LLY: Headgasket Failure

[05maxlly]

Well i have been reading about everyones sad headgasket stories and dident think i would get to write my own so soon. Been adding coolant for 2 months now as the "low coolant" comes on no consistancy on when it comes on i so have the hard upper radiator hose right after start up on cold engine. So i am going to do this my self and just need help getting hooked up with the right guy on parts and who to send the heads to or if the local machine shop will be safe (he does good work an gas heads) i want to put in studs while i am there and i guess i will be pulling the engine to do it yay

 

[messejme]

sucks doesnt it

 

[Vrabel]

I know your pain brother

 

[05maxlly]

well i got the super conformation took my block tester and jamed it in the coolant jug let the truck run the fluid turned yellow and i could watch the bubbles go so i drained the coolant and i guess guy tripp is the best to get all needed parts from so i get to ravage the VISA will keep updated

 

[05maxlly]

started pullin engine out last night got it out at 11 this AM all in about 6-7 hrs i hope the rest goes this smooth got the gaskets and studs yesterday i wonder is anyone has a good deal on some used headers and up pipes let me know before i stick this thing back in

 

[Gasuout]

Sorry to hear you have experienced this ..... when I pushed one before I pulled it I checked all my head bolts and they were loose . Got almost a full turn on many . 1/2 turn and 3/4 on others . Showed me though what the issue was . I did this cold the next day after noticing the coolant running down side of block on pass side rear . I cranked then and outside leak went away but still a puff when firing . Once pushed they are pushed , also I didnt torque the ones under the cover and just the ones on bottom rail . After pulling the motor though I checked the others and found similar loose bolts . When I say loose I dont mean loose , I mean not fully torqued also.

Told me I stretched the bolts after a few to many runs at full tilt . Ive wondered for years if it would be a good idea after say 6 months of running big tunes to pop the covers and check the torque on head bolts to possibly prevent this .

Food for thought . I have studs now , but have thought Hmmmm should I retorque them or check them now after running it hard for last years or so .

 

[05maxlly]

i see what ur saying i am going to torque the studs as guy says 4 times to 125ftlbs i hope it holds i do plan on twins when i can afford it i just dident think i would ever be pulling the engine in a duramax at least not my own. i am going to see if the headbolts are loose and let u know

 

[Gasuout]

Cool , give it a ck before you loosen them just to see it they are stretched .

Tells you something if they are not fully torqued . It wont change anything but gives you an idea of why you pushed a gasket .

This isnt always the case and sometimes it just happens . Just curious what you will find myself on this .

Thanks

 

[05maxlly]

i dident try to tighten them with torque wrench but the air impact struggled evenly to get them all out probably dosent say much but its all i got i see where the gasket is blown so i am glad for that will post pics soon

 

[05maxlly]

whats the suggestion to do with these heads 1.clean up and bolt on 2. check for flatness and cracks 3. send to guy and dump $4000 in to them :rofl: ???

 

[05maxlly]

the bottom cylinder is the water burner anyone see any problems??? i dont

 

[05maxlly]

heres where the gasket failed two spots same cylinder

 

[SSchmi5519]

under what psi?

 

[05maxlly]

i dont know most i have seen 30psi but i think this engine was overheated before i got the truck but who knows

 

[SSchmi5519]

jeez, makes me worry about my new turbo running 40psi

 

[Gasuout]

Every motor is different on its causes for this ..... a overheating could have had something to do with it . Its just random really . Mine had stretched the bolts . Good to hear they were tight . Wouldnt have made a difference really . Was just curious . Thanks for checking the theory .

Again sorry to hear of your troubles .

 

[05maxlly]

its no as bad dooing the job as i thought it is lots of stuff to put back so i will see how it goes back together

 

[05maxlly]

well its runs only idled for 1 min i got to put the grill in and anti freeze and of course i got 1 bolt where i dont know where it goes its small like it holds a wire harness i will post pic tommrow