4Running Daily's Build Thread

02SE · Jun 12, 2014

Thanks for the vote of confidence, K.

It's tricky diagnosing anything over the internet, sight unseen. I've seen some unexpected and just strange failures over the years.

But even if we completely ignore the classic symptoms as described, based on the repair shops track record alone, I'd be looking at the headgasket(s) very closely.

4Running Daily · Jun 12, 2014

02SE said:
Thanks for the vote of confidence, K.

It's tricky diagnosing anything over the internet, sight unseen. I've seen some unexpected and just strange failures over the years.

But even if we completely ignore the classic symptoms as described, based on the repair shops track record alone, I'd be looking at the headgasket(s) very closely.

So I'm looking for a cylinder that it cleaner then all the others in a since that their is less carbon build up? It will be pretty obvious I assume?

Assume I keep driving like this, will a larger piece of head gasket eventually break off, causing even more coolant to seep in. Basically, am I driving on borrowed time?

4Running Daily · Jun 12, 2014

Alright, I don't have a bore scope, and have done the block tester yet.

But I pulled the spark plugs.

Is this burnt coolant (the white stuff) on the spark plug of cylinder number 5.

IMG_3205 by 4Running Daily, on Flickr

IMG_3210 by 4Running Daily, on Flickr

LittleCaesar · Jun 13, 2014

Yep, you are correct. When I have seen such on plugs it means either the mixture is way too lean or the head has a crack in it. But YMMV.

Get another remanned head and stick on there. Maybe even do it yourself. If not, try Brian's guy this time.

BrianSD_42 · Jun 13, 2014

Those plugs look pretty used. How old are they?

Conner already knows the truck shop but they didn't do his work last time.

I'm not sure how much they would charge for a new gasket. And is it just the gasket? You would pretty much need to drop it off and wait for them to call you.

4Running Daily · Jun 13, 2014

Ya, I won't be doing another head. At the end of the day, it'll still be a short block with 178,000 miles on it. I'll do a used engine or a rebuilt one.

I actually don't like The Truck Shop, but let's not get into that. I have a place that I trust, but swapping an engine I can do myself.

4Running Daily · Jun 13, 2014

Spark plugs have a little over 15,000 miles on them

02SE · Jun 13, 2014

4Running Daily said:
Alright, I don't have a bore scope, and have done the block tester yet.

But I pulled the spark plugs.

Is this burnt coolant (the white stuff) on the spark plug of cylinder number 5.
IMG_3205 by 4Running Daily, on Flickr

Steam cleaning from coolant getting into the combustion chamber from either a leaking headgasket, or the much less common cracked head, can leave a spark plug looking like that.

4Running Daily · Jun 13, 2014

So we're all 100% sure Coolant is getting into cylinder #5 based on that spark plug?

LittleCaesar · Jun 13, 2014

I won't ask about the Truck Stop then. About 99% sure coolant is getting in that cylinder.

Good luck Connor.

BrianSD_42 · Jun 13, 2014

If you're going to do an engine swap why not try to repair the head first by doing the work yourself?

School doesn't start for a few months right. What is there to lose?

4Running Daily · Jun 13, 2014

BrianSD_42 said:
If you're going to do an engine swap why not try to repair the head first by doing the work yourself?

School doesn't start for a few months right. What is there to lose?

That's actually a fair point. I might do both. Because I need a truck that works.

02SE · Jun 13, 2014

4Running Daily said:
So we're all 100% sure Coolant is getting into cylinder #5 based on that spark plug?

I've seen enough bizarre things that I would never commit 100% to a diagnosis over the internet. For that I would need to inspect the parts as I disassembled them.

But all the evidence to this point, is leaning in that direction.