Just noticed these stains below the head around the oil filter. The gasket was done prior to me owning the 80 about 20,000 miles ago. (Due to a failure) I have probably only added half a quart of coolant in those 20,000 miles. And burn maybe 1 quart of oil over 5000 miles. Oil seems clean. Coolant also seems clean. Just never noticed this before. Also runs fine. Maybe a slight miss once in a while during idle. I assume that is sensor related. It is weird the stain turns white after things heat up. I don't notice any leaks while running either. Would anyone else worry about this?
possible head gasket leak?
- Thread starter rtjones
- Start date
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Can't see s*** with vertical format. Retake the picture while holding the phone the correct way.
Clean the stain off and put black light dye in the coolant, and then check again in a few weeks with a black light. How much I'd worry about the stain would depend on how much I rely on the truck. DD/ beat around town rig? I wouldn't give it a second thought. Heading out into the desert for a week out of cell phone range? It'd be at the top of my list of things to worry about.
Clean the stain off and put black light dye in the coolant, and then check again in a few weeks with a black light. How much I'd worry about the stain would depend on how much I rely on the truck. DD/ beat around town rig? I wouldn't give it a second thought. Heading out into the desert for a week out of cell phone range? It'd be at the top of my list of things to worry about.
Azca
If there is a harder way - I will find it...
Some thoughts, first I agree with Mandrake, clean it so you know what you are dealing with. Second, do you smell any coolant leaks? I had a minor one that turned out to be the heater valve on the fire wall just above the valve cover. A minor drip but it did require that I add fluid every so often.
Next, if you are worried, get a leak test kit, about $30 from autozone or checker. That will tell you if you have ex gases in your fluid. Finally, you should be able to see if there is oil in the coolant as it will rise to the top of the radiator, just check when it is cool.
I don't know for sure but a blown head gasket would be far more likely between a cylinder and oil/water passage than to seep all the way to the exterior of the engine. I am sure it happens, just far less likely...
Next, if you are worried, get a leak test kit, about $30 from autozone or checker. That will tell you if you have ex gases in your fluid. Finally, you should be able to see if there is oil in the coolant as it will rise to the top of the radiator, just check when it is cool.
I don't know for sure but a blown head gasket would be far more likely between a cylinder and oil/water passage than to seep all the way to the exterior of the engine. I am sure it happens, just far less likely...
You sure the hose going to or coming from the throttle body isn't leaking? That would be right above that area.
