so a few weeks ago, my 3.4 started eating coolant, so im just about ready to put it on the stand. i pulled the valve covers and there was ALOT of the white sludge on the drivers side head, and just a little on the passenger side. the gaskets looked like the sealws properly, could i have cracked a head, they're new heads i put on about 3 weeks ago, the coolant wasnt being burned, it was nice and clear, but the heads were a mess. how can i identify a crack, i cant see any, should i look for anything else, and is there a way to have the heads checked for cracks?

 

It's possible that coolant is leaking into the oil from a head gasket but not likely. Normally a bad head gasket blows compression into the cooling system.

If you suspect a cracked head, it will need to be magnafluxed to find the crack if it isn't obvious.

Most common place to leak coolant into the oil is from the intake gasket. Not sure about the 3.4 but V8's have coolant passages at the front and rear of the head. The intake sits on both to allow the coolant to circulate. If an intake gasket was damaged or didn't seal properly, coolant can leak down into the lifter valley.

Using a coolant pressure tester, you might be able to find a leak. Pull the rocker covers off and pressurize the cooling system. Look to see if any coolant is coming up anywhere under the rockers. Maybe there's a leak around a valve guide or spring pocket. Maybe a head bolt is leaking. If you can look down into the lifter valley, see if any coolant is coming down into there also. Use a mirror if you have to.

 

Just went thru this with a 2.8.....intake gasket. As previously stated, intake gasket breaks around the coolant runner. The coolant runs down the lifter valley and into the oil pan. You have to fix this right away or the bearings are toast! Some advice, learn about proper lifter adjustment because they have to be done before the intake is put on. If you wait too long, the lifters will begin to bleed down and you'll never get them right! Ours was together three times before we got it right. If you over tighten the lifters, you will hit a piston and bend a valve....not good! If I can answer any questions, give me a yell! Also, be careful of the emission tubing...verry brittle!

Lynd

lmccormick@logicalautomation.com