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Ahhhh Crap

Mudbath

Mudbath

Old Smoky
Messages
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Location
Alberta, Canada
Just installed my steel braided lines and oil cooler last weekend, that went well NO MORE LEAKS there. BUT found a small coolant drip that was coming off the back of engine on left side. After a lot of investigating cause it would be intermittent I see that the head gasket is seeping/leaking. The motor has 240,000 kms on it and was wondering if I should just do the head gaskets or put in a rebuilt. The motor runs great and truck is in real good condition. A couple questions for those that have been in the same situation.

1) Is it possible to do the gaskets without pulling the motor, looks a little tight and would be hard to torque the heads down I would think.

2) If I elect to pull the motor, do you just pull the motor or the motor, transmission (Auto) and transfer case as a unit?

3) Any one in western Canada know a reputable rebuilder for the 6.5?
 
It's very possible to do headgaskets with the engine in the truck.

Are you sure it's the headgasket that's seeping and it's not leaking from one of the coolant block off plates at the rear of the heads? I'd check there first before even thinking about tearing a healthy running engine down.

PUlls the engine trans and t-case would probably be a pain. You have to figure how long that setup is and how much room you've got before you hit the radiator and coolers in the front. If you pulled everything including the rad support out then you could probably pull the whole she-bang all bolted together.
 
There is a block off plate in the back where the tranny dipstick bolts down too, are you sure its not leaking from there?
 
If I did I would also want to go with the ARP studs, is there still room to slide the heads on with the studs sticking up? Speaking of the ARP studs, do you use the same goofy torque procedure as the stock head bolts or is it just a normal torquing sequence?
 
Matt Bachand said:
Same bolt as your tranny dispstick is held on by is a water jacket.

Wouldn't know its there until you unbolt it :)
Click to expand...



That should be on the right head though. I wish it was something so simple though. The left head is so close to the firewall too it is hard to see anything.
 
Well keep looking :). It seems head gaskets show their face alot worse than a coolant leak. Do you have instant hose pressurization at cold startup?
 
If it is the HG, it is easy to change on the DS in the truck....

I did one side about 17,000 miles ago.. Turbo side still strong.

Then again, who knows how many miles you have on the truck.. thats a huge factor..

You must be in the "Secret Mileage club" SHHH, I wont tell.
 
No not yet, and there is no coolant getting into the oil. Looking at a picture of a head deck on the 6.5 there is a coolant port between the back cylinder and the rear of the head. Luckily it is leaking toward the back of the head instead of towards the cylinder. This is my daily driver which really makes this a PITA! :mad2::mad2:
 
Which is why I recommend the one side fix if need be to get you going without pulling engine.

Unless you have near 200k miles, then if it is the HG the other is probably close to failing as peeps seem to get 200k or so average HG.

Could try GM cooling tabs.... If you want that crap in your cooling system. I heard it buys you time...
 
Matt Bachand said:
If it is the HG, it is easy to change on the DS in the truck....

I did one side about 17,000 miles ago.. Turbo side still strong.

Then again, who knows how many miles you have on the truck.. thats a huge factor..

You must be in the "Secret Mileage club" SHHH, I wont tell.
Click to expand...

Says in the first post 240,000kms estimate 150,0000 miles.

With the turbo on the right I would think that would be the side that would fail first!
 
Well, I'll join the 'Read all info available before throwing sarcastic comments out" club :) Sorry.

You could do the one side easily in a day, if it is a HG. Although Both sides of course should be done, it'll take 3 times as long to do both sides....

Your call.

I'm out of this thread for a while, Get some other inputs from people who know more than me.
 
I actually put some GM tabs in today and will check tomorrow. Wife drives it every day so I had to do something. I luckily have a company truck but this is our only personal vehicle.
 
Mudbath said:
I actually put some GM tabs in today and will check tomorrow. Wife drives it every day so I had to do something. I luckily have a company truck but this is our only personal vehicle.
Click to expand...

That changes everything. If it is the HG do both sides if its the wife main ride. And every other PM thing you can do while your doing it.

GM Tabs may buy you time, but I'd start putting money aside.
 
I am hoping they work good to buy me some time. I crushed them mixed with very hot water and poured into the rad through the upper rad hose. Drove it until good and warm then parked for a while and will do this a few more times. :thumbsup:
 
Good on the tabs, Mudbath... they usually work fine. A friend of mine put 4 in his when it was leaking and got another 30,000 km from it.

Changing the driver's side head gasket isn't that hard...

If you're looking for a rebuilt, there are a couple options in Calgary that I know of, but they're fairly pricey. Stay away from RJ Performance.

You might want to consider These guys... I don't know much about them, but the price is good. Shipping might be an issue, though.

Here's another idea: drive the thing to the USA and have one put in... Call Bill Heath, tell him about your problem, and see if he has an idea who might want to do one for you down there.

Drive down with a leaky truck, drive back with a new engine. Smile at the border and tell 'em you were on a beer run :D
 
JiFaire said:
Good on the tabs, Mudbath... they usually work fine. A friend of mine put 4 in his when it was leaking and got another 30,000 km from it.

Changing the driver's side head gasket isn't that hard...

If you're looking for a rebuilt, there are a couple options in Calgary that I know of, but they're fairly pricey. Stay away from RJ Performance.

You might want to consider These guys... I don't know much about them, but the price is good. Shipping might be an issue, though.

Here's another idea: drive the thing to the USA and have one put in... Call Bill Heath, tell him about your problem, and see if he has an idea who might want to do one for you down there.

Drive down with a leaky truck, drive back with a new engine. Smile at the border and tell 'em you were on a beer run :D
Click to expand...

Good to here about the tabs, maybe Bill is finished with his Bonneville engine then it would be drive down with a leaky truck get home FAST


Here is a quote I got from a place in Calgary, I nearly spewed beer all over my computer screen! Bill's engine would probably be cheaper. But it did come with new spark plugs. LOL
 

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