coolant puke issue? new head gasket(s) needed? - Diesel Forum

huntjock · 12-01-2007, 02:11 AM

I've read several threads and the answers seem to all be there. Thanks. I guess I just needed my own thread before I see the SA.

- '03 6.0, 55K miles, no chip
- traveling uphilll @ ~55mph coolant smell thru heater vents (3x in the past couple of months, once pulling 2 ATVs)
- loss of heat @ idle
- coolant level so low there is none in reservoir (can I add the yellow if I don't know which kind was stock? I have no idea how much I'll need to add to bring it to minimum)
- white spots of coolant puke concentrated in/around the fan assembly, on the shrouds, and blown all over the engine (interestingly, there were spatterings of the same kind of puke spots all over the engine when I took delivery @ 52 mi. on odo.)

? Does this sound like a classic case of the common coolant puke/head gasket issue?
? What runarounds, if any, should I avoid to streamline the whole process of getting it diagnosed CORRECTLY and getting it repaired? (i.e. should I ask them to perform a cylinder compression test at the initial diagnosis, when they attempt to bandaid the situation by replacing the degasser tank? etc)
? How long - start to completion - has this whole process taken others here?
? I am inside of 5yr/100K mi, so this will cost $100 only, right?
? I have seen posts about the preference of using ARP head studs. Is this something that shops are willing to use, or is this a case by case thing? or is it even necessary w/ improved Ford parts now?
? Would the 13pt Extended Service Plan cover this if it were to happen again later on?

Any other advice/knowledge/wisdom is greatly appreciated.

Thanks a million. The info you all contribute is truly appreciated. Happy Holidays to you all.
Neil

huntjock · 12-01-2007, 02:29 AM

oh, 1 more thing: I'll be changing my oil tomorrow. I haven't done the blackstone deal for the past couple changes. I think I'll send in this sample, but I probably won't wait for the results before I take it in. Is it more likely that oil would leak into the coolant, or coolant into the oil?