Burning coolant and bit of oil : Head?

[Orionsbelt]

This thing is eating coolant and a bit of oil. :(

No oil in the engine bay that I can see...non on the ground. But like I mentioned the oil was a bit low after adding some and going for a drive so it must be burning a bit of it.

Coolant on the other hand is blowing out the exhaust...white'ish...has that sweet smell and the rad was damn near empty after a bit of drive. Non on the ground.

At full temp it wasn't blowing white smoke anymore and pretty sure it still had coolant in it... Thought this was odd. Smokes most when it's in between temps or so it seems.

Cracked head? Gasket? Rings? Cost of doing the work for these?

O

[Mr. Flibble]

If you are seeing it out the exhaust; I would guess head.

Stop driving it! I lost an engine (22-re) on my 4Runner to this.

Check your oil - if milky, DO NOT DRIVE IT! Look for water in your oil, and oil in your water.

Head gasket is most likely, but could be something else, like turbo.

[Orionsbelt]

Checked my oil...pretty sure I didn't see any water or it to be more 'fluidy'.

Did see any oil in the rad or anywhere else.

It's mostly burning coolant. Turbo...really? That would do it to the coolant like that?

O

[Mr. Flibble]

Checked my oil...pretty sure I didn't see any water or it to be more 'fluidy'.

Did see any oil in the rad or anywhere else.

It's mostly burning coolant. Turbo...really? That would do it to the coolant like that?

O

Depends if your turbo is water cooled, possible. I would expect the head gasket is much more likely though.

[Big-Bird]

A simple leak down test on the cylinders will tell where the issue lies.

[Orionsbelt]

Ok thanks for everyone's input.

Looks like I'm going to have to spend cash to figure out the problem - !@#$

O

[Rattlenbang]

It could be either head gasket or cracked head. When they first start to go you get burning coolant. When they really go you get coolant in the oil and by-by engine. Either way head needs to be pulled. If the head checks ok, it was the gasket. Most of the time it's the head cracked. FYI If you can't to the work yourself, the gurus charge a whopping amount for either job.

[Orionsbelt]

Thanks for the straight talk... Either way it sounds like this truck is going to be sold as a parts truck. I'd simply rather put the cash towards a different vehicle. Shame...was hoping to get at least another year out of it.

[Orionsbelt]

Ok...just called Graham at Combs. If just the gaskets it would be around 1200 or so tax in. With a new head which he advised take on another thousand.

The truck is done.

[Rattlenbang]

1200 for a head gasket is dirt cheap. Some shops charge $3000 for the pleasure, another 1000 for a head. Are you sure you can't do it yourself? It's a fair bit of work but can be done one a weekend if you're prepared. Pretty cheap if its just the gasket.

[Big-Bird]

It's a shame the engine may be compromised.

A leak down kit should be available at Partsource from their free rental supply. All you need is a compressor and a good ear.....

Do you have any tools or skills to do this yourself? If not I think we might be able pull some resources here in Calgary/Airdrie who might be able to help out with the diagnosis.

Unless the 2000.00$. Price tag is a threshold limit and you really want to bail on the Pajero.

1000.00 for the work from Combs is of no value if you're here in Calgary. The 2.5 is simple enough to work on, its the timing chains you have to be careful with so that they don't slip and knock timing position out-a-whack.

[Orionsbelt]

Hey Big-Bird,

I called Combs so that I could get a handle on what I'd basically be dealing with.

His take was since the labor is roughly the same you might as well replace the head which would save having to do it again if the head was semi compromised. He noted he's had to pull trucks apart for a second time not long after replacing the gaskets because the head cracked shortly thereafter as it was probably on the way out. So replacing the head is just insurance really...and probably money well spent.

I went on eBay UK and can get a head for about 400-450 landed. I imagine I'd get a set of gaskets for cheaper then what Combs quoted me as well. So that brings the parts to roughly 700 maybe 8. I don't have a garage or 'all' the tools to be working on a diesel so I would need 3 resources. Tools (some), expertise with me, and a location. Soo...I'd be potentially open to fixing this thing if I could do this for under 800 and I'd certainly throw a few bucks to who ever could offer a hand.

Orion

FYI - I topped up the coolant and took it for another small drive. It didn't overheat but this time coolant was now in the engine bay and dripping mostly on the driver's side. Not sure if that's the head but based on the above a little irrelevant.

[Rattlenbang]

I bought that UK head, and so far it's been great. But get a good gasket kit because the cheap one from ebay failed on me. $200.00 or so. Plus coolant and oil and filter plus a few special tools. But while you're in there you should also spend the money and time and replace belts, tensioners, and water pump, unless that's been done recently. It all adds up. Hard to do it all under a grand.

[Big-Bird]

It would take a full day to R&R the head so here's what-cha do.

Book time in a place called U-wrench. NE calgary

They rent spaces either by the hour or by the day. There are bays with and without hoists. They charge usage fees by the hour for any special tools you might require and the tool fees are quite low. Basic hand tools are free. They also offer by the hour mech-services if you need a helping hand. If you know in advance what special tools are needed you can check if Partsource has them in their free loan-a-tool selection. Things like pullers and torque wrenches are a must from the 'special tools'.

Do you have friends who have mechanical aptitude? and more importantly have tools and know their way around an engine?

Sounds like a call for help on the Delica forum might be in order here O.B.

[Orionsbelt]

@ Rattle...thanks for the advice on the head. If I did this I'd get the gaskets from Combs. Had it at CVI last summer and the timing belt along with tensionsers were good. And I had given him strict instructions that if he needed to change it to do so. I've rarely seen a mechanic turn down work so I'll assume it's good. Don't know about the water pump...certainly haven't had any issues.

@ Big-Bird...I'm ok with a wrench and instructions. However, it's nice to have someone there to pt me in the right direction or simply knows the little do's and don'ts. And there's always little do's and don'ts with this stuff. My real dilemma right now from a physical perspective is I'm recovering from shoulder surgery (climbing). I'm out of the sling but not really double handed at this junction.

That said thanks for the advice!

I'm buying a Toyota Hilux Surf 3.0 this weekend as I require a vehicle. I think I'll take this as a learning lesson. I've always researched the hell out of vehicles and been adamant about getting their service history...the Paj is the first time I didn't. I suppose everyone is entitled to a brain fart here and there ;)

O