Head Gasket Repair - or Not

[woodman60]

Help! I own a 2005 V6 with 195K. Purchased by me at 180K. Has always run great.

I've gotten two oil analyses from Blackstone 3000 miles apart and both were positive for coolant in the oil. Following the first, I also ran a block tester and showed hydrocarbon gases in the radiator. Hard to imaging it's anything other than a head gasket.

However, there are no other symptoms. No CEL or codes. No rough running at start up. No white exhaust. No fouled plugs. Always runs at a constant temp below mid-point on the gauge, etc.

If I hadn't read about early 4th Gen head gasket problems here, and gotten an oil analysis, I would probably still be fat, dumb and happy...instead of just fat and dumb.

Should I fix it now? Wait to see what develops? It's really hard to want to spend $3-4 K on a truck that runs so well.

 

[hinmo24t]

just keep running her

 

[Trumpet]

Fix it now, you're out the coin. Fix it later, it may fail harder in a much more expensive fashion.

Tough call.

But if I knew my headgasket was failing I couldn't/wouldn't take the vehicle on road trips or really do much else with it until it was repaired.

 

[gaber6]

Sounds like how my 2005 failed at 155k.
It's not a horrible fail that a stop leak can can't fix if on a trip... Or put stop leak in it now to slow it down for 6 months, save an extra $200 a month for the fix and decide when you have the cash to fix it or stop leak it again.

 

[rumfoord]

Any coolant loss?

 

[woodman60]

Any coolant loss?

about 1/4 - 1/2 inch per week in my overflow.

 

[radlynx]

good call for the oil analysis. oil and coolant mixing is not good. get it fixed if you plan on keeping it for a long time.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[djpope09]

about 1/4 - 1/2 inch per week in my overflow.

Blackstone probably mentioned that you could run it like that as long as you change the oil regularly (like 500-1000 mile intervals).

If I were you I would do it now. If the coolant is getting into your exhaust it will ruin your cats. That's just more money to pay later.

I did this job in my garage about 11 months ago without removing the engine or any body panels. If you haven't done it yet and have questions, feel free to PM me.

 

[woodman60]

Blackstone probably mentioned that you could run it like that as long as you change the oil regularly (like 500-1000 mile intervals).

If I were you I would do it now. If the coolant is getting into your exhaust it will ruin your cats. That's just more money to pay later.

I did this job in my garage about 11 months ago without removing the engine or any body panels. If you haven't done it yet and have questions, feel free to PM me.

It's in the shop now. Rough running at startup was happening more often and I was starting to get a little bit of white exhaust.

Peace of mind will be worth it.

 

[rumfoord]

You won't regret fixing, I committed to mine and while ya, out the 3 grand still happy to have it.

 

[Seymore Butts]

Good call on fixing it now. Are you doing any other work "while you're there"?

 

[woodman60]

Good call on fixing it now. Are you doing any other work "while you're there"?

Came in right around 3K. Was planning to do the water pump, but snafu with getting the part held that up. Easy enough to do later.

Feel better about investing even more money into it now. Dobinson's lift all around and new front LCAs going in next week...followed shortly by a set of Falken Wildpeaks...and sliders...

 

[whirlwind22]

What do you think?

Blew the head gasket in my 04, what do you guys think would be a fair sale price?