Blown Headgasket ??? Or??? Help...
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2003
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Blown Headgasket ??? Or??? Help...
Hey...last week was chasing a miss and rough idle that I thought I had pinned down to a bad injector? I did all the tests and check that I read recommended by everone here...
BUT..I think ? the root of the problem finally showed it nasty face...drove to the beach ran ok there...noticed sweet smell from exhaust..when I got there..HMMMM shut it off..noticed coolant way low in tank..OH CRAP...and some coolant blew outta rad cap releaf hole...drove a few more miles constant smoke from tailpipe mostly whitish...ton of pressure in coolant tank...slowly released pressure and smoke subsided a "little"
Next day its pressurizing the cooling system sooo bad in just seconds or minutes that if you even try to release some pressure while running it will just gush out around the cap...TOWED IT HOME!!!!
I assume headgasket..But what other problems might I run into??? when hot was running rough/missing intermittent knocking from engine.. tow truck dropped it off ...ran it aminute to get it into shop sounded better but still pressurized cooling system badly.... "I realy dont want to get into it if its got a junk cylinder/piston/head ect...truck is a 99 with 70k miles just looking for help...thanks guys..
BUT..I think ? the root of the problem finally showed it nasty face...drove to the beach ran ok there...noticed sweet smell from exhaust..when I got there..HMMMM shut it off..noticed coolant way low in tank..OH CRAP...and some coolant blew outta rad cap releaf hole...drove a few more miles constant smoke from tailpipe mostly whitish...ton of pressure in coolant tank...slowly released pressure and smoke subsided a "little"
Next day its pressurizing the cooling system sooo bad in just seconds or minutes that if you even try to release some pressure while running it will just gush out around the cap...TOWED IT HOME!!!!
I assume headgasket..But what other problems might I run into??? when hot was running rough/missing intermittent knocking from engine.. tow truck dropped it off ...ran it aminute to get it into shop sounded better but still pressurized cooling system badly.... "I realy dont want to get into it if its got a junk cylinder/piston/head ect...truck is a 99 with 70k miles just looking for help...thanks guys..
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 14,582
Likes: 12
From: 21791
Yep sounds like a headgasket issue for sure. If you arent going to pull the engine, you could do a compression test on one side of the engine (driver's side is easier) to rule one side out that way you dont have to mess with it if nothing is wrong with it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,892
Likes: 2
From: Middle Tennessee
You might have a leaking injector cup. Are you getting fuel or oil in the coolant?
Edit: OK, two theories. Let's narrow it down. If the coolant is overflowing and shows low after you shut off, likely a HG as it is displaced by air. If the coolant level is not dropping and appears contaminated, injector cups.
Edit: OK, two theories. Let's narrow it down. If the coolant is overflowing and shows low after you shut off, likely a HG as it is displaced by air. If the coolant level is not dropping and appears contaminated, injector cups.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 14,582
Likes: 12
From: 21791
An easier way to check this is to have the truck running, and shoot the outlet of the exhaust manifold with an infared thermometer. Whichever one is substantially colder (or if you have an EGT gauge and it's reading LOW, then thats probably the head with the bad gasket.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,892
Likes: 2
From: Middle Tennessee
I thought I made it quite simple. Overflowing coolant that requires topping off = HG or cracked block. Anything else requires a look at the injector cups. I agree a IR thermometer can narrow this down quickly.
EDIT: also, for those thinking stuck thermostat, this will not account for the white smoke and rough running, just an overheating condition.
EDIT: also, for those thinking stuck thermostat, this will not account for the white smoke and rough running, just an overheating condition.
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2003
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No contaminates in coolant .....engine oil still clean as it was just changed a few hundred miles ago...ya coolant drops to empty in tank cold them rises fast!!!!! lots of pressure in there...Ive done lots of Small block chevy and import car engine repairs...just never tackled a diesel... just wasnt shure if I would find a scorched cylinder or other possible known issues???? thanks Frank
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 14,582
Likes: 12
From: 21791
If anything, you'd find a "cooled" cylinder from all the extra water. Most of the time you just pull the head, clean everything up, put on a new gasket, NEW head bolts, then change coolant and oil, and be on your way. Its a pain do pull a head in the truck though!