Allison AT 545Which Allison automatic do you have in your truck?
While the PO did good *** with oil changes at 5000 miles and I have all of the records since new..... They did some poor repairs on oil leaks like dabbing silicone at the bottom of the timing gear case seal which were coming undone on me. Also I have a bad feeling this engine was badly overheated at one time, one of the first problems I discovered on the very first trip was a broken thermostat which was hung open and broke in 2... prolly at one time it hung closed. and the fan clutch wasn't working properly and ended up locking up on me........Then the coolant leak which turned out to be a craked head that the machine shop didn't catch when I told them to pressure test and magnaflux it. I doubt they did either, just said it looked OK and machined it That really blew to be down for 10 days for an improper repair.Also, I don't get it, why is the engine giving so much trouble? I read that tranny keeps it high in the rpms, could this be the cause?
Dang, This just sucks! All that work you've put into that beast already, you should be out there raking in some cash with it now instead of having to keep wet nursing the blamed thing. I feel for you. I've been in that boat before and it's not any fun.
Then the coolant leak which turned out to be a craked head that the machine shop didn't catch when I told them to pressure test and magnaflux it. I doubt they did either, just said it looked OK and machined it That really blew to be down for 10 days for an improper repair.
That amazes me as we wouldn't touch a head without magnafluxing it and believe me, we had a good idea where to look. We would also recommend pressure testing, but it wasn't free, magnafluxing was. Some would opt for it, some wouldn't.
tonka-Lemme tell ya, Bars leak block seal isn't what I consider a proper repair but it works, I now carry it as an emergency band aid in my tool box on the road
I specificly ordered pressure testing AND magnaflux then tell me the results so I could decide to either order a new head or have that one machined. Told them even where to look around the 5th and 6th exhaust ports and that I couldn't tell if I had a bad head gasket in that area or a cracked head.
When they said it was good I told them to do everything.... Surface it, valve guides, grind valves, surface the exhaust manifold side, valve stem seals and order me a head gasket set.
If the machinist was in my shop after I spent all night thrashing on it to get it going only to have the fresh cooland litterally pour out of a crack between the 5th and 6th exhaust ports I would have probably shot him in the rage I was in. I cooled off for 2 hrs before calling the shop and they wanted me too tear it apart again and bring it down so they could pin it which I personally think is a BS way to fix stuff on an over the road truck that sees 15,000 miles a month and runs deep into the Arctic.
They wouldn't refund my money or get me a new head and I prolly still havn't found all of the wrenches I threw across the shop.
After 10 days of down time, out of money and being at the end of the month when most RV shipping happens, it was time to dump Bars Leak block seal (the copper stuff) in it and go for broke.
Lemme tell ya, Bars leak block seal isn't what I consider a proper repair but it works, I now carry it as an emergency band aid in my tool box on the road
tonkadoctor said:Yes we got the fire lit in her tonight. Thank you GEO, now you can take a vacation.
Sweet.
Just make sure your next truck has the same width frame rails....