That One Fat Guy

Hi all, just a quick bump. Finally have some funds and some time coming up this weekend to try changing the head gasket out on my truck. So today when I got home from work I checked the oil.

Again, no froth, no grey, no appearance on oil cap or dipstick that there's water in the oil. Started the truck up (man I miss the rumble of driving this around). Let it run for about 5-10 minutes and didn't notice any leaks or drips or anything on the ground.

So I started looking around the engine compartment (waning light so did it by flashlight) and it appears that there is oil on the front of the block near where the theromostat pump etc are.

Is that still a symptom of a blown gasket? Or am I looking at something possibly more serious like a cracked head. Hoping the weather is going to be good as I have a bit of funds to work with this weekend and would love to get the truck back on the road.

qdeezie

To me, it sounds like a bad intake manifold gasket. Especially if the front intake gasket just so happens to still be made out of cork.

sylver91

Check that the thermostat housing gasket isn't leaking either.

Warlockk

And the valve cover gasket.

That One Fat Guy

So I should just get a full gasket kit and look at replacing all of them from the sounds of it since I'm gonna be tearing it apart? Or start with these others before going doing the head?

autocar

I would replace them all. But like everyone else says, I would find the leak anyway. Buy a book and study up before you jump in.

Nitehawkjr

I would go rent or buy one of these and see if I could find where the coolant was going along with doing a compression test on the cylinders.

That One Fat Guy

I've got a Chilton's, but everyone mentions Haynes, is that a better book to use as refrence?

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

Haynes is more commonly available, at least around here. It's organized better so stuff is easier to find, and also has wiring diagrams while Chiltons doesn't.

Warlockk

I like to have both. They sometime cover things differently.