Oceanguns
3rd June 2011, 06:29 PM
Hey guys. New to the forum and I must say I love it. Bought an 05 3.0 Patrol about 3 months ago with just over 100k on the clock. Had a few over heating issues early so had it checked my my local mechanic. Turns out the radiator was up to 35% blocked with red dirt. Anyway, had the radiator flushed and serviced and the truck ran like a dream. Nice and cool and even felt a little smoother. Was great for about five weeks then a problem arose.
Wifey went for a short drive and told me she watched the temp gauge rise to about three quarters to full hot as she went up the gears. But as went into fourth it went back to normal operating temp. Took the truck back to my mechanic thinking it might have been a radiator issue. He promptly checked for leaks and found none. He then proceeded to check for exhaust emissions in the radiator with his magic gauge with blue liquid in it. The liquid turned green and with a regretful look he told me he reckons the head is cracked. Knowing the fix for this isn't cheap I was pissed. And of course the head is not covered under my warranty.
I had a few chats with some of my mates who are a mixture of diesel engineers and mechanics and they were all in resounding agreement that they thought it sounded more like the head gasket and not a cracked or warped head. Apart from the exhaust emissions in the radiator the truck is suffering from no other symptoms. It still runs smooth and strong, hasn't gone past the half way mark on temp gauge since check (done about 500 km in about two weeks), not loosing any coolant (took almost nothing two weeks after last mechanical check), isn't blowing white smoke, starts first time very time and idles smoothly, no water from exhaust when cold, oil is clean and not milky. When I raised these points to my mechanic even he felt he may have jumped the gun with his original diagnosis.
I know the only way to truely find is to remove and check the head and gaskets, but considering Im not made of money at the moment and I want to try and plan a decent drive soon I would obviously prefer the cheaper fix (ie just the gasket and not a cracked head). As such I have ordered the appropriate gasket and nuts etc and will soon be put the truck in(when I can afford enough for labour and a few other unforseen issues).
Anybody having a similar issue or even just your ideas, opinions, whether nyou agree with my mates diagnosis or anything you might like to share about any of my issue would be great.
Later Mates.
Wifey went for a short drive and told me she watched the temp gauge rise to about three quarters to full hot as she went up the gears. But as went into fourth it went back to normal operating temp. Took the truck back to my mechanic thinking it might have been a radiator issue. He promptly checked for leaks and found none. He then proceeded to check for exhaust emissions in the radiator with his magic gauge with blue liquid in it. The liquid turned green and with a regretful look he told me he reckons the head is cracked. Knowing the fix for this isn't cheap I was pissed. And of course the head is not covered under my warranty.
I had a few chats with some of my mates who are a mixture of diesel engineers and mechanics and they were all in resounding agreement that they thought it sounded more like the head gasket and not a cracked or warped head. Apart from the exhaust emissions in the radiator the truck is suffering from no other symptoms. It still runs smooth and strong, hasn't gone past the half way mark on temp gauge since check (done about 500 km in about two weeks), not loosing any coolant (took almost nothing two weeks after last mechanical check), isn't blowing white smoke, starts first time very time and idles smoothly, no water from exhaust when cold, oil is clean and not milky. When I raised these points to my mechanic even he felt he may have jumped the gun with his original diagnosis.
I know the only way to truely find is to remove and check the head and gaskets, but considering Im not made of money at the moment and I want to try and plan a decent drive soon I would obviously prefer the cheaper fix (ie just the gasket and not a cracked head). As such I have ordered the appropriate gasket and nuts etc and will soon be put the truck in(when I can afford enough for labour and a few other unforseen issues).
Anybody having a similar issue or even just your ideas, opinions, whether nyou agree with my mates diagnosis or anything you might like to share about any of my issue would be great.
Later Mates.