1990 W250 head bolt / white stuff in valve covers? head gasket?
#1
06-26-2013, 10:59 PM
1990 W250 head bolt / white stuff in valve covers? head gasket?
I just bought a truck a few weeks ago from a guy who said he didn't know what was wrong with it, as it ran fine, just leaked oil. It leaks oil on the drivers side of the block between the back 2 cylinders and appears to be under the head?
I was looking for the leak today and noticed one of the valve covers was moving around a lot when I started it, (it starts every time, which had me puzzled) I pulled the valve cover off to find the head bolt was finger tight. I pulled the rest of the valve covers off to check those also and they were all finger tight. I noticed there was some white build up inside of the valve covers and just a little bit on the rocker arms/ springs. There is no sign of this white garbage on the dipstick at all. The oil looks brand new like when I poured it in the truck.
Can I loosen all the bolts and re-torque them to spec without worrying about any problems? I am totally new to the diesel game, figured that a forum is the best place to find info. any information is greatly appreciated. thanks
I was looking for the leak today and noticed one of the valve covers was moving around a lot when I started it, (it starts every time, which had me puzzled) I pulled the valve cover off to find the head bolt was finger tight. I pulled the rest of the valve covers off to check those also and they were all finger tight. I noticed there was some white build up inside of the valve covers and just a little bit on the rocker arms/ springs. There is no sign of this white garbage on the dipstick at all. The oil looks brand new like when I poured it in the truck.
Can I loosen all the bolts and re-torque them to spec without worrying about any problems? I am totally new to the diesel game, figured that a forum is the best place to find info. any information is greatly appreciated. thanks
#2
06-27-2013, 12:56 AM
Diesel Fan
Seeing as how these engines run on compression I'm kinda baffled it would even run at all like that. 
So your saying the head is just sitting on the block with finger tight bolts? I definitely wouldn't just tighten it down. You need to pull that sucker off and take it to a machine shop and have it checked out, a new gasket and set of head bolts is also a safe bet. The white stuff under the valve covers is probably moisture since they were just sitting there or maybe coolant since the head is loose?...wow thats scary 
, did the previous owner talk about having top end work done?
So your saying the head is just sitting on the block with finger tight bolts? I definitely wouldn't just tighten it down. You need to pull that sucker off and take it to a machine shop and have it checked out, a new gasket and set of head bolts is also a safe bet. The white stuff under the valve covers is probably moisture since they were just sitting there or maybe coolant since the head is loose?...wow thats scary , did the previous owner talk about having top end work done?
#3
06-27-2013, 02:30 PM
the only head bolts that were finger tight were inside the valve covers. 2/3 of the bolts were torqued down.
Previous owner said that he just thought it had a head gasket leak cause it was leaking a good amount of oil.
the truck had a good amount of power. Oil looked clean, no water in oil/ oil in water. Radiator is very rusty looking, apparently hasnt been taken car of.
What is a good product to get all that junk out of the radiator and block?
thanks
Previous owner said that he just thought it had a head gasket leak cause it was leaking a good amount of oil.
the truck had a good amount of power. Oil looked clean, no water in oil/ oil in water. Radiator is very rusty looking, apparently hasnt been taken car of.
What is a good product to get all that junk out of the radiator and block?
thanks
