head gasket time..

on my current truck (1998 dodge cummins 24v) I have noticed a coolant leak starting right below the t-stat housing. I know its the head gasket, ill get a picture latter.

my questions are, what would be the best gasket to use? should I go with head bolts or studs? is there anything else I should do while im there?

it looks like a pretty strait forward job so shouldn't be too hard. I just want to get all the parts together for when I do it. as of now its just a little drip but not sure how long that will last.

current mileage is 244k

thanks

One thing you might want to look into is the 3 piece exhaust manifold. The factory one piece manifold is so long, as it goes through heat/cool cycles it can warp and work on lifting the head. Normally this happens on one that’s “turned up” and the EGT’s have a bigger swing, but on a stock setup truck could do it also.

Travis had to replace the head gasket on his 12v for this very reason. His was turned up and the factory one piece manifold warped and lifted the head.

If my head gasket let go tomorrow, I'd buy one off rockauto, and get higher grade head bolts from Fastenal.

u2slow said:

If my head gasket let go tomorrow, I'd buy one off rockauto, and get higher grade head bolts from Fastenal.

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Not ARP? I know they're expensive but maybe worth it?

thanks for the info guys. i did look at ARP studs and they are very expensive. i haven't looked yet but does the dealer have a HG for these?

No idea about Dodge.... but Cummins carries them for sure.

Chrisbuyer said:

Not ARP? I know they're expensive but maybe worth it?

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Not worth it for me.

u2slow said:

No idea about Dodge.... but Cummins carries them for sure.



Not worth it for me.

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I think the main thing for needing them is if you're pushing over about 40 psi of boost.

edit: but I like overkill. As long as it doesn't have to fly, if heavier will keep it from breaking, add more metal. Well, not in this case but if I was getting close I'd sure do ARP. I'm hoping that someday some how, I'll be able to buy a set of twins like the Pusher twins. Not looking for horsepower just lower egt and better combustion for mileage. I tow a 30' toyhauler and grades suck even if I can keep it at 55. I'd like 60 better.

High strength bolt info:

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/9...ed-head-bolts-opinoins-whos-running-them.html

http://www.mightydiesel.com/product/12-valve-mighty-diesel-head-bolts-copy/

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/9...ylender-head-bolts-anything-good-bout-em.html


Having the rocker pedestals machined for studs is another obstacle. Not always cheap or convenient when you have a short time window to get your truck going again.

If building a performance engine from scratch, I'd consider the studs. An untimely blown head gasket on a well-used engine is getting bolts.

Chrisbuyer said:

Not ARP? I know they're expensive but maybe worth it?

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You may have been confused like I was. I forgot this was a cumminGs thread. Lol

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I can see why you're treating them bad. If either of my diesels got such terrible fuel mileage I'd have gotten rid of them long ago.I had a 94 Ford F-350 and averaged 17 mpg empty and 12.5 pulling my 30' toyhauler. I have a 2003 VW jetta TDI which the worst fuel mileage I have gotten so far was over 45 mpg and it averages 47 at full speed limit cruising and 53 if I keep it between 60 and 65. I have a 2001 Dodge 3500 dually and it gets 16.5 at 75 mph and 22.5 at 55 and the same 12.5 pulling my toyhauler around as exactly the same route as I took with the Ford as that Ford got. I bought the VW at a charity auction on Ebay and it had 193,000+ miles on it. It's now over 206K miles and runs great. 630+ miles on one tank is usual on freeway trips in one day. It's comfy, does everything I bought it to do and more. It boggles my mind that anyone would choose to give such a fine vehicle to charity. I always thought that's where people put vehicles that were shot and worn out but not this one. I'm glad I took the chance.

Edit: The route I took in both trucks was east from Lancaster, CA on the CA 58 to the I 15 to the I 40. East to the I 44 then north east to southern illinois, then north to the very northwest tip of Wisconsin, back down the I 35 to the I 90 and across to Yellowstone, through Yellowstone to the I 15 and down through Utah and Nevada to the CA 58 and back to Lancaster. Got held up for a few minutes because a herd of bison decided they liked the road in Yellowstone one time I was there. No trailer on that trip. There were 3 very "concerned" bikers huddled behind my truck as about 50 bison came right down the road the opposite direction we were going. I'm really glad I was in a truck and not exposed on a bike. Yikes!!!