LB7: Headgaskets?

[JustinD]

The upper radiator hose on my 01 is firm even when it sits a while and is cold, does this automatically mean hg's are bad? I don't want to do them yet!! It runs fine, temp is fine should I continue to drive it or am I flirting with disaster? The hose isn't rock hard I can still squeeze it a little bit.

 

[JustinD]

I just checked the coolant bottle, it had some pressure in it but not alot and I don't seem to be loosing any coolant either?

 

[SDE]

You may just have a bad coolant resivoir cap since it's not puking coolant out. I've seen this happen before, but they're few and far between. Most of the time it's headgaskets.

Spencer

 

[bullfrogjohnson]

You could also have a pushed injector cup. I would not lean towards HG's with your symptoms.

 

[JustinD]

You could also have a pushed injector cup. I would not lean towards HG's with your symptoms.

Hmmm.......it did have injectors done about 50k miles ago? Possibility

I should try to replace the cap, won't hurt and it will eliminate it.

 

[bullfrogjohnson]

Hmmm.......it did have injectors done about 50k miles ago? Possibility

I should try to replace the cap, won't hurt and it will eliminate it.

Try replacing the Cap first its not that expensive. Then try a coolant pressure test to see if it leaks down over night.

 

[05smoker]

Change injectors recently?

 

[Mike_S]

Just have a shop do a test for disolved hydrocarbons in the coolant and be done with it. If there are hydrocarbons disolved in the coolant then you either have a bad head gasket or a dislodged injector cup...or worst case scenario cracked head/block. Plain and simple no wasted time or money.

 

[Jared Duramax]

if you just changed the injectors in the last 50,000 miles i would bet money that your problem is cups.

 

[05smoker]

Just have a shop do a test for disolved hydrocarbons in the coolant and be done with it. If there are hydrocarbons disolved in the coolant then you either have a bad head gasket or a dislodged injector cup...or worst case scenario cracked head/block. Plain and simple no wasted time or money.

Having a lifted cup and a bad HG are two totally different jobs. I asked about injectors cause I would bet if they were changed recently it lifted a cup.

 

[JustinD]

If I either test the coolant for hydrocarbons or pressurize the system and do a leak down test, how do I tell if it is injector cups or a hg? They both will pressurize the coolant system and both will result in exhaust in the coolant right?

 

[JustinD]

Also am I hurting it by driving it? Like I said it runs fine and doesn't get hot or puke coolant...............YET

 

[LBZ]

Either way your tearing into the engine so I would pull the injectors first. If a cup comes with the injector or you can easily pull one out without the cup pulling tool then you found your problem. If not then your pulling heads.

You can possibly isolate which side it is or which hole by pulling glowplugs and letting it sit overnight with pressure on the cooling system and see which hole(s) have coolant in them.

 

[JustinD]

Ok worst case scenerio I gotta pull the heads and buy APR studs and gaskets, is it a huge PITA to do in the truck?

 

[bullfrogjohnson]

Ok worst case scenerio I gotta pull the heads and buy APR studs and gaskets, is it a huge PITA to do in the truck?

Some people say its not a bad job but me personally I always pull the engine to do studs and gaskets. Its not so much the gaskets as it is such a PITA to torque the arps in the cab.

 

[2500HeavyDuty]

Ok worst case scenerio I gotta pull the heads and buy APR studs and gaskets, is it a huge PITA to do in the truck?

Some people say its not a bad job but me personally I always pull the engine to do studs and gaskets. Its not so much the gaskets as it is such a PITA to torque the arps in the cab.

im doing it in the truck right now, and the driver side will give you trouble against the fire wall.

im fixin to take a really big hammer and smash the section back, to pull the head off you have to hold the head bolt as you lift the head off cause theres no room for the head bolt to be pulled out.

and I had to remove the down pipe to pull the passenger side exhaust manifold off, which was tough untill i got me a 18 inch flex head socket wrench and 14mm crows foot to work on it get enough leverage to break the downpipe bolts loose.

i havent torqued down the heads yet, sending off the heads to get looked at.

 

[dmaxalliTech]

IF the injectors were done 50k ago, the cups would have leaked alooooong time ago

Hydrocarbon test does not always work on diesel's.

I agree with Bullfrog, pull the motor, it will be easier in the long run

 

[bullfrogjohnson]

IF the injectors were done 50k ago, the cups would have leaked alooooong time ago

Hydrocarbon test does not always work on diesel's.

I agree with Bullfrog, pull the motor, it will be easier in the long run

I hate to say it but pulling the motor will be better in the long run. You can take your time and make sure everything is right the first time.

 

[Mike_S]

If you ask me...Pulling the engine will be faster as well as better/easier. I don't recall for sure, but I believe that flat rate for R/R cylinder heads is something like 36 hours. IIRC R/R engine is something like 20 hours. You do the math and decide for yourself. :thumb:

 

[JustinD]

Ok, looks like when I do it the motor is coming out.

Thanks for the input guys.:thumb: