KRB

For the past two years my ISP has not allowed me to access this site and now all the sudden it does again. Finally, as this is my favorite diesel forum and I had to sneak peaks at work...

Anyway. I was checking the fluids and noticed the coolant level was low. Odd I thought since everthing stays pretty much right where it should be. So I rechecked the oil and the level and color is right. I recheck the tranny and the same. So I start looking and I see stains at the passenger rear corner at the head. I had noticed this before because when you open the hood all the dew/water/etc runs right down off there but the stains looked lighter and whiter.

So the next time I shut her down I looked and there was a damp spot there and another time a faint trickle.

The truck has 165K, runs the same as always as far as I can tell. I rarely run her up past 20 psi, 24 max. Pyro has never been above 1,200* and rarely above 1,000*. I always cool her down to 300* before shut down. No idea how the PO behaved but she looked well kept when I got her at 92K. I've searched the sticky and the only references I can find are to a weeping gasket at the front drivers side but I guess it can fail anywhere, this spot just isn't common maybe?

My question is in predicting the future. Based on generalities, is this a minor issue that comes and goes or one can tolerate for miles until the time/money are available to replace the gasket? Or, based on 5.9 history, is this a sign of impending doom? My dailey driver (89 Corolla) is sitting in the barn waiting on me to replace the head gasket - I think I'm jinxed...

On another unrelated note but one I'll mention just in case: The truck ALWAYS starts within a milisecond of turning the key. Until recently that is. Sometimes she starts as normal, sometimes she'll crank until I let go but then fire off as soon as I hit the key again - or as soon as I let go. I'm teetering between a bad key switch (powering the fuel shut off valve) or possibly leaky supply line? Fuel pressure is the same as usual (7-9psi) and I don't see any leaks. I only mention this in case the two problems could even remotely be related.

I welcome comments on either issue but its the leaky head gasket I'm most worried about.

SORTIE

delayed start is a fuel-delivery/pressure issue

it's starting with the second turn because fuel is then available after the first cranking

BearKiller

It is more common, though not common so far as it only happens to one in a million, for them to seep at the right-side front corner.

However, so long as the oil and such are remaining un-tainted, I don't think you have a sudden doom issue.

I have had other diesel engines that required as much as a gallon of coolant at every 500-mile fill-up due to anti-freeze spewing from a head-gasket, and driven them for years with no other issue other than losing the coolant.


If you need the info on my recommended local expert on 6BT cummins engines, PM me.

KRB

But half the time she starts like always and half the time only after a little or a lot of cranking. And it doesn't matter if its a quick restart, been setting for several days or hot or cold...

KRB

That makes me feel better as that is what I was thinking. I'll start keeping a regular eye on the oils and coolant levels until I can get time or money to replace the gasket. So far I've only seen it damp there a couple times and more often that not it is dry. And even in these 95* temps she runs the same on the temp gauge.

BTW - good to hear you are still around Bearkiller.

BearKiller

Your situation reads sort of like the issue we were having with the wife's truck for the first couple years we had it.

I traced the fuel-solenoid wire back toward the rear-ward end of the engine to find it factory-spliced into a couple other wires and this splice was terribly corroded.

I fixed that mess and cured maybe 50% of the problem.

When I eliminated ALL of the fusible-links and replaced them with breakers, the problem dis-appeared completely.


Try a direct-wired flip-switch to the fuel-solenoid and see if that eliminates the problem.


Good to see you too.

1992gen1_fan

Changing a head gasket on these trucks is'nt a bad job, takes a little time but it's strait forward.

MoparMarv

Did you try retorqing the head bolts? Might buy you some more time or fix it. Also I'm not big on the bars stopleak but Know people who swear by it and have used it sucessfully before.

KRB

Thought about re-torquing but in searching the forum seems that most say not too unless youve really bombed the motor which I haven't.

It only weeps occasionally and very little even then. Think I'll just keep an eye one it until time and dollars allow a fix. I checked the sticky and it seems simple enough.

JQmile

There's a writeup on my 95 Dodge in the Aug issue of Diesel Power where we replaced the head gasket...mine was weeping from the back corner too....then it was weeping bad....then it was leaking. Its a gradual fate, but it will get worse and worse over time. Some people drive on em for years like that. Towing, or more power will just make things worse, babying it will make it last a bit longer.

BearKiller

Changing to a lower pressure radiator-cap will slow things down a lot, but will lower the boiling point.

BearKiller

BARS LEAKS will plug a washed-out levee.

If they would pour some above Wolf Creek Dam, they could send the contractors home.

I have used it for years in OLDER engines/radiators.

Alas, I dumped a bottle in a 1990 Jeep Cherokee and it plugged the radiator tight; I had to replace the radiator.

It seems many of the radiators of the last twenty or so years have many TINY water-tubes, instead of fewer large-bore ones.

The BARS LEAKS does what it is supposed to do and plugs each and every one of those tiny orifices.


By the way, those style radiators cannot be "rodded out" either.



I am a firm believer in BARS LEAKS abilities, but one had better KNOW his equipment and radiator characteristics before dumping some in.