have stock 2001 3500 with 286,000 miles that is leaking coolant at the front of head on passenger side. coolant is clean and so is the oil. leaves green residue on block, I assume from evaporation. Just came back from 3400 mile run and was down one gallon in radiator. can the head be retorqued or do I need a new head gasket. truck runs great and don't see any discoloration in exhaust

 

You will need a new head gasket at the least. It's very possible that the head is warped, it will need to be checked and possibly resurfaced. Is the truck stock or are there some modifications that might have caused this?

 

truck is stock. muffler and silencer ring removed. It works hard ever day pulling four car wedge trailer

 

Sounds like you pushed part of your head gasket out the front.

I did this to my 01 at the front too.

Check the push rods, set the valves, check for warpage and use a new stock head gasket on a stock engine.

I would check for cracks too.

 

Will it be o.k. to drive till fixed?

 

as long as it doesnt get hot it wont ruin it but you still risk the chance of warping,where are you located at?if you need a shop to do the job give me a e-mail at Bad440cuda@aol.com we can get it fixed up for you, i do the same thing you do for a living and dispatch for 3 other compaies,i know you cant have down time so we keep that in mind too,let me know,mike

 

Another one, mine is doing it also, but not nearly as bad, just slight. I check the coolant at every fueling.

 

Noticed that I too have a slight intermitant leak from the head under the thermostat housing. I doesn't leak all the time, but I see a small coolant trail. I had an oil analysis to see if coolant was getting into the oil. It came back negative. I am still debating on whether to do the head gasket job myself or take it to cummins. Unlike you guys, I really don't have to drive my truck everyday.