Well...Well...Well........Mr. Headgasket ! :(

[flintknapper]

Just shy of 300K miles on my 97.

Was checking my oil the other day and noticed a bit of black sticky substance in my radiator overflow bottle. Not oily or slimy...but sticky and black. Removed the bottle and cleaned it all out, refilled with new coolant. Curious what the heck it could be, I looked under my radiator cap. There was little bit of it there as well.

While I had the cap off (engine running) I saw the coolant sort of 'burp' like it would if you had just filled the system and it still had air in it. Watched for awhile and it did it again about 5 minutes later.

Hmmmmmm......that's not good. I continued to watch it and then noticed there was some yellowish substance floating on top of the coolant. Not a lot...but definitely noticeable. Got to be oil. Well....crapola!

So I check under my oil fill cap, looks fine. Check oil....oil level good, oil looks fine. Coolant level fine, has not dropped. No white smoke from exhaust (after warm up) and engine has not been overheating.

But something is definitely amiss.

So....next day (today) I decided I'd better check it out.

First I let the engine get up to operating temp. Looked in the radiator and see what looks like oil on top of the coolant but no bubbles this time.

Well... this warrants a C02 test, so I break out the test kit and get it ready.

Run the test and EEEEEEK....it shows positive for C02/HC's (solution turns green or yellow)

Comparison of uncontaminated fluid and fluid with C02:

Continued next post:

 

[flintknapper]

Alrighty then...........

Let's get those spark plugs out and have a look.

All plugs were somewhat fouled from recent injector additives I'd run though it....but #6 was suspiciously cleaner than the rest and the threads a bit wet upon removal.

Where have we seen this before.......^^^^^^^^^^^

Next step: Compression test all cylinders to see just how bad this might be.

Whew.........well at least that's good news. No cylinder less than 180 psi, most 190 psi.

So looks like I need to start gathering parts and try to find a place in this one dog town to have the head serviced (probably isn't one here).

 

[bluto]

Thanks, this a good thread for visual reference.

 

[Seth_O]

I salute your thoroughness, and walking us through the testing process one step at a time.

Well done sir.

 

[flintknapper]

I salute your thoroughness, and walking us through the testing process one step at a time.

Well done sir.

Thanks, but please recognize the testing I did...was restricted to the specific symptoms and conditions of MY vehicle. It is in no way a conclusive or complete testing procedure for ALL head gasket failures....because they can fail in several different ways.

Here is something to give you an idea (and this is actually not all inclusive):

7 different ways a head gasket can fail

BUT....if you suspect a HG failure (of any type), it is best to look into it as soon as possible. 'Soft' fails (like mine) are much less serious than certain other failures. All require your attention and ultimately the removal of the head, but in some cases....HG sealants can be used to buy you some time if that is necessary.

Just don't let your engine become seriously overheated. These are tough engines....but the heads don't fare well to overheating (read warpage). A warped aluminum head is not a good thing, especially when you have dual overhead cams. You can't just mill a bunch of material off the bottom to straighten it because if you do, when the head is bolted back down....it will put the cams in a bind.

If warped very much, the head will need to be annealed (baked) and straightened as much as possible. Then...a very small amount of 'surfacing' can be done to the bottom.

Don't put off investigating potential HG issues. I was fortunate and caught mine early. Mine is also a soft fail. Some folks first indication is a rapidly overheating engine and white smoke pouring out behind them.

With the 'dead' spot in the factory temp gauge, by the time it runs up into the red and you notice it, its been mighty hot already.

That is why I run a ScanGauge in my Cruiser and can monitor it (accurately) at will.

 

[MARLIN375]

Original gasket?

I haven't been hangin around here for awhile but I don't remember ever seeing a replacement gasket failure......not a fire ring failure like the stock issue.

 

[LINUS]

You had a good run, and you're catching it before a 'done cooked this head' -event.
Best case scenario!

 

[Red Merle]

You got this! I hope you kept a copy of the Idaho Doug DVD you sent me, if not let me know I can make you one.

Are you going to have them rebuild the head as long as you have it out?

 

[Jason hansen]

When my head gasket blew on my 96 1fz I had the head shaved, valve grind job, new valve springs. We had to get new valve shims because we had the head shaved. Now I have more power, burn almost no oil and alittle better mpgs. My only complaint is there is alittle valve train noise at an idle but not at higher rpm. Could be the new springs are stiffer and the old valve spring became annealed.

 

[flintknapper]

You got this! I hope you kept a copy of the Idaho Doug DVD you sent me, if not let me know I can make you one.

Are you going to have them rebuild the head as long as you have it out?

Yes, I had two copies...when I sent you one, thank you for the offer though.

Yes, will have the head reconditioned when I have it off. I will always have my 80 series (Provided it never gets totaled), I just love it. I've had it for 17 years now and never get tired of it.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Nice write up.
Was the CO2 test kit really available?
I had a cracked had in my diesel 1hz. I had two unexplained over heats where I found the temp gauge rising in hot weather.
I checked everything I could short of a CO2 test. 6 months later I cooked the engine 15 minutes into a trip. It cooked before I noticed the gauge move.
I looked for a test kit local to me, but couldn't find one, and ones I found on line were pricey, though in hindsight, a hell of a lot cheaper than swapping out a head

 

[flintknapper]

Nice write up.
Was the CO2 test kit really available?
I had a cracked had in my diesel 1hz. I had two unexplained over heats where I found the temp gauge rising in hot weather.
I checked everything I could short of a CO2 test. 6 months later I cooked the engine 15 minutes into a trip. It cooked before I noticed the gauge move.
I looked for a test kit local to me, but couldn't find one, and ones I found on line were pricey, though in hindsight, a hell of a lot cheaper than swapping out a head

Many Auto Parts stores (in the States) carry some type of C02 test kit (and the replacement fluid). I had ordered one off of Amazon some years back to use on a different vehicle, so had it on hand at the time of my trouble. But it can be a useful tool to have just to 'check' a system you might suspect is giving (or is about to cause) trouble. The kits are relatively inexpensive and can help diagnose (along with other symptoms) an impending or immediate HG issue.

Amazon.com: UVIEW 560000 Combustion Leak Tester: Automotive

 

[bajaphile]

Well that is great you caught it in a very early stage.

Is this the original HG?

 

[flintknapper]

Well that is great you caught it in a very early stage.

Is this the original HG?

Yes, original Head Gasket.

 

[Pfunkrasta]

Hey guys, I'm tooling around looking up my symptoms and found your post. Recently, after running the 85 fj60 I have been getting coolant overflow when I turn the truck off. Lots of resources saying thermostat, water pump and/or head gasket. Those were on non-fj sites. Temp holds normal, engine idles and drives normal so no alternate symptoms. Has anyone come across this and what can I expect. 193k miles

 

[flintknapper]

Hey guys, I'm tooling around looking up my symptoms and found your post. Recently, after running the 85 fj60 I have been getting coolant overflow when I turn the truck off. Lots of resources saying thermostat, water pump and/or head gasket. Those were on non-fj sites. Temp holds normal, engine idles and drives normal so no alternate symptoms. Has anyone come across this and what can I expect. 193k miles

Overflow of coolant into reservoir can be perfectly normal (depending upon circumstance).

Overflow tank never changes...



IF you are not experiencing coolant LOSS, bubbles in overflow tank (engine running), oil in coolant, coolant in oil (oil pan), milky looking oil under oil cap, white smoke from exhaust (when engine is warm), overheating, a 'miss' at idle, then I'd say you have nothing to worry about.

A head gasket failure (or impending failure) can present itself in a number of ways, but it doesn't sound as if you have any supporting evidence/symptoms at this point.

 

[Pin_Head]

Put a can of Bars Leak or Blue Devil head gasket sealer in it and sell it and buy another one. Don't buy a used car from a mechanic.

 

[Pfunkrasta]

Sorry I wasnt more clear, yes, I did experience coolant loss. It came out of the over flow tank at least a quart. It was a particularly hot day (90's/NC) and I was running the AC for a good hour. It happened once after that, to a smaller degree, but hasn't happened since.

I don't see any milky-Ness in the oil or other symptoms described above. Watch and wait or...?

Curious, if it was the head gasket, what does something like that run? I know it's not a simple thing but looking for perspective.

 

[DirtScaresMe]

If anyone wants me to take the idahoedoug HG video and make it available on the Internet for free, just send it to me and I'll do the rest. I feel bad typing that but the dude is MIA.

 

[Seth_O]

If anyone wants me to take the idahoedoug HG video and make it available on the Internet for free, just send it to me and I'll do the rest. I feel bad typing that but the dude is MIA.

A while ago I spent some effort trying to get ahold of him to purchase a copy of the DVD, and was never successful