More Power
12-19-2009, 15:18
Duramax Head Gasket Failure
Symptom Analysis
Diesel engines are hard on head gaskets. No matter how well the gasket may have been designed, replacing the head gaskets can be an issue a longtime diesel owner may need to deal with. The Duramax was designed to produce a compression ratio (CR) of between 18:1 to 16.8:1, depending on model year. Add the high CR (compared to a gas engine) and the high power/torque output of these engines, and you know cylinder pressures are high. What I hope to do here is describe what symptoms appear when a head gasket or an LB7 injector cup begins leaking, which usually results in excessive cooling system pressure or a loss of coolant. Knowing what to look for can save you a lot of money if the problem is caught early, and taking care of the problem before it becomes worse can reduce both downtime and overall expense. Now available to subscribers in the Member's Area (http://www.thedieselpage.com/password.htm).
Duramax Powered Massey Ferguson Tractor (http://www.thedieselpage.com/readers/dmaxmasseyc.htm)
Here is a story about a Duramax 6600 diesel powered Massey Ferguson tractor owned by Lammert ter Heide, here in Holland. This is not the first GM diesel to power this tractor. Before the Duramax, Lambert powered his Massey with a 6.2L turbo diesel. More is better, so installing a Duramax promised to take the power to a new level, and make it very competitive during the popular tractor pulls now sweeping Europe.
Symptom Analysis
Diesel engines are hard on head gaskets. No matter how well the gasket may have been designed, replacing the head gaskets can be an issue a longtime diesel owner may need to deal with. The Duramax was designed to produce a compression ratio (CR) of between 18:1 to 16.8:1, depending on model year. Add the high CR (compared to a gas engine) and the high power/torque output of these engines, and you know cylinder pressures are high. What I hope to do here is describe what symptoms appear when a head gasket or an LB7 injector cup begins leaking, which usually results in excessive cooling system pressure or a loss of coolant. Knowing what to look for can save you a lot of money if the problem is caught early, and taking care of the problem before it becomes worse can reduce both downtime and overall expense. Now available to subscribers in the Member's Area (http://www.thedieselpage.com/password.htm).
Duramax Powered Massey Ferguson Tractor (http://www.thedieselpage.com/readers/dmaxmasseyc.htm)
Here is a story about a Duramax 6600 diesel powered Massey Ferguson tractor owned by Lammert ter Heide, here in Holland. This is not the first GM diesel to power this tractor. Before the Duramax, Lambert powered his Massey with a 6.2L turbo diesel. More is better, so installing a Duramax promised to take the power to a new level, and make it very competitive during the popular tractor pulls now sweeping Europe.