massive amount of oil came out of the radiator overflow bottle, no antifreeze in oil, dealer quoted me minimum $2750 to repair, is that the going rate for a headgasket repair? any advice or comments would be appreciated..

 

I've got to do this for a friend, I called the local dealer and he quoted me $585 for labor, $65 to have it decked and around $200 for gasket, SOOO... you be the judge, I'm going to do it, send it off have it decked and o-ringed $400, $200 shipping, marine gasket $120, studs $425, and around $300 labor. better than new

 

that quote included all new coolant system radiator, hoses, water pump etc.
do you have to pull the timming cover off to do this?

 

what do you need all that other stuff for? if you'll flush it, it should still be good.

however i havnt seen or inspected it, but the dealership may just be trying to soak you for some dough.

and no, you dont have to pull the timing cover to my knowledge

 

I called a radiator shop to check on flushing it and he told me sometimes flushing will work depends on how much oil got in it and as far as the hoses go he said you definitely want to change all the hoses. I'm not sure how many quarts went through the system but it was alot.

 

ah i see.

ive seen a lot of popped HG, but never one where we had to replace the cooling system.

2700 still seems a bit high, but that would be a lot of work to do youself.

 

yes on both accounts. I don't have enough tools or a weather controlled building to undertake such a task.......

 

The way I built my tool assortment was exactly like this. I figured, I can pay $1000 to a shop and be out of that money forever, or I can buy $400 worth of tools to keep forever, plus $400 worth of parts, and gain $5000 worth of experience. I would rather do it myself. And if there's parts too heavy to lift for one person I would buy $100 worth of beer and have $10,000 worth of friends come over, and we'd be done in no time. Win-win, no matter how you put it.
-P

 

Bubba-Math:

$100 of beer + $10,000 worth of buds = $100,000 mistake

 

I like that!!!

 

I am not working on Learjets in my garage to get into those figures ... yet!
-P

 

not to hijack your advice thread.... but is the 100 plate all you had? where was timing set at? im just gettin a little worried about the 100 in my 97. im not hardly ready to do a hg yet

 

timing is factory as far as I know, previuos owner did some things but not sure what all he did. looks like the timing cover has been removed at one time. i have the waste gate deleted that might have contributed to the failure.

I would hate to undertake such a task and 200 miles down the road to starts leaking again. Atleast I will get a minimum 30 day warranty from the dealer..

 

I guess it says something about the cummins when every dealership I have called in the south tells me they only have one diesel tech

 

Flush your cooling system using dawn dishwashing detergent and water or one of the other detergents that pride themselves in grease removal. No need to replace all of that other stuff unless the hoses are old and decrepant.