ESGWheel
Master Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2015
- Messages
- 803
Dan,
Long post but please read thoroughly.
Enthusiasm is great but let’s think thru a few things first and come up with a plan. Here are my suggestions and questions.
A quick google search provided what seem to be good videos on this process:
Yes, the gaskets are inexpensive, and Mike provided a link as well. The key is a marine type (no carbon steel due to marine environment).
As for “have I ever done a head gasket on a 3.0.” No. But lot of them on Volvo B18 motors (also a 4 cylinder). Was typically not due to blowen or other issues with the motor, perhaps a little detonation (pinging). My boss at the time was a great salesman and we would decarb these high mileage motors left and right because he convinced the owners that is how to keep them going. He was not wrong, but he oversold if you follow my meaning. And a whole bunch on the interference engines in Fiat Spiders. The cam belt would typically break at 31,000 miles (warranty expired at 30k) and bam! Head is coming off due to bent valves. And a bunch of others (v6, V8s). I digress but was fun walking down memory lane, so thx for the question!
Oh before I forget, one tool you will need are thread chasers, not taps, chaser, like this link. See post 13 of this tread for why.
Long post but please read thoroughly.
Enthusiasm is great but let’s think thru a few things first and come up with a plan. Here are my suggestions and questions.
- Did you rerun the motor post confirming the FO and then pulling the plug wires one at a time?
- If not, please do as this will validate your compression readings and post results
- Do you own an air compressor?
- If not then a leak down tester will do you no good, need one to use it.
- But let’s say you do have one or access to one (even one of those pancake types that carpenters use will work), getting a leak down tester is not going to be a good investment for you IMO. These are used as a diagnostic device for folks that do a lot of work on engines to help them determine the extent of the issues - prior to tearing it down - to then provide the customer a better estimate of costs to come. The damage your engine has will not change and the costs will be what they are. You will be able to afford it or not depending on damage. IF you still desire to do a leak down test, can do a poor man’s leak down as mentioned by Mike in post #17 and me in #7. If want to do this reply: “Please explain how” and we’ll walk you thru it.
A quick google search provided what seem to be good videos on this process:
Yes, the gaskets are inexpensive, and Mike provided a link as well. The key is a marine type (no carbon steel due to marine environment).
As for “have I ever done a head gasket on a 3.0.” No. But lot of them on Volvo B18 motors (also a 4 cylinder). Was typically not due to blowen or other issues with the motor, perhaps a little detonation (pinging). My boss at the time was a great salesman and we would decarb these high mileage motors left and right because he convinced the owners that is how to keep them going. He was not wrong, but he oversold if you follow my meaning. And a whole bunch on the interference engines in Fiat Spiders. The cam belt would typically break at 31,000 miles (warranty expired at 30k) and bam! Head is coming off due to bent valves. And a bunch of others (v6, V8s). I digress but was fun walking down memory lane, so thx for the question!
Oh before I forget, one tool you will need are thread chasers, not taps, chaser, like this link. See post 13 of this tread for why.
