Head Gasket Diagnosis RTH Please!

[Chaldaean]

I posted a head gasket failure question a few days ago and I think it stirred some bad Shaman mojo...

I was under my truck tonight with a headlamp and saw what is almost certainly coolant leaking from between the block and head (see attached images, please). I had checked the level in the coolant reservoir with my last gas tank fillup and the level was perfect. Tonight, however, the overflow reservoir was bone dry.

Running to the computer, I quickly scanned all the head gasket threads in the FAQ and it looks like my leak is somewhat similar to LX_TREME's image.

There isn't a bunch of white smoke while idling, but I haven't seen the truck startup very often as I have a remote car starter.

It just turned 130K miles.

It looks like green coolant has been leaking for a while; I've used red since I bought it a year ago.

I haven't done the bubble test as I'm now hesitant to run the engine until warm.

Is my headgasket junk, you think?

If it is, it's pretty cruddy timing to happen in the middle of NH winter. It's going to be a cold stretch of wrenching.

Please let me know what you think. I'm already in the process of arranging to borrow a vehicle while I trudge through this repair.

THANKS, 'MUDDERS!!

The following pictures are taken looking upward at the passenger side of cylinder #6.

 

[grandma99]

Yeah looks like it leaking alright. You might not get any white smoke, that doesn't mean it's not your gasket. You'll only get white smoke with an internal leak. The water jackets around your cylinders are sealed by the gasket, your gasket is just leaking outward. Can be a bad gasket or warping of the head, most likely just a gasket, it's been my experience the heads will take some abuse. Hope this helps.

 

[peytonkristen]

Beware of using your remote start if you think this is a head gasket problem. Your engine can't compress water in a cylinder and will be bad problem if your engine continually tries to start by itself. I witnessed a 4-runner almost go up in smoke because of this same problem combined with a remote starter.

Good Luck

 

[nodaksn3]

If the coolant is disappearing, it's almost certain to be the HG. Poor timing on your truck's part! I'm back in North Andover from AD for a week, and freezing my a** off. Hope you have a warm place to work! If I had more time I'd come to help.Ned

 

[Chaldaean]

Yeah looks like it leaking alright....You'll only get white smoke with an internal leak.....it's been my experience the heads will take some abuse. Hope this helps.

Yes, that did help, grandma99. Thanks for the info; good stuff.

Beware of using your remote start if you think this is a head gasket problem.

Great advice, I didn't think of the remote starter trying to fight hydrolock; thanks.

I'm back in North Andover from AD for a week, and freezing my a** off. Hope you have a warm place to work!

Ahhh, to be in Abu Dhabi.... Yeah, Ned, I don't have a heated space to work on this. It's going to be a bit rough at points, I'm sure.


So, it looks like the consensus is that the head gasket is junk and I need to replace it.

I'll get the DVD ordered up and start my CDAN wish list of needed parts and "while you are in there" parts.

Thanks, All; I really appreciate the support!

 

[Chaldaean]

Well, I'm still plugging away on my head gasket.

Too bad I'm not as fast as these guys: YouTube - Head Gasket Change

 

[ScottyDog]

WOW, they did that HG job pretty quick, and with a tire iron!!
Those Russian/Chinese trucks sound like an old air cooled Volkswagen Beetle..