Thinking I also have leaking head gasket

[Alfisto Steve]

Not like this http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85676 but, upon shut down after a full operating temp run radiator turns into coffee percolator and if any coolant in coolant tank it pukes and sprays out of coolant tank lid.

Progressively getting worse but even though temp gauge stays in normal range while driving it has started to run a little higher on the needle lately.

This issue has been going on for 6 months or better and now looks like a fall engine pull project as I also have been milking a leaking clutch TO bearing slave cylinder which as you may know is located inside tranny bellhousing. So you know why I have been adding fluid to the tea cup sized reservoir for the clutch. I have had clutch and TO brg kit in my stash for couple years along with new motor mounts.

Being the proactive dude that I try to be going through life's daily struggles, I hit eBay for gasket set and head bolt using buy it now option.

I'd rather be driving my Alfa Romeos and usually do instead of this truck which is why I can milk these fly gripes until summer heat wave over with.

 

[AaronC47]

Overheating ?

Before anything else I would pull thermostat out and drive it and see if it still does that. Go from easiest fix first. If it still does that I would maybe do a cooling system flush. As long as you have no oil in your water or water in your oil, chances are head gasket is ok. Take cap off radiator when at operating temp, watch the water flow by (if it does flow that good) and watch for little tiny oil sheens or slicks on top of water. Check oil dipstick for a milkish looking oil. if you have oil sheens or milkish looking oil then you have head gasket problem.


Oh also you want to make sure thermostat is in the right direction. If someone else installed it, you never know who did what and why with who was there to help.

 

[Alfisto Steve]

Before anything else I would pull thermostat out and drive it and see if it still does that. Go from easiest fix first. If it still does that I would maybe do a cooling system flush. As long as you have no oil in your water or water in your oil, chances are head gasket is ok. Take cap off radiator when at operating temp, watch the water flow by (if it does flow that good) and watch for little tiny oil sheens or slicks on top of water. Check oil dipstick for a milkish looking oil. if you have oil sheens or milkish looking oil then you have head gasket problem.


Oh also you want to make sure thermostat is in the right direction. If someone else installed it, you never know who did what and why with who was there to help.

No not overheating as far a temp gauge indicates. Couple years ago thermostat stuck closed on me and it did overheat, pegged gauge and cause radiator seam to split. Changed thermostat and radiator and all was well again. This boiling coffee pot syndrome has been going on for about 6 months and getting worse.

Temp gauge has always read low normal and is now moving closer to center.

I think my next troubleshooting step is to use laser temp gun on engine to compare temp gauge to laser gun readings.

When idling with radiator cap off as engine warms up coolant rises in filler neck with slight oil film and possible indication of exhaust gases.

I need to do a coolant litmus test for exhaust gases, too but it sure looks like the dreaded head gasket leak by a fire ring around one of the cylinders.