Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Trip report (Broke down, head gasket... maybe) (need some pointers)
| Trip report (Broke down, head gasket... maybe) [message #226852] |
Thu, 24 October 2013 11:37  |
 |
mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Lately we haven't had much time to use the GMC other than local day type trips.
So when there was a break in the medical appointments and my work schedule, we took a run to the SanFran area to visit wife's family. (Need to do it when you can...)
We made the trip south with no issues, running how ever fast the coach felt like running... up to about 10mph over the speed limit. (Seems that is my normal way of driving with stock gearing.) The 403 engine does burn a little oil at these higher RPMs but that is normal for all the time I have had this coach plus didn't get very hot. Mid scale on my recalibrated (NAPA sendor) OEM gauge. We "blew by" another GMC'er heading south on I-5 south of Redding. (I am fairly sure it was Karen (KB) and company.) Sorry we did not to slow down and say hi... wife was on a deadline.
Anyway, on the return trip we had some headwinds, so I ran no more than the speed limit, normally a bit slower. Filled the tank just south of Redding CA and the coach seemed to be running fine.... normal on the oil and temp gauges. Got 13 miles north, (the other side of Redding) and the engine started to lack power... checked the gauges and HOT! HOT! HOT! Eased off the gas and the motor quit. We rolled quite a ways without power but not far enough to get to the next exit. When we stopped I opened the door and observed a cloud of steam coming from the exhaust pipe. Looked under the hood and noticed the overflow bottle was full and overflowing. Oil on the dip stuck looked just as it was that morning. (A little dark and just under the full line.) Checked under the hatch... couldn't see any blown hoses. Let the engine cool while I connected to the WI-fi of a handy RV park and downloaded the latest Black List, called my insurance (roadside assistance) and looked up local towing companies.
After the coach cooled a bit, I noticed the over flow had been sucked down to the bottom of the hose. I started putting water in the radiator. one small water bottle at a time as my old cheap plastic funnel broke as I dug it out from under the dinette. After one gallon and not seeing any leakage, I tried to start it. it turned over slowly but did not catch. I added another gallon of water and rechecked. No change. After the third gallon I had some leakage... mostly from the right muffler! There was also some water coming down from the right side of the motor. Checking inside all the hoses were dry, but the bottom on the right exhaust manifold was wet! the pipe down to the muffler was dry on the outside while water was coming out of the muffler.
Not good.
Checked for local Black-listers and called Gary Bovee near Red Bluff, CA. Then called a tow truck to tow us 45 miles to Gary's. Gary directed the truck to drop the coach in his yard... kind of. Due to the wife's medical issues, we couldn't stay around to find out what was actually wrong with the coach. So Gary hauled me into town to the car rental place. We rented a car, loaded up and completed the trip back to Hillsboro Oregon.
End result: My current "user" 1978 Birchaven (rear bath) is sitting like a BIG yard gnome next to a large hedge in Gary's yard.
-- Lawn art indeed. 
There seems to be another possible break in the medical appointments and I have a few days off... so I might be able to take some time and go get the yard gnome out of Gary's yard. (If nothing else I can winterize it.) While I am more interested in getting the coach home than a long term fix, but with the mountains between there and here... it'll need to do a "better than jury-rigged" fix.
I have searched the forum for advice and found quite a bit in the two threads: "The good ,bad and ugly..." (Dan Borlase) and "Head gasket or intake gasket???? Help in Houston" (Broham)
These are the notes I have made:
------------------------------
-- ...if water gets in the heads it will leak water out the exhaust pipe at least dripping and fog will come out when it gets big, white smoke like a new pope. (Mickey  )
-- Wet exhaust => Wet How? Coolant running out the tailpipe wet?
=> Have you looked at the dipstick? Does the lube oil look like lube oil or brown mud? <- this is bad
=> Another cheap but good test.. Refill the cooling system as best you can, with the sparkplugs out, spin the engine with the starter.
--ANY FOG Blow Out?
--- -If yes, get a squirt can and oil that bore NOW. You do need at least a head gasket, maybe a new cylinder head.
--- -If no, there can still be issues that just are not as severe.
------
-- When you pull the heads, be especially careful with antifreeze -- use the block drains.
-- If you have the time and patience, doing a check torque on the head bolts would not be stupid.
-- If it does wind up being a head gasket, don't forget to shave the heads as they may be warped a little.
-- If you shave the heads, does the intake manifold have to be machined also?
-- - Yes.
-- - Maybe, depends on how much material is removed. Dick Paterson made a presentation on engine building and he noted that the OEM head gaskets were thin and no longer available. Unfortunately I did not write down the thickness of the OEM gaskets and the ones available now and how much both of them crush.
-- when you get the head off, be sure to check the surface for flatness.
-- Also check for cracks in the area of the valve seats.
-- drain the oil.
-- Oil test watch what comes out first. (Oil floats on water)
-- install new filter
-- put no more than 100 miles on the new oil.
-- look at the plugs
-- remove plugs and spin the motor If you don't pump water then do a compression test.
-- get a new thermostat.
Parts to have on hand
---------------------
head gasket (x2 ???)
intake manifold gasket
exhaust gasket (x2 ???)
new thermostat
gasket sealer/RTV
tools to take on trip:
---------------------
Common hand tools
Torque wrench
cooling system test pump
compression tester
leak down tester
Does anyone have anything to add? 
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
[Updated on: Thu, 24 October 2013 11:38] Report message to a moderator |
|
|
|
| Re: Trip report (Broke down, head gasket... maybe) [message #226858 is a reply to message #226852] |
Thu, 24 October 2013 12:19  |
roy1
Messages: 2126
Registered: July 2004
Location: Minden nevada
Karma: 6
|
Senior Member |
|
|
bummer sounds like the right head has good sized crack in it. you will nead too pull this head and check it when you check the gasket. it should be visible to the naked eye.
Roy Keen
Minden,NV
76 X Glenbrook
|
|
|
|
| Re: Trip report (Broke down, head gasket... maybe) [message #226863 is a reply to message #226852] |
Thu, 24 October 2013 12:49 |
Cadillackeeper
Messages: 464
Registered: October 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Woosh,Sounds like a freeze plug.You can just stick a $5 rubber plug in it.that is if you can get to it and get the old one all the way out.If there is no water in the oil or oil in the water.That would be all that is wrong.I always carry one with me.I know with my Caddy there is a handful on both sides of the block under the exhaust manifolds and one behind the starter.there is a few behind the flywheel as well.
77 455 Elaganza II and 67 Animal, Built 500 Powered Eldo
|
|
|
|
| Re: Trip report (Broke down, head gasket... maybe) [message #226877 is a reply to message #226852] |
Thu, 24 October 2013 13:41 |
gbarrow2
Messages: 765
Registered: February 2004
Location: Lake Almanor, Ca./ Red Bl...
Karma: 3
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Mike,
Sorry you're having problems. Do you have the repair trip scheduled. If I am home, I'll be happy to help you out. I have more recent experience on this specific problem than I like to remember.
Worst case cracked head. There is an old Oldsmobile guy here in Red Bluff, Joel Rhienhardt. He has a ton of Olds parts- I will check with him to see if he has a 403 head- just in case. I recently bought 2 455 J heads from him $150 each. I'll get you his number.
You might call DJ Eberhart in Sheridan, Ore. He also has some heads.
Good local machine shop at Red Bluff Auto Electric. Rom, the machinist, can magna flux,inspect and do what ever need to be done to the heads.
Compression testing kits and other specialty tools can be borrowed at Red Bluff O'rielly's. There will be a new Autozone open here in about 2 weeks. You can get most parts same day or overnight at one of the 4 parts houses in town.
With you, Gary B, and me we can make a mini work rally.
Keep us posted.
Gene Barrow
Lake Almanor, Ca.
1976 Palm Beach
|
|
|
|
| Re: Trip report (Broke down, head gasket... maybe) [message #226976 is a reply to message #226852] |
Fri, 25 October 2013 07:44 |
 |
Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Please read what Mike Miller wrote on Thu, 24 October 2013 12:37
Mike,
Please -
Get back there as soon as you can and do the spark plugs out test crank test....
The fact that the lube oil both level and color was good is a hopeful sign. But, you can't count on that until you have completed the diagnostic.
If you do have a coolant to combustion leak getting oil on the bores now can save yo a lot of grief down the road.
Please let us know when you know more.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
Current Time: Sun Oct 06 18:32:10 CDT 2024
Total time taken to generate the page: 0.01393 seconds
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
