FTE and the IDI diesel forum.
Changing the head gaskets is just like changing them on a gasoline engine.
The parts are much heavier on a diesel and the tolerances are much tighter is the only difference.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 250
Likes: 6
From: new york
Yea thats the most common but having a cavation hole in the liner is also common especially if there is no additive in the coolant, thats what happened to my 84 but you wont find that unless you pull the heads. My friend had an oil cooler leak, that was very difficult to find. If its head gaskets it well usually ron a little hotter than normal due to the hot compression getting into the coolant. Just be as sure as you can before you pull the heads they are a bear to get off.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
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no other leaks that i can find. but found a friend that knows about the deisel he is going to help me for for some paint work but i will try to find any other reason not to pull heads. thanks for all the speedy reply's, u all are very help full
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
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From: Nutter Fort, WV
When it is running do you have bubbles in the radiator?
Do you have the sweet smell of burnt antifreeze in the exhaust?
Do you notice extra white smoke or steam in the morning when you first fire the engine?
Do you have the sweet smell of burnt antifreeze in the exhaust?
Do you notice extra white smoke or steam in the morning when you first fire the engine?
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i will look monday morning for the smoke.today i flushed rad so i can keep close eye on it, and changed oil and flushed. let u all know how it goes.
if it is bubbling in rad does that mean head gasket??? dont think its bubbling but will check again.
if it is bubbling in rad does that mean head gasket??? dont think its bubbling but will check again.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Something to think about. When the engine is running the oil pressure is usually more than the coolant pressure.
So the oil cooler usually puts more oil in the coolant than coolant in the oil.
Head gaskets have oil drain passages and coolant passages, the coolant is under pressure there, the oil is not so that is a likely place to get coolant in the oil. But the most likely head gasket failure will also have compression involved which is where the bubbles come from.
Another place that has higher coolant pressure and oil close by is the water pump.
There are four bolts in the water pump that go into the timing gear cover plate.
A gasket failure or thread sealant failure will let coolant into the oil pan.
Cavitation lets coolant into the cylinder, which then drains around the rings and into the crank case. This also usually has bubbles in the radiator from escaping compression in the cooling jacket.
There are the most likely spots for problems, pick one.
A couple of them are expensive, a couple are not.
So the oil cooler usually puts more oil in the coolant than coolant in the oil.
Head gaskets have oil drain passages and coolant passages, the coolant is under pressure there, the oil is not so that is a likely place to get coolant in the oil. But the most likely head gasket failure will also have compression involved which is where the bubbles come from.
Another place that has higher coolant pressure and oil close by is the water pump.
There are four bolts in the water pump that go into the timing gear cover plate.
A gasket failure or thread sealant failure will let coolant into the oil pan.
Cavitation lets coolant into the cylinder, which then drains around the rings and into the crank case. This also usually has bubbles in the radiator from escaping compression in the cooling jacket.
There are the most likely spots for problems, pick one.
A couple of them are expensive, a couple are not.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 250
Likes: 6
From: new york
Just a note, you will have to wait untill the thermostat opens before you will see bubbles.
When my 84 developed a cavitation hole, I was crusing on the thruway when i noticed my temp gauge moving from normal to hot and back. I stopped check coolant, added a gallon and kept going. Temp gauge did same thing, I stopped again, with engine running noticed some bubbleing in rad. Drove to destination, shut off truck, after an hour went to start truck. Nothing happened engine locked up. I barrowed some tools removed all glowplugs and cranked engine. Coolant flew out of #4?
Replaced glowplugs drove home and pulled left side head. Carefully checked gasket and head, nothing. I called 6.9 specailest in Canada told him what I had and he said I have a cavation hole in and where it was. When I rechecked shure enough it was right where he said.
Appearantly 6.9 & 7.3 usually develope cavation first in the same spot, driver side cylinders, very back one, just above the piston on the bottom of the stroke, towards the camshaft.
When my 84 developed a cavitation hole, I was crusing on the thruway when i noticed my temp gauge moving from normal to hot and back. I stopped check coolant, added a gallon and kept going. Temp gauge did same thing, I stopped again, with engine running noticed some bubbleing in rad. Drove to destination, shut off truck, after an hour went to start truck. Nothing happened engine locked up. I barrowed some tools removed all glowplugs and cranked engine. Coolant flew out of #4?
Replaced glowplugs drove home and pulled left side head. Carefully checked gasket and head, nothing. I called 6.9 specailest in Canada told him what I had and he said I have a cavation hole in and where it was. When I rechecked shure enough it was right where he said.
Appearantly 6.9 & 7.3 usually develope cavation first in the same spot, driver side cylinders, very back one, just above the piston on the bottom of the stroke, towards the camshaft.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
farmnfly,
Actually the back cylinder drivers side is number 8.
Front to back drivers side 2,4,6,and 8.
Front to back passenger side 1,3,5,and 7.
If the hole is big enough, you will see action as soon as the engine cranks over.
Last one I checked put 30 PSI in the cooling system in 15 seconds of cranking/running.
5 seconds after you started cranking the engine, it blew the lid off the coolant recovery tank, you did not even have to remove the radiator cap to see bubbles.
They ran clear down across the drivers side front wheel onto the ground. That hole was higher in the cylinder though.
Actually the back cylinder drivers side is number 8.
Front to back drivers side 2,4,6,and 8.
Front to back passenger side 1,3,5,and 7.
If the hole is big enough, you will see action as soon as the engine cranks over.
Last one I checked put 30 PSI in the cooling system in 15 seconds of cranking/running.
5 seconds after you started cranking the engine, it blew the lid off the coolant recovery tank, you did not even have to remove the radiator cap to see bubbles.
They ran clear down across the drivers side front wheel onto the ground. That hole was higher in the cylinder though.
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thanks for the info mine is not bubbling (not yet) I'm thinking oil cooler i have spare going to change. but one last question?? u were talking about compression on your #8 cylinder, on average what should it be????in a gas u pull the coil wire what do u do to a deisel??????
