Head gasket?

[MO Fred]

I continued looking for a cracked manifold today. Looking down on the motor from the access panel I noticed coolant at the rear of the motor on top of the trans housing. I wiped it up and turned on the motor and observed for a bit. I then saw coolant oozing out where the head and the block meet. I am not a mechanic but I suppose this is where the head gasket is located. I just did an oil analysis from Blackstone last week and there was no coolant in the oil. I have been loosing coolant for awhile, replacing a gallon about every 500 miles. Now we are getting ready to take a 600 mile trip in a couple days. What do you think my problem is and should I cancel the trip?

[mackwrench]

Which engine model? At minimum you should have coolant system pressure tested to determine leak location.
Adding a gallon every 500 miles is alone a major red flag.

[MO Fred]

Originally Posted by mackwrench

Which engine model? At minimum you should have coolant system pressure tested to determine leak location.
Adding a gallon every 500 miles is alone a major red flag.

It's an 8.3L turbo. Was also wondering if a head gasket sealant would work.

[mackwrench]

Originally Posted by MO Fred

It's an 8.3L turbo. Was also wondering if a head gasket sealant would work.

I'm not a believer in magic, but there are people who do....

A gallon every 500 miles is a very significant leak and should be easy to find by pressure testing it.

[jacwjames]

You could try a stop leak product, at this point it wouldn't hurt.

Last year an IRV2 member posted about a problem he had with his radiator. It developed a leak while on his way south from Alaska, he had the rig towed to a shop and found a replacement radiator was a long lead time so the shop suggested he use Irontite. It sealed the leak and he continued his trip to and actually waited several months before having it replace.

Worth a try.

[twinboat]

You need to be carefull with coolant leaks on diesel engines.

If the coolant gets to low, besides overheating and shutting down, the lack of coolant around the exhaust valves can cause cracks in the cylinder head.

Now the repair gets much more expensive.

[Pappystoy]

I agree with the stop leak. But I'm no pro on engine repairs.

[mackwrench]

.........there's many, many places a motorhome can leak coolant.
If it's leaking at head gasket, then pour some stop leak in it, but be aware, the stuff gets it every crack, crevice in the entire cooling system, I've seen heater cores plugged with it.

But if by chance the leak is something else, a hose, a fitting or whatever, no stop leak will fix it.

........no offense, but this sounds like a issue you've had a while? I mean if you had to put a gallon of coolant in your daily driver car every 500 miles, how many gallons would you pour though it before taking it to someone to repair it? Yet it's ok for the motor coach to "use" this much coolant?

Please do yourself a favor, get someone to pressure test the cooling system, determine the leak, THEN come up with a plan for repair. If stop leak is your choice then rock on with it....
Peace!

[8TiresRollin]

Head gasket leaking could be caused by many things including a slight warp in the head. If it was mine I would take the head off, replace gasket, check head and block for flat (and correct if needed) and install new head bolts as the old ones are stretched.

[sjholt]

I had the same kind of leak only it was on the front of my 5.9.

I was on the road and had to get the leak stopped or take it to some garage and have some mechanic replace the head gasket which would pee me off because I could do it at home a lot cheaper and better.

So here is what I done.

I took out every head bolt and re-lubed them and installed them to torque spec individually.( I do carry a torque wrench)
That slowed down the leak some- but didn't stop it.

As I was cruising Walmart for ideas I came across a tube of gas tank sealer epoxy and I said WTH- I try it and as I was walking back to the MH I got the idea of driving the epoxy into the area of the leak with a flat blade screwdriver.

So I cleaned the area of the leak as best I could with with a knife blade working into the gasket area to clean it out and then brake cleaned and took a blunt screwdriver drove the mixed epoxy into that gasket area until I was satisfied and then threw a glop of epoxy over it and waited until the epoxy cured.
No more leaking and that was 7 years ago.

Oil analysis says no antifreeze in the oil..

Ain't the right way of doing it but it worked.

[MO Fred]

I took it to the shop yesterday and had a pressure test. The reading was eight. They also showed me where it was leaking which is what I suspected. They are putting on a new head gasket and also they are putting on a new muffler and some new exhaust pipe because I was getting fumes inside the coach. They pointed out the exhaust leaks to me. They are also changing the oil, all filters and lube the chassis. Any way, it all comes to about $1800. They guarantee their work and I thought that was a great price. Looks like we will go on our trip to Alabama on Saturday or Sunday. Thanks to everyone for your input.

[mackwrench]

You've made the right choice. I think that $1800 for all that work is a very fair price.

[slickest1]

Originally Posted by mackwrench

You've made the right choice. I think that $1800 for all that work is a very fair price.

Yup good choice!! I also think $1800. is fair given everything they are doing. If left it probably would cost you much more in the long run. Good luck!!

[jimmy braden]

No doubt. Watch coolant level and oil pressure close on your next trip. If your back to normal Id say you just dodged a bullet. If the leak would have increased on the trip it could very well have been ugly.