Head gasket

[Monk]

I have a small gasket leak, (pressure goes to coolant)

And now since rad might need work, I was thinking about those gaskets ,


I guess for the vets, is this a big job? Like what's a time frame for a job like this? Lol

Just staring at it, I'm stressed, hehe

[Monk]

I did a Google search, and got 7-9 max hours labour plus parts, that's seems quick, does that sound sorta correct ?

[DerekCanuck]

I think 7-9 is fair time. I have used more time cleaning the bolt holes, checking each valve with a vacuum tester, remove valve and lap if required. I used a copper colored spray seal on my gaskets for the duramamax, also flat bottom thread tap of sll holes. Took about 8-9 hours max

[Monk]

i'm still purging air every few hours of driving to "cool down" then sits at 190 but after a while gets warm, and get air in engine..
 
, i talked to Roy  and did more reading on hmL , and seems 15-17 hours is more reasonable time.
not sure if this is normal mechanic time or lol newbie time, hehe
 
lol were moving next week, but i think i might have to break down and "attempt" to do this...
im sure ill be tweeking, till the heads  come off, if its anything bad engine wise;.... i HOPE just gaskets, but
the motors tad tired,..
Once i'm more settled in , ill start to remove doghouse , and this way, lol, ill be forced to tackle it on...hehe
if only head gaskets ill get nice fel-pro,  and still debating on APR studs. or just plain on head bolts.. ( they've been great so far)
and its high mileage . not like its has crazy power..hehhee
i think only part im not sure on is rockers? like gassers have feeler gauges, but I THINK diesels might just all be torked down..
i read abut something plastic on rockers as well, no clue..
 
i dont have a bunch of tools (left in BC), but read its nothing to special needed to tear down,
 
ps, if this works, lol, my chest will stick out sooooo far, with manly feelings....hahaha

[Roy]

only thing really needed is an angular torque wrench.   ie 60lbs, then 110deg. 

[GreenMeanie]

If you are pulling both heads use fel pro gaskets. I would not use the TTY bolts.
You have to replace them anyway and they can't be re used. ARP studs makes sense.

[Monk]

I think "after our Sunday meet" Im going to pull the heads, lol totally afraid of what I'll see once in there,

are head cracks "very" normal? For an N/A?

I mean I'll find out, but lol was curious if that's something to expect?


I not to worried about the job, as I figured mostly time, "well I hope" and HOPE nothing snaps of breaks, hehe

I'll have to get a nice torque wrench as well

[Monk]

I think I shot my mouth off to fast, I'm always bleeding air from t-stat, well when I got to the airport meet, had like 1 second of air then fluid, then lol I get home and bleed again, I had zero air when I bleed, just coolant shot out as I bleed,.....(that never happens)

Normally it's a decent amount of air,... I don't get it..

It's messing with me!! I swear it is,,, I'll see this week how she works out...


Only thing I did different today was turn vent to heat/with fan part way, outta boredom to see my f temps would lower ( wasn't warm either, just bored) , we'll see how this week goes,

[Monk]

Update....

I dunno, lol this trucks messing with me, I normally bleed air after a few trips as might spill a bit of coolant,.

Well i THOUGHT I saw a leak below the overflow hose (at hose clamp) thinking might be opening under pressure,


I pull off the hose and snipe 1" of hose end , and retightened , then I bought seal tabs, and while at it , I also replaced my rad cap with AC Delco ,

Few other smaller 3/8" suspect hoses I replaced ,(seen some green) now I'm on day 3 and I'm at almost no air in t-stat area (used to always be) after few trip I'd bleed 5-6 seconds of air, nada

I dunno , I'm almost to afraid to say it seems to be working,.

Now I'm not sure if was MAYBE a faulty (week) cap or the sealer fixed the small leak...Orrrrr lol the hoses I fixed,...

I also added a bleeder on top of the rad, it's Home Depot pieces (mine didn't have one)

Sooooo , I'm crossing fingers,hehe

[Monk]

Almost 3 weeks and no joke, zero extra air!!

If it was the seal tabs, I don't get how it can fix an exhaust leak to coolant ?

Like it would burp a little once a month, but mostly just get lots of air, now I'm still in shock, how it's 100% perfect..

I did changed rad cap / 2-3/8 rubber hoses (off expansion tank) / added 6 tabs (1 pack) ac delco coolant seal / fixed a suspect hose leak on lower expansion area. All in one day, so this is why not sure what fixed the issue.

My motor is a high miler ,and honestly still I'm deciding if to change it next year or keep fixing things, as I'm sure she's tired,.if I knew my bottom end would last I'd just add newer water pump,injectors,GP, and still wondering if head gaskets are ready to go.

A low miler van turbo 6.5 , I'd maybe think about next year. It been a really long time since I've replaced a motor, I'm sure I'd question life a few times here and there, hahahha but I do driver her daily and still love it !!!