What are the head gaskets on a Duramax?
What are the head gaskets on a Duramax?
The Duramax diesel engines came with three different grade thickness head gaskets. They are labeled A, B, or C. It is tough for most people to tell what gaskets they have before tearing the engine down. Some engines have a B on one side and an A on the other.
What kind of problems does a Duramax engine have?
The 5 Most Common LB7 Duramax Engine Problems 1 Fuel Injector Failure 2 Water Pump Failure 3 Fuel Filter Housing O-ring Leaks 4 Blown Head Gasket 5 Overheating (fan clutch problems, radiator gunk)
Can a diesel engine have a blown head gasket?
We go over the signs of blown head gasket and what the cost of repair that you might incur if the problem is left alone. This is a huge problem in Ford 6.0L Powerstroke engines, but could easily happen to any diesel.
What causes a head gasket to fail on a LB7?
Head gaskets are common failure points on the LB7 for a variety of reasons. As we’ll get into with the next problem, these engines are known to occasionally overheat while towing. The excess heat is thought to cause this problem some of the time. Additionally, higher horsepower LB7’s are more prone to this issue as well.
Why are my head gaskets on my Duramax truck failing?
One of the common issues we see with the Duramax engines is head gasket failures. The gaskets in all years of 6.6 Duramax pickups are a multi-layer steel style gasket. Over time as the head/block surfaces warp and the strength of the head bolts weaken, the head can lift causing combustion pressure to go directly into the coolant system.
The 5 Most Common LB7 Duramax Engine Problems 1 Fuel Injector Failure 2 Water Pump Failure 3 Fuel Filter Housing O-ring Leaks 4 Blown Head Gasket 5 Overheating (fan clutch problems, radiator gunk)
Head gaskets are common failure points on the LB7 for a variety of reasons. As we’ll get into with the next problem, these engines are known to occasionally overheat while towing. The excess heat is thought to cause this problem some of the time. Additionally, higher horsepower LB7’s are more prone to this issue as well.
What causes a LLY Duramax fan to overheat?
Despite these issues, a majority of LLY Duramax overheating is actually caused by other common LLY Duramax problems. Blown head gaskets, water pump failure, fan clutch failure, and even a dirty or clogged radiator can be the root cause of your overheating issues.
Can a warped head gasket cause a leak?
If you install a new head gasket on a warped head there is a very good chance it will leak immediately. There is often a common concern that the compression ratio will change. It will not. The bottom of the head is flat with no combustion chamber. Surfacing the head area does not change the cylinder head to piston volume at all.
Why do I need to replace my head gasket?
This is a common failure on higher horsepower engines that create cylinder pressure that overcomes the clamping load of the stock head bolts allowing the head to lift. Almost anytime you have a head lift even just once, you have compromised the integrity of the gasket and you will need to replace it.
What happens when you replace a water pump in a GMC Truck?
The old water pump gets tossed and the new water pump gets prepped for installation with fresh gaskets. Now everything goes back on in the reverse order that it came off. Once everything is back together it is time to top off the coolant tank and bring the engine up to running temp before topped off again.
What kind of water pump does General Motors use?
Stay with the parts brand your General Motors vehicle came with and get the quality you know and trust with ACDelco GM Original Equipment Water Pumps. Built to meet the latest demands, ACDelco’s Water Pump line includes water pumps, kits, gaskets, seals, and O-rings.
How to know if the head gasket or water pump leaks?
The antifreeze level should be approximately one inch from the top of the radiator. Add antifreeze if the level is low, then install the radiator cap. Drive the vehicle until the engine is at normal operating temperature, then park the vehicle and allow the engine to cool.
What should I do to my Duramax water pump?
Once you get the fan and cage out of the way its no different then the older duramax’s. Going by the book GM says to pull the starter and install the flywheel holding tool for breaking the balancer bolt loose and tightening it. This is where a lot of the excess time comes in.
