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phatfred54
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/31/2007
18:49:10
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 Subject: Head Gasket?
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Message:
Been chasing a misfire code for a while now and have done a few things. Swapped injectors, plugs-cap and rotor and just recently changed out the valve covers and intake manifold gaskets and cleaned the intake as well.
Still runs rough at idle. Noticed one MAJOR thing though. When I drained the coolant to replace the intake gaskets I noticed “oil was mixed in with the radiator fluid”. I haven’t noticed the 99 Dakota (3.9 with 120K miles) using any excess oil and it has no problem staying cool. Just wanted to get some input as to the odds it of being a (1) blown head gasket or worse a (2) cracked head? I know there isn’t any way to know for sure until you get in there and look, but wanted to hear some other’s experience.
Hope this isn’t the beginning and end for my baby.
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JMDEMT
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/31/2007
21:09:30
|  RE: Head Gasket?
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Message:
Sounds like it could very well be a blown head gasket. Its a good bit of work to do but I'd try that before swapping heads. You'll have to replace the head gaskets anyway if you do swap heads. Check the intake plenum too. But sounds more like a head gasket. Hope it helps.
-JD
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J and J Auto
GenII
1/31/2007
22:52:27
| RE: Head Gasket?
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Message:
Take a compresion test first
coolent can also enter the oil from a intake
manifold leak around the coolent pasage into
the vally
The V6 heads are not as pron to cracking as the
V8 heads its rare on a V6
Intake leaks are common on both
when you pull the heads if you determin thats the
prob have them magnafluxed to check for cracks
use the factory head gaskets they are .030 thick
most aftermarket are .045 .060 also spray them
with high tach
Now I know people will say not to spray them I
always have and in the mopar tech manuals they
also list a sealer to use on head gaskets
high tach in a spray can works best
Larry
J&J Auto
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phatfred54
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/31/2007
23:20:30
| RE: Head Gasket?
IP: Logged
Message:
Thanks guys.
One other point. Basically, after all this fishing around I still keep getting the misfire on number three. I changed out the plenum (it was leaking, bad) and intake gaskets and they were a mess but now that everything is back together I'm right back where I started. This leads me to think the oil/coolant mix isn't coming from the intake.
I'm getting into new territory with the cylinder heads. Say I get it magnafluxed and its cracked, would I be better off having it machined or getting new ones (and if so, what's a good website or shop to call). Price is a factor.
Thanks again.
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