It started with an external coolant leak and now I seem to be getting oil in my coolant. I suspect it's time for a head gasket.
I'm very new to the SF Bay area and I'd like to find a decent mechanic for this job. Can anyone make any recommendations? In in San Rafael (north bay) but I'm willing to travel to the right person.

It's really bad timing, as I have a long trip to make in a couple of weeks.

Thank you,

--Chris

 

I've not personally used them but I hear very good things about Left Coast Diesel in Concord.Googe "Left Coast Diesel"

 

x2 on Left Coast....they helped build the world's quickest 4x4 1st gen (12.66)

 

about 3 hours North of you in fortuna is "Ponci's Diesel Center". Never been there but I've heard a lot about them and it's all good.

 

left coast and ponci's are great, they specialize in hot rodding these trucks. Sounds like you just need a simple head gasket job - a lot of us in the area can do that in our sleep. It is a tough call. I'd offer to help but I'm too busy with work right now, I haven't even unpacked my truck since I got back from vacation over 3 weeks ago!!!!

 

Maybe if you help him with the head gasket he will help you unpack your truck...

 

Thanks for the advice folks. I talked to left Coast today and will be heading there this weekend. I was tempted to try and tackle this myself but I don't have the time to make a mistake and do it again. (which tends to happen the first time I do something new

--Chris

 

Yeah, I could probably knock out a head gasket job over a long weekend now that I've done it once before...with breaks for a nice mug of shut-the-heck-up here and there. But the first time I did it I took my sweet time on my days off over a longer period. Wanted to make sure I understood every step thoroughly and triple checked each step, too.

It paid off, it's been a year and I hauled 5000 pounds cross country. But...my pump is turned way up and the high idle screw is gone. So one day in my future I'll be doing it again most likely.

Looking back, if I had the money and getting it done under time constraints was an issue, I probably would have paid a reputable mechanic to do so, like you are doing.

A HG replacement is a fairly complex job, lots of variables to go wrong if you are in a hurry and cut corners the first time you do it.

But, on the other hand, it's a really good thing to know how to do.