Possible head gasket?

[jhosk]

2018 ram 1500 5.7 146,000kms

I started to see overheating, so I changed the thermostat and rad cap, flushed system and topped back up again. Drove or 3 days and began to overheat again... no signs of coolant loss figured it was air bubble to re-burped the system and topped back up again continued to burp. couple days go by and same thing again. I did see white smoke from the tail pipes but the next drive that seemed to disappear.
I should note that I was also getting a misfire code of p0300 & p0307 so I changed the plug on cylinder 7, wiped codes but these came back and there is an obvious misfire at idle.
Fast forward to yesterday, rad topped up took it to the lumber yard, it was fine on the way there but on the way back began to overheat again so I pulled over and waited a couple of minutes. When I started to drive again the temp gauge began dropping like as if coolant was being pushed to cool down the engine. When I got home I popped the hood and noticed visible spray from the overflow tank.

Any help on this is appreciated.

 

[jws123]

how hot did you get it? being that you overheated it multiple times I would test for a head gasket leak. Plenty of youtube vids on how you can check for compression and coolannt in the cylinders as well as a block test modern engines dont like to be overheated.

 

[jhosk]

It has definitely over heated 3-4 times for sure

 

[jws123]

It has definitely over heated 3-4 times for sure

yes but how hot lol? did the needle go all the way or what where the temps?

 

[RamDiver]

It has definitely over heated 3-4 times for sure

Without the actual temperature numbers, the above information isn't very helpful.
Even providing an estimated range will be more useful.

The ideal answer will be from a digital readout on the EVIC in degrees F or C.

.

 

[jhosk]

My apologies, it reached 125-130 deg Celsius (250-260 Fahrenheit)

 

[RamDiver]

My apologies, it reached 125-130 deg Celsius (250-260 Fahrenheit)

That's a condition to avoid, and upon discovery, calls for immediate action.
Were you towing or heavily loaded?

Pull over ASAP when it's safe, open all the windows and crank the heater level and fan as high as possible.

If the temps don't start dropping, shut down the engine ASAP and call for a tow.

.

 

[MrBonez]

If you pull the head(s) be sure to check for any warpage/cracks too since they are aluminum.
If you find any of that, either get it fixed or replaced - Esp replaced if the head is cracked.

It's possible to fix that too if you have no other option but figure up the expense of un-warping a head, plus the crack repair and machining the head gasket surface flat too once the repair is done vs a straight up head replacement.

 

[jhosk]

Yes I pulled over right away let it cool a couple of minutes and when i continued to drive the temp dropped, im guessing coolant was being pushed through. With the reservoir showing spray once i got home, does this sound like combustion gases? Im trying to locate a combustion leak tester that uses the fluid that changes colour, however nobody seems to sell in Canada.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

^^^ THIS!!!

With the temps you indicate I've no doubt the head(s) is/are warped.

Good time to check the VVT screen for any debris, the valve train for any abnormal wear, and the cam, too.

Do a thorough intake manifold cleaning as well.

 

[RamDiver]

Yes I pulled over right away let it cool a couple of minutes and when i continued to drive the temp dropped, im guessing coolant was being pushed through. With the reservoir showing spray once i got home, does this sound like combustion gases? Im trying to locate a combustion leak tester that uses the fluid that changes colour, however nobody seems to sell in Canada.

As interesting is the results might be from that test, a cylinder compression test is far more informative of the engine status.

They're pretty inexpensive and available at CTC or Amazon.

General PDP Template

www.canadiantire.ca

Cylinder Leak Down Tester Kit,Automotive Engine Pressure Gauges Compression Test Leakage Detector Tool Set (TU-21) : Amazon.ca: Automotive

Cylinder Leak Down Tester Kit,Automotive Engine Pressure Gauges Compression Test Leakage Detector Tool Set (TU-21) : Amazon.ca: Automotive

www.amazon.ca

.

 

[MrBonez]

Yes I pulled over right away let it cool a couple of minutes and when i continued to drive the temp dropped, im guessing coolant was being pushed through. With the reservoir showing spray once i got home, does this sound like combustion gases? Im trying to locate a combustion leak tester that uses the fluid that changes colour, however nobody seems to sell in Canada.

More than likely it is combustion gas pushing the coolant out of the system due to a bad head gasket(s).

What happens is combustion gas as the engine runs is being pumped into the coolant system and it literally "Inflates" the cooling system causing excessive internal pressure, sometimes seen as bubbles in the coolant as it runs, swollen hoses/hoses literally blowing off..... That kind of thing.

A sure sign that's what's going on is when you see alot of bubbles/what looks like steam coming out of the system even when first started cold.

See that - It's head gasket time and all else that goes with it.

 

[MrBonez]

Yes I pulled over right away let it cool a couple of minutes and when i continued to drive the temp dropped, im guessing coolant was being pushed through. With the reservoir showing spray once i got home, does this sound like combustion gases? Im trying to locate a combustion leak tester that uses the fluid that changes colour, however nobody seems to sell in Canada.

One thing that could have been happening is coolant was being pushed into the crankcase meaning you'll see signs of it in the oil.
Depends on how the gasket failed but there is no doubt in my mind you've got a bad gasket and most likely a warped/cracked head too.

Another symptom is the engine "Hydro-Locking" after it sits for a few minutes from driving. That's because the coolant is being pushed into the combustion chamber while it sits not running.
If out somewhere and it's gotta run to get home or to a shop, you can find the affected cylinder and pull the plug to let it spit the coolant out when you turn it over but that in itself is a real indicator of a bad gasket/head problem.

 

[jws123]

My apologies, it reached 125-130 deg Celsius (250-260 Fahrenheit)

My opinion that engine is shot dont waste money trying to fix it just go to a junkyard and swap it out. I am willing to bet you have cracked a cylinder by now you have overheated it 1 to many times have had this happen to a few hemis.

 

[EdGs]

When your engine is completely cold, and has sat for a fair bit, crack the oil drain plug loose but DO NOT REMOVE IT.

Place a container below the drain plug, and loosen the drain plug just enough that it starts to drip.

Watch the drips for 30 seconds or so. If there's coolant in the crankcase, you will see it very quickly. The oil will float on the coolant, so you should see it within the first few drips. You can watch it for a minute or so if it is dripping very slowly.

If you see coolant, you've won the head gasket lottery, possibly with bonus prizes. If you don't see coolant in the drips, you might not be out of the woods, though.

It is also posssible to leak coolant into the combustion chamber, and that will produce the white smoke.

Wish you the best, please post your findings.

 

[EdGs]

You can even just change the oil, and put the old oil into a couple jugs. Once it settles, you will see.

Notice the layers: Coolant at bottom, milkshake middle, small oil layer at top.

This was from our '02 1500 4.7L

 

[MrBonez]

More than likely it is combustion gas pushing the coolant out of the system due to a bad head gasket(s).

What happens is combustion gas as the engine runs is being pumped into the coolant system and it literally "Inflates" the cooling system causing excessive internal pressure, sometimes seen as bubbles in the coolant as it runs, swollen hoses/hoses literally blowing off..... That kind of thing.

A sure sign that's what's going on is when you see alot of bubbles/what looks like steam coming out of the system even when first started cold.

See that - It's head gasket time and all else that goes with it.

I forgot to mention you'll see these things while the radiator cap is off and you start the engine when it's cold. No way you'd have steam coming out right when you start it after it's sat overnight with bubbles too and that's how you'd know combuston gas is getting into the cooling system.

I've diagnosed bad head gaskets this way more than once in my time but you won't always see this effect because it depends on how the gasket fails.

When your engine is completely cold, and has sat for a fair bit, crack the oil drain plug loose but DO NOT REMOVE IT.

Place a container below the drain plug, and loosen the drain plug just enough that it starts to drip.

Watch the drips for 30 seconds or so. If there's coolant in the crankcase, you will see it very quickly. The oil will float on the coolant, so you should see it within the first few drips. You can watch it for a minute or so if it is dripping very slowly.

If you see coolant, you've won the head gasket lottery, possibly with bonus prizes. If you don't see coolant in the drips, you might not be out of the woods, though.

It is also posssible to leak coolant into the combustion chamber, and that will produce the white smoke.

Wish you the best, please post your findings.

Yes, it will show up in your oil if coolant is going into the crankcase and another sign is when your engine is making oil (Oil level coming up) without you adding any oil to it.
Again, depending on how the gasket fails will make one way of checking be OK but another way of checking show these signs.

 

[MrBonez]

My opinion that engine is shot dont waste money trying to fix it just go to a junkyard and swap it out. I am willing to bet you have cracked a cylinder by now you have overheated it 1 to many times have had this happen to a few hemis.

Tearing it down to see what's wrong and evaluating the engine is not a waste of time.
Also, alot of the time you don't know why that truck is in the boneyard and may have issues like it or even worse. One that's been hit hard (Totaled) is one thing and will depend if it got hit up front or not, but any random pickup choice is a roll of the dice and you could roll crap(s) when you do.


Tear it down, evaluate what you've got and go from there.

 

[Burla]

If this engine is toast, why not try head gasket sealer? Still is possible cam lob on 7 toast.

Do Head Gasket Sealers Actually Work (FULL 2yr TEST with Engine Teardown)

Replacing a blown Head Gasket can be difficult and expensive. Sometimes your car is not worth fixing and this is where a head gasket sealer in a bottle comes...

youtu.be

 

[MrBonez]

That might work but it's also a roll of the dice.
If it had been tried right at the beginning of these problems it may have saved it but now, I doubt it.