Head gasket leaking, decision time. (1 Viewer)

[graham5david]

So, I have confirmed that I have a coolant leak coming from the back of the head on my 94. So now I need to decide if I want to rebuild or sell the truck as is. Honestly I am leaning towards selling as is and trying to recoup my money spent on bumpers and tires. So I am thinking maybe $3500 is the most I can get for a non locked (except Spartan rear) with 4x4 labs front bumper and rear bumper with duel swing outs, and new ( 6 month old) 35x12.5 r 17 general grabber x3s. Also have Cooper sst spare that is brand new. But part of me really wants to rebuild it. So pull head and replace gasket, pull engine and rebuild or just sell and move on to another project.

 

[Kernal]

Is this an external leak of coolant ie: dripping on the ground?

 

[graham5david]

Yes. Truck still runs fine. I have parked it for now but I just got back from wheeling it this weekend with no issues. Just been trying to find the source of the slow coolant leak and smell. Found it today running down the back of the block from the head.

 

[Shipwreck]

How did you confirm that it is coming from the head gasket? Do you see steam from the exhaust? Bubbles in the radiator overflow tank? Before jumping to conclusions I would have the coolant checked for exhaust gasses or an oil analysis done.
Search: PHH (pesky heater hose)
Lots of other potential sources of coolant leaks near the back of the block..

 

[graham5david]

I have replaced everything else on the coolant system over the last few months. Basically it's simple. I removed the exhaust manifold shields. Climbed up on the truck and put my hands on the back of the block between the firewall and engine. It's wet with coolant. Above the head is dry, below is wet. Every other connection is dry. Could be a cracked head I suppose but it hasn't and doesn't over heat. Just been chasing a slow coolant leak for a few weeks and finally found it. I was praying it was something simple but everything else checks out. I guess it is probably time to pull the head.

 

[BILT4ME]

Head gaskets don't blow to the exterior.

Did you do any replacement in silicone hose?

Gotta be a leak from a clamp or heater valve or a rusted hole in something.

Otherwise, I would buy it, but I don't want a 94.

Get a mirror and a light and search it out.

 

[graham5david]

Head gaskets don't blow to the exterior.

Did you do any replacement in silicone hose?

Gotta be a leak from a clamp or heater valve or a rusted hole in something.

Otherwise, I would buy it, but I don't want a 94.

Get a mirror and a light and search it out.

I hope you are correct, but I have searched and checked every hose and connection. My initial thought was heater valve or one of the hoses associated with it but not a drop or sign of coolant. Maybe you are right though and I just have the knee jerk head gasket fear. But at this point everything else checks out.

 

[graham5david]

I will search some more tonight. And see what I find.

 

[Desert Dino]

It can be from the oil cooler on PS on the side of engine block? under the manifold?

 

[Red Merle]

Yeah, never heard of a HG blowing externally. Also check your rear heater lines. Mine were what caused my "head gasket" leak and when I tore the motor apart my HG was fine. Not that I minded, it was nice to have all new shiny bits installed and I also stopped wigging out every time I drove the truck while I listened to certain signs of HG failure, but it was probably unnecessary.

 

[Desert Dino]

Restoration: 1FZ-FE Oil Cooler

 

[slow95z]

If you were closer I would show up with 3500 cash tomorrow.

 

[ccslider]

I've seen head gaskets blow to the exterior before. Coolant leaking right down the block. New headset fixed the issue.


Ls swap time

 

[graham5david]

Rear heater was deleted years ago. Tb coolant line deleted as well. Nothing else is leaking. Basically it's running down the back of the block. Going down the top of the transmission and leaking down the transmission from the transmission wire harness. I'll mess around with it some more but at this point I have decided I am over the initial frustration. I'm just gonna pull the head and repair it.

 

[Red Merle]

Could be a crack too. Have the head pressure tested if you are already committing to the job. It's actually not that big of a deal.

That truck is worth way more than what a head gasket job costs. Don't give it away.

 

[ccslider]

Ok I thought about this more.

Before you go mad.

You can do a few things here, rent a coolant pressure tester from your auto parts store and manually pressurize the system and look for a leak.

If you can't find the leak but the pressure goes down, remove the spark plugs and look in the cylinders.

Still can't find it?

Borrow a leak down tester. This tool uses compressed air. While the plugs are out you set whatever cylinder you're testing to top dead center. Then screw in an adapter to the spark plug hole. Remove the radiator cap. Using the air regulator on the leak down tester, turn it up until you have 100 psi in the cylinder. Look for air bubbles coming from the radiator, this will tell you if the head is cracked or the gasket is comprised. Repeat on every cylinder.

Or just have a decent mechanic do this test for you. Maybe they will let you watch if you show up with bagels and smear for the guys.

But seriously. Ls swap. It's like 5k for. 5.3 swap and you will be very happy, the value of your truck will triple.

Don't sell your truck for 3500.

 

[Red Merle]

-

 

[Red Merle]

LO GUVNAH

 

[Red Merle]

Ok I thought about this more.

Before you go mad.

You can do a few things here, rent a coolant pressure tester from your auto parts store and manually pressurize the system and look for a leak.

If you can't find the leak but the pressure goes down, remove the spark plugs and look in the cylinders.

Still can't find it?

Borrow a leak down tester. This tool uses compressed air. While the plugs are out you set whatever cylinder you're testing to top dead center. Then screw in an adapter to the spark plug hole. Remove the radiator cap. Using the air regulator on the leak down tester, turn it up until you have 100 psi in the cylinder. Look for air bubbles coming from the radiator, this will tell you if the head is cracked or the gasket is comprised. Repeat on every cylinder.

Or just have a decent mechanic do this test for you. Maybe they will let you watch if you show up with bagels and smear for the guys.

But seriously. Ls swap. It's like 5k for. 5.3 swap and you will be very happy, the value of your truck will triple.

Don't sell your truck for 3500.

I would contribute $50 worth of bagels and schmear if you make a video of you doing this job on a 1FZ-FE and share it on youtube so we can learn how to do it.

 

[ccslider]

I would contribute $50 worth of bagels and schmear if you make a video of you doing this job on a 1FZ-FE and share it on youtube so we can learn how to do it.

It's the same for all vehicles, just YouTube it. You will find a bunch of videos.