The Car Care Nut talks UR V8 blown head gaskets (1 Viewer)

[rexington14]

Hypothetically if someone were to do head gaskets as PM (which for the record I view as excessive), throwing in new valve springs might not be a bad investment.

Probably excessive as a PM but maybe not the worst idea in the world. If the HG blows and worst case the URs aluminum block warps a $5k PM HG job looks pretty attractive in retrospect.

Maybe worth consideration if you have a higher mileage rig that you want to keep and is in good shape, and if the coolant service history is unknown or is known to be lacking?

 

[Artie]

Does anyone have the ability to test brand new coolant with one of those strips? I’m curious how basic (ph level) the pink super long life coolant is new from the bottle.

Here you go.

I checked it twice because this test is lower ph than the one from my radiator on a Tuesday. May check my cruiser again… could be the lighting ?

 

[bloc]

Probably excessive as a PM but maybe not the worst idea in the world. If the HG blows and worst case the URs aluminum block warps a $5k PM HG job looks pretty attractive in retrospect.

Maybe worth consideration if you have a higher mileage rig that you want to keep and is in good shape, and if the coolant service history is unknown or is known to be lacking?

In general I agree, I can just see this thread leading some to conclude doing the HGs is a good idea even without those caveats.

 

[WickedCrawler]

Heads up, Summit has a great deal on Aisin ACT-002. Free shipping after $109 and $5 off with the app. $14.99/gal

Aisin World ACT-002 Aisin 50/50 Pre-Diluted Super Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Aisin 50/50 Pre-Diluted Super Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Antifreeze and Coolant at Summit Racing.

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[Zill]

Here you go.

I checked it twice because this test is lower ph than the one from my radiator on a Tuesday. May check my cruiser again… could be the lighting ?

View attachment 3724776

Thank you!

Wait, new coolant is around 7-8 PH and it gets more basic as time goes on in the cooling system?

I could only see the coolant being an issue if it’s acidic (less than 7 on the PH scale). So I really doubt this is the cause of the HG failures if people are posting that their coolant is becoming a higher PH as time goes on.

 

[pvchaitanya]

in general both high acidity or high alkalinity eats away stuff. like reacts with water, skin, metal etc. In general both coolant and engine oil turns acidic over time than alkaline, so wondering where its getting high PH from? , even if you see strips, its only asking to change coolant as it gets acidic, there is no indicator to say, replace coolant when PH is even 11.

 

[Artie]

Thank you!

Wait, new coolant is around 7-8 PH and it gets more basic as time goes on in the cooling system?

I could only see the coolant being an issue if it’s acidic (less than 7 on the PH scale). So I really doubt this is the cause of the HG failures if people are posting that their coolant is becoming a higher PH as time goes on.

Idk if I need to shake the bottle or if the lighting in my vehicle test had anything to do with the difference in the testing. It could be the test strips… I feel like I’m muddying the water now on this thread.

All I’m saying is my vehicle test was a 9ph, this from the bottle is a 7. I’ll shake the bottle up and retest, as well as retest my truck.

Apologies for being an idiot here.

 

[pvchaitanya]

Idk if I need to shake the bottle or if the lighting in my vehicle test had anything to do with the difference in the testing. It could be the test strips… I feel like I’m muddying the water now on this thread.

All I’m saying is my vehicle test was a 9ph, this from the bottle is a 7. I’ll shake the bottle up and retest, as well as retest my truck.

Apologies for being an idiot here.

nah, all these test strips and testing kits have a bit of tolerance to show within a range. You are right that the reagent or those liquids can have an impact on the test. As long as its not in the acidic range, you should be fine.
I used to do a lot of these PH tests on my salt water aquariums, depending on they type of test kit, the values swing wide with the same water tested parallel. Now we are going into clinical testing and measuring domain , the strips are supposed to show acidity more accurately and when you need to change. Its not meant to accurately what is the exact value of PH.
Edit: please see this link: The KISS Approach to Routine Coolant Analysis - Fluid Life - https://www.fluidlife.com/blog-kiss-approach-coolant-testing/ it does say to replace coolant if it gets too alkaline above 10.5 Ph

 

[linuxgod]

That's 16 hrs for one bank. My estimate shows 16.7 hrs (one bank), 22.3 hrs (both).

I see 11.9 for one side, 4.0 for the second. The 16.2+8.2 shown includes R&R of the valves. Maybe I'm misunderstanding?

 

[Artie]

1. Radiator: looks like 8-9
2. Bottle sitting on shelf: looks like 7-8
3 and 4: bottle, shaken not stirred: non committal could be 6.5 or 7… shows a little of both colors.

I regret checking… should have just replaced as I originally had planned.

 

[05ls430518]

Why would you replace the head gasket on the truck as preventive maintenance, that makes no sense whatsoever.

Before replacing the head gasket do a pressure test of the cooling system to see if there leaks.

 

[rexington14]

Why would you replace the head gasket on the truck as preventive maintenance, that makes no sense whatsoever.

Before replacing the head gasket do a pressure test of the cooling system to see if there leaks.

What do you mean? If there are leaks then it's already blown and more than likely you'd already know this or you will find out very very soon because it either misfires or overheats

 

[hoser]

I see 11.9 for one side, 4.0 for the second. The 16.2+8.2 shown includes R&R of the valves. Maybe I'm misunderstanding?

Oh, you're right. I'll edit my post.

 

[weaponoffreedom]

Heads up, Summit has a great deal on Aisin ACT-002. Free shipping after $109 and $5 off with the app. $14.99/gal

Aisin World ACT-002 Aisin 50/50 Pre-Diluted Super Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Aisin 50/50 Pre-Diluted Super Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Antifreeze and Coolant at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

that is a great deal. at my dealer it was 25 a gallon, for the toyota branded stuff

 

[newbielx470]

Is it fair to say the UZ is the most reliable and UR is the close-second most reliable engine in modern auto history? That still makes the UR extremely worthy...

 

[weaponoffreedom]

Is it fair to say the UZ is the most reliable and UR is the close-second most reliable engine in modern auto history? That still makes the UR extremely worthy...

For all engines, No. I see no evidence that the Chevy LS is any less reliable. Sure is cheaper to work on. As for Toyota there is the legendary 22re, or 3VZE, which I would consider modern engines. So no, your statement is wrong IMO.

 

[iijchenii]

A little over 100k. Second owner but no mention of a coolant change in the Toyota service history on the app:

 

[Supra Turbo]

What do you mean? If there are leaks then it's already blown and more than likely you'd already know this or you will find out very very soon because it either misfires or overheats

If its done as preventative maintence, this already assumes there are no leaks.

That said, there is no way in hell I would consider doing this job as preventative maintenance.

 

[rexington14]

If its done as preventative maintence, this already assumes there are no leaks.

That said, there is no way in hell I would consider doing this job as preventative maintenance.

Yes... replacing the HG as a PM, before it blows.

Given the theory is a slow degradation of the HG coating due to "old" coolant, this would have to begin at a coolant passageway (water jacket) eating it's way through HG material until it breaches into a cylinder. There is no way to really tell this deterioration is occurring until a breach occurs. At which point, obviously, your HG has blown.

 

[WickedCrawler]

that is a great deal. at my dealer it was 25 a gallon, for the toyota branded stuff

Hell yeah man. Can’t go wrong there at $15. I’ve never gone to Summit for good deals as they haven’t really competed in price for anything I’ve bought before. Picked up gallons of this stuff for my 100k flush and it got me looking at prices of other stuff and they are definitely on the list to check on for anything else.