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  #1  
Old 08-21-2007, 12:00 PM
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Head Gasket or Cylinder Head?

Greetings,
Last night my thermostat in my 1987 300TDT climbed into the stratosphere. I had no coolant left. I filled it up, started it, and the coolant tank becomes pressurized instantly. The oil is black. I don't see any steam out the tail pipe. The temp varied between 95 - 105 getting home. The heat would come and go. I just hit 300K.

Head gasket or Cracked Head?

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  #2  
Old 08-21-2007, 12:07 PM
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Sorry to hear about that.
Is there oil in the coolant tank? that would show it most likely a gasket or warped heads, these heads warp easily if overheated.
It clearly needs to be torn down and send the head for pressure check and flatness check, if there are no visible signs of a crack.
I started to say it might be a stuck thermostat but with the loss of coolant you are now at a point its not drivable for very far and a replacement head may be in order. BTDT, my last '87 300D was a $450 mechanic special (Lien sale) because the head cracked at 260K. I purchased a used head and had it resurfaced and new guides, etc. Replaced the rings too, I suggest you consider that at 300K there's going to be some wear on the rings. May as well have the bore checked too as long as the head is off the engine. Does this sound like a money pit in the makings?
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Last edited by dieseldiehard; 08-21-2007 at 12:13 PM.
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  #3  
Old 08-21-2007, 12:18 PM
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I'm thinking of just putting up for sale. Hopefully I'll get the title from the state next month.

To be listed soon!!
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  #4  
Old 08-21-2007, 12:36 PM
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well, probably better to sell it before it is dissected and open to the elements. iF you want a really good running diesel, fix it up and it will run another 300K. You can find interior parts all over the place from gassers that get crashed.
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Old 08-21-2007, 12:45 PM
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shall we start the bidding for the car now?
post some pics
opening bid 240.00
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Old 08-21-2007, 01:14 PM
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You won't know until the heads off whats wrong.

Hows the rest of the car? Hate to say it but at 300k miles with a possible cracked head it sounds like a good parts car.
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Old 08-21-2007, 02:35 PM
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Aw just listen to the vultures already circling!
Hey, at the right price and a lot of TLC you can make an old car with a cracked head a good runner again. The '87 300D I bought for $450 is a daily driver now, it was owned by a CPA who lived up in Hillsborough, no kids so the interior wasn't trashed. If it was a trashed out car I would have walked away from it. It does need some paint, but it runs better than Greasybenz's '87
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  #8  
Old 08-21-2007, 03:58 PM
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Pictures uploaded.

For 500 I would fix it.

If I can get at least a "G note" I'll let it go.
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  #9  
Old 08-21-2007, 06:44 PM
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Your car would be a good guinea pig for one of the head gasket repair products. I would try that first before junking the car for $500. Or you can replace the head or head gasket. It could be either one or both. Instant pressure in the cooling system or major residual pressure is certainly a sign of trouble.
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  #10  
Old 08-21-2007, 08:02 PM
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If there's no rust, I"m interested. How's the suspension??
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  #11  
Old 08-21-2007, 09:47 PM
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Replace the head -- also check for a coolant leak unrelated to the head. Once it got hot, the head went, but likely the initial coolant loss was unrelated.

Should have turned the low coolant light on first, though.

Peter
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  #12  
Old 08-22-2007, 06:08 PM
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DO you feel air coming out of the radiator cap?
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  #13  
Old 11-13-2007, 05:52 PM
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Listed in the For Sale Section

500 firm. Tow it away. Located in East Hampton, CT. Have title. Listed on hartford.craigslist with photos.

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