Hello everyone. Sorry for the long post in advance. I have a d2 03 with just shy of 150k. Up until a week ago all was well no overheating, no coolant leaks, 180 t-stat, green coolant, ultragauge temps never above 200 (runs cool..probably why I get terrible mileage 11mpg and much carbon buildup on valves, mostly stop and go though). BTW, I've had the truck for almost 8 years and 80k and has never overheated.
So, I drove to the store 2 miles away, ran well came out of store started engine and miss fire on #7 (0307 misfire). Drove it home 2 miles, never overheated, highest temp was 192 (flashing CEL). Coolant level went way down, sprayed out of overflow from over pressure. Once home I removed the breather tube to get to #7 plug, coolant poured from throttle body. Pulled # 7 plug and turned engine over and sprayed water from # 7. So I pulled the heads and no steam cleaned pistons. Composite part of head gasket does look deteriorated on bottom side between water jacket and #7 hole.The composite part is almost gone there on bottom side right up to metal ring. Could it have blown between there? Bolts were all still tight...real tight! Took impact sockets, breaker bar, cheater pipe and knuckle skin to remove.
So my questions are... now that I have it this far torn down, should I pull the block and have it pressure tested? I want to go ahead and change the timing gears and chain and oil pump, which I can do with it in the truck, but I'm thinking I hate to spend time and money only to put it back together and have same problem with a crack behind liner on #7. Is that area a common place for cracks in block? also is it a common place for HG failure? Should I have the block checked before I spend money on reworking heads and buying gaskets and timing and oil pump gears, etc.?
Or at 150k should I just pull the block anyway and check main and rod bearings, replace crank seals and all gaskets, etc. Cam looks good from eyeballing from top and lifters come out easy and are not mushroomed or worn looking from eye inspection (I removed a few to inspect and put back in same holes, plan to have a better look). What do you guys think? Install new head gaskets and try that or pull the block and pressure test and if good complete overhaul from there? Thanks and your input will be greatly appreciated.
So, I drove to the store 2 miles away, ran well came out of store started engine and miss fire on #7 (0307 misfire). Drove it home 2 miles, never overheated, highest temp was 192 (flashing CEL). Coolant level went way down, sprayed out of overflow from over pressure. Once home I removed the breather tube to get to #7 plug, coolant poured from throttle body. Pulled # 7 plug and turned engine over and sprayed water from # 7. So I pulled the heads and no steam cleaned pistons. Composite part of head gasket does look deteriorated on bottom side between water jacket and #7 hole.The composite part is almost gone there on bottom side right up to metal ring. Could it have blown between there? Bolts were all still tight...real tight! Took impact sockets, breaker bar, cheater pipe and knuckle skin to remove.
So my questions are... now that I have it this far torn down, should I pull the block and have it pressure tested? I want to go ahead and change the timing gears and chain and oil pump, which I can do with it in the truck, but I'm thinking I hate to spend time and money only to put it back together and have same problem with a crack behind liner on #7. Is that area a common place for cracks in block? also is it a common place for HG failure? Should I have the block checked before I spend money on reworking heads and buying gaskets and timing and oil pump gears, etc.?
Or at 150k should I just pull the block anyway and check main and rod bearings, replace crank seals and all gaskets, etc. Cam looks good from eyeballing from top and lifters come out easy and are not mushroomed or worn looking from eye inspection (I removed a few to inspect and put back in same holes, plan to have a better look). What do you guys think? Install new head gaskets and try that or pull the block and pressure test and if good complete overhaul from there? Thanks and your input will be greatly appreciated.