Head gasket went

[wrecking-crew]

I knew this day was coming. Head gasket went between cylinders 5 & 6. Seen some white on the plugs when I pulled them earlier. Might also be the random miss my truck has.

Is it possible to replace the gaskets without removing the exhaust manifolds? Should I replace both at the same time?
Is there anything else I should know?

 

[frankserrano]

i've been babysitting a head gasket leak since january, i think i might've finally sealed it up with the blue devil brand gasket sealant but who knows. your best bet is to buy the entire gasket kit at either autozone, or advance auto parts, its around $150, and you might as well replace the other major gaskets, being that if one that is the same age can fail, they all can fail shortly. it's not something to really screw around with, ya know?

 

[Big Jim M]

If it ain't overheating it ain't a head gasket..
Big JIm

 

[Psychopete]

I don't see that it wouldn't be impossible, but it would sure make it a lot harder to do. I think in that situation, I would take the head into a shop, with manifold attached, and let them deal with the exhaust manifold bolts and clean up/get the heads ready for reuse. Nothing I hate more than scraping old gaskets, that and having to do it over again. Now would be a good time for a set of aftermarket heads versus shop cost FWIW.