1hdt - Head gasket leak

[Gandalf80Series]

Hey all,

I'm from Australia and last year had to put a reconditioned 1hdt into my 80.. and within 10,000km I've noticed a little bit of coolant residue between the head and block just near the temp sensor. After washing the engine and cleaning the spot up, it appears to be a very slow leak, I haven't hooked up a trailer and run up any hills since discovering the issue but I;m sure the extra heat and load would push more coolant out than at normal loads.

What would you do? Does the forum have any experience with this? I've taken it to 2 diesel mechanics and both suggested to leave it and monitor it, but do I preemptively take the head off and re-do the gasket. I think I have to take the head off to sleep better at night. Especially as my next trip is 3000km to Uluru with a trailer and family.

Unfortunately there's no warranty in place because to satisfy the conditions of the warranty I would need to replace the cooling system, pump, injectors and turbo etc.

 

[mudgudgeon]

If it's definitely leaking coolant, I don't think fixing it is pre-emptive!
Particularly before a cross country road trip through Central Australia.

Definitely monitor the leak site, monitor coolant level in the overflow bottle (coolant should return to a consistent level when cold).

Also, depending on which side of the head the leak is, it may be prudent to send an engine oil sample away for analysis, make sure you're not getting coolant in the oil. There's oil galleries along the right side of the block to drain oil from the head back to the sump. If gasket isn't sealed around these, you could get contaminated oil.

Have you talked to the engine supplier to see if they'll warranty it?

If you haven't overheated it, something is wrong.
Bad head gasket?
Block not decked flat?
Head not flat?
Head bolts not torqued correctly?

 

[suzuguru]

If you haven't overheated it, something is wrong.
Bad head gasket?
Block not decked flat?
Head not flat?
Head bolts not torqued correctly?

^^^^^This, this, and this^^^^^

Whoever rebuilt the engine, probably made a mistake. Could be that they didn't, and that it's due to a faulty head gasket or something. However, most likely didn't use new or OEM head bolts and/or torque them properly, didn't use OEM head gasket, block or head didn't get machined completely flat, or something else along those lines. Why even monitor it? It's not going to get better. Just pull it apart and start over. Pull the head off, check it with a precision straight edge, have the head checked out at a shop, buy a new OEM head gasket and OEM head bolts. Make sure they're properly torqued. Or... have a qualified mechanic do it.

 

[Gandalf80Series]

UPDATE:

ok... It looks like i've dodged a bullet. The mechanic and engine supplier were pretty helpful. I continued to monitor and could see the leak was almost directly under the thermometer switch, so we removed the brass switch and resealed the component. This was done about 2 weeks ago and since haven't been any more leaks or evidence of coolant seeping out of the engine... hopefully that's the last of it.

Now for the swivel hubs and to chase down a leak in the steering box/power steering.