191,000 miles - just went to and from Florida and had to add about 1/4 gallon of coolant to the overflow bottle. Normally passenger front corner of engine between block and head just weeps coolant.

I know I need to do it, but I've been putting off R&R'ing the head gasket. I think I should do this before leak gets any worse.

Since I will have to remove exhaust, turbo, Injectors, etc. to get at the head and gasket, should I buy an entire gasket set or can I get by with buying just the head gasket?

Also, VERY important - who should I buy the gasket(s) from, ie a Cummins distributor or one of the well-known outfits, like Scheid or Haisley, or someone else? Thanks!

 

Buy the top end gasket set directly from cummins. part#4090035 . It will run ya about 200 bucks but has everything including the head gasket.

 

I did the whole kit when I pulled the head on my 01.Same leak you are having.It had 130k on it so I figured just get the set and use what I felt was needed.I got mine from Cummins and it was in the $180 range.Came with valve stem seals,o-rings for the injectors and connector tubes,alll the exhaust seals,intake plenum and grid heater.Pretty good deal for everything and what you decide not to use might come in handy down the road.

 

Great, thanks for the quick responses. I'll get the set. Take care - Ted

 

[QUOTE=ted_pulliam;2526656]191,000 miles - just went to and from Florida and had to add about 1/4 gallon of coolant to the overflow bottle. Normally passenger front corner of engine between block and head just weeps coolant. "

i had the same leak so i tightened the head bolts around the affected area and added some "bars stop leak" to the radiator. no more leak!!!!

 

Just say no to BARS STOPLEAK!..............its no good

 

works for more people than you can count

 

While its off you mise well get it O-ringed and put a Marine Head gasket in there.

 

I'd like to put a set of 12mm (no machine?) head studs in while I am in there, but I think I'll be doing good just to cough up the $200 for Cummins 4090035gasket set!

Is there any special advantage to running the marine head gasket vs the stock Cummins gasket that is supposed to have added material in the area I'm now having the leak from? The motor in the truck is and probably will remain stock except for possibly an upgraded exhaust at some point, but if the marine head gasket is the way to go, who sells it?

I'm really looking forward to doing this job, not because it is fun, but because I'm tired of seeing the dribbling coolant staining the engine block and making a mess on the front of the engine!