5.0 GI Heads/Leak/Swap Question

[crdpoker]

Hi Guys,

My second season with my 1998 Larson 2/ 5.0 GI engine. Was running fine the other day, but when I stopped, noticed I had oil in the bilge - both front motor mounts had oil on them, and it looks like it starts and was spraying from where the heads join the block. Checked the dipstick - oil is clear (non-milky) but just low from the leak. It looked like PO had overheated it at least once (from flaking on exhaust elbow), and it shut down once on me last year when the impeller went. Questions:

1. Since I know it's overheated probably at least twice, is it likely that my head gasket (gaskets) are gone? No signs of water intrusion, but oil is definitely leaking near the heads.

2. If it is the head gaskets, and I'm going to replace them myself, is it easier to pull the motor to replace, or easier to do it in the boat?

3. If it's something worse, like cracked block, would a slightly older auto-block work? I searched around, but found conflicting information. I've got a 1989 Caprice with a TBI 5.0 at a friend's house, but I heard the exhaust may not match up because it was pre-1996?

Thanks,

Chris

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: 5.0 GI Heads/Leak/Swap Question

Hi Guys,

My second season with my 1998 Larson 2/ 5.0 GI engine. Was running fine the other day, but when I stopped, noticed I had oil in the bilge - both front motor mounts had oil on them, and it looks like it starts and was spraying from where the heads join the block. Checked the dipstick - oil is clear (non-milky) but just low from the leak. It looked like PO had overheated it at least once (from flaking on exhaust elbow), and it shut down once on me last year when the impeller went. Questions:

1. Since I know it's overheated probably at least twice, is it likely that my head gasket (gaskets) are gone? No signs of water intrusion, but oil is definitely leaking near the heads. have you check compression? More than likely you're correct, but if it overheated could be from a cracked head/block at the head/block connection. I've seen a few of the 4.3L V6 crack there and simply plugged with JBWeld?

2. If it is the head gaskets, and I'm going to replace them myself, is it easier to pull the motor to replace, or easier to do it in the boat? Definitely easier out of boat, boat personally, if it was just head gaskets, I'd probably just replace in the boat for times sake...

3. If it's something worse, like cracked block, would a slightly older auto-block work? I searched around, but found conflicting information. I've got a 1989 Caprice with a TBI 5.0 at a friend's house, but I heard the exhaust may not match up because it was pre-1996?
COLOR="#FF0000"]It would depend on castings (pre-vortec vs. post vortec). I'm sure someone will be along soon to give you absolution on this? I'm not sure on the GM blocks? [/COLOR]Thanks,

Chris

~Brett

 

[Bondo]

Re: 5.0 GI Heads/Leak/Swap Question

Hi Guys,

My second season with my 1998 Larson 2/ 5.0 GI engine. Was running fine the other day, but when I stopped, noticed I had oil in the bilge - both front motor mounts had oil on them, and it looks like it starts and was spraying from where the heads join the block. Checked the dipstick - oil is clear (non-milky) but just low from the leak. It looked like PO had overheated it at least once (from flaking on exhaust elbow), and it shut down once on me last year when the impeller went. Questions:

1. Since I know it's overheated probably at least twice, is it likely that my head gasket (gaskets) are gone? No signs of water intrusion, but oil is definitely leaking near the heads.

2. If it is the head gaskets, and I'm going to replace them myself, is it easier to pull the motor to replace, or easier to do it in the boat?

3. If it's something worse, like cracked block, would a slightly older auto-block work? I searched around, but found conflicting information. I've got a 1989 Caprice with a TBI 5.0 at a friend's house, but I heard the exhaust may not match up because it was pre-1996?

Thanks,

Chris

Ayuh,.... Keep lookin' Chris,.... There's No pressurized oil at that junction,...

Do a Test, Runnin',... Have somebody else drive, 'n you look, Closer,....
Use a camera to put yer Eyes, where yer head won't fit,....
'n remember, Oil, like Water, Flows Downhill,... keep lookin' Higher til ya don't see oil anymore,...