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Head Gasket Bad?

bredwagon

bredwagon

Full Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2007
Messages
73
Location
Richmond, Indiana
well i was under the truck yesterday doing some cleaning and noticed an antifreeze drip. after some checking i found it coming from the pass side .  right at the front of the head .  has anybody had this problem?  any guesses on cost?  so far it had been 132,000 trouble free.
 
seems to me I've only read of a couple people with that failure, usually the water pump goes first
 
Got pic?
 
I tried to take some pics but they were just to dark to see anything.  Watching on the front of the head while it is running i can see a small trickle running down from it. so its not the water pump.  do these engines have coolant running thru the intake like old small blocks did?
 
Looks like it does.

Cooling System Description and Operation

Cooling Cycle

Coolant is drawn from the radiator outlet and into the water pump inlet by the water pump. Coolant will then be pumped through the water pump outlet and into the engine block. In the engine block, the coolant circulates through the water pump outlet and into the engine block. In the engine block, the coolant circulates through the water jackets surrounding the cylinders, where it absorbs heat.

Some coolant is also pumped from the water pump to the heater core, then back to the water pump. This provides the passenger compartment with heat and defrost.

The coolant is then forced through the cylinder head gasket openings and into the cylinder heads. In the cylinder heads, the coolant flows through the water jackets surrounding the combustion chambers and valve seats, where it absorbs additional heat.

Coolant is also directed to the throttle body. There it circulates through passages in the casting. During initial start up, the coolant assists in warming the throttle body. During normal operating temperatures, the coolant assists in regulating the throttle body temperature.


It also said this under Cylinder Head Replacement

Important

Do not reuse the cylinder head bolts. Install NEW cylinder head bolts during assembly.

Do not use any type of sealant on the cylinder head gasket (unless specified).

The cylinder head gaskets must be installed in the proper direction and position.




 
Well lets see, 03 AV 72,000 miles Loosing coolant 6 months ago. . . dealer replaced water pump, $400. 2 months later loosing coolant on trips of 500 miles( 1 quart)
Dealer fillup and keep track. . . 2 months later still loosing coolant, dealer puts dye in. . . dealer finds blown head gasket on drivers side????? ( Truck ran great ! )
Dealer replaced all gaskets from heads up, $1200.
165 miles later, 1 Quart down and smelling antifreeze, back to the dealer. . . .
for 2 weeks. . . REPLACED MOTOR !!!! under GOODWILL??? $500.
  500 miles later, down 1 quart coolant ?  Back to the dealer. . . probably air pocket!  Added coolantat dealer. . . . 400 miles later. . . 1 quart low on coolant. ?????????  I can smell coolant by right front of radiator while running as has been for the last 6 months. . !!  WHATS NEXT? Maybe a new windshield will cure the loss of anti freeze !?
 
redlion said:
Well lets see, 03 AV 72,000 miles Loosing coolant 6 months ago. . .  dealer replaced water pump, $400.  2 months later loosing coolant on trips of 500 miles( 1 quart)
Dealer fillup and keep track. . .  2 months later still loosing coolant, dealer puts dye in. . .  dealer finds blown head gasket on drivers side????? ( Truck ran great ! )
Dealer replaced all gaskets from heads up, $1200.
165 miles later, 1 Quart down and smelling antifreeze, back to the dealer. . . .
for 2 weeks. . .  REPLACED MOTOR !!!! under GOODWILL??? $500.
  500 miles later, down 1 quart coolant ?  Back to the dealer. . .  probably air pocket!  Added coolantat dealer. . . .  400 miles later. . .  1 quart low on coolant. ?????????  I can smell coolant by right front of radiator while running as has been for the last 6 months. . !!  WHATS NEXT? Maybe a new windshield will cure the loss of anti freeze !?
Click to expand...
If you want a new radiator go to performance radiators.com they got some awsome deals on radiators.
 
04 with 55k miles.  Running rough.  Morning, failure to crank.  Once running, water dripping from muffler clamp.

Thought it would be a blown intake gasket but its not.  It is a blown head gasket.  NO overheat.  WHAT  THE F??
 
Did you do compression test?

could be that cracked head issue some castings have
 
Normally it is 2 cylinders... as it blows in between..

how low?
160 PSI +/- 10PSI is normal

usually with blown gasket you can not build pressure... as it just blows by gasket into other cylinder
 
calling mechanic now.  will update...

Just off the phone with him.  He just finished pulling the head.  Turns out the gasket was not the issue.  There is a missing chunk out of the head itself, front driver's side cylinder.

 
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