2001 GMC Sonoma head gasket question

Bobby DiDomenico · 12-23-2010, 11:27 AM

A friend has one of these and was adding coolant, took it to local garage and they said intake is leaking coolant. They also said they checked it and it has a blown head gasket but need $1,500 to pull the engine and check for cracked block or head. V6 auto 4wd

It is not nearby so I can't get to it and have no experiance with these. Any ideas?

Is it possible to blow a head gasket on a 100,000 mile engine? I've always found they are like welded on.

Thanks

Alan Roehrich · 12-23-2010, 11:51 AM

It is possible to blow a head gasket on anything at any mileage.

There is absolutely no need to pull the engine. The head can be checked for cracks if/when it is removed.

Most likely, it has bad intake gaskets, that's a common problem. That will most often be the source of coolant in the crankcase on those engines. They will also leak to the outside.

A pressure test will determine if there is a head gasket leak or a cracked cylinder head or block. The location of the leak should be verified by the pressure test (what cylinder gets coolant in it?) and they'll know where the leak is. the head would then be removed, the gasket , head, and block would be inspected at that time.

Rob Petrie E395 · 12-23-2010, 09:24 PM

Call the dealer. There is a class action lawsuit that was settled over Dexcool. The are covering intakes and heater cores on many years and engines. I have a 2001 S-10 shop truck and they covered the heater core with over hundred and fifty on the odometer. I am not in the shop right now so I dont have the list of years and engines that it covers but it covers car and truck engines over several years. I would guess that if the intake was leaking that is what caused the head gasket problem due to overheating. I dont know what they will say about the head gasket but its not real hard to get them to cover a intake gasket problem around here. Give them a call you might get lucky and get both covered.

BillK · 12-23-2010, 10:40 PM

Bobby,

Any decent shop should have a tester for combustion gas in the radiator. This would verify the head gasket leak. Those engines have a lot of intake gasket problems, just like the 5.7 Vortec engines. I would suggest that he take it to another shop for a second opinion. The shops that are sponsors on this forum www.iatn.net seem to be a higher caliber than most.

There is rarely a problem with the block. If they verify a head gasket leak, the heads can come off and get sent ot the machine shop to check for cracks and get resurfaced if needed.

RonM · 12-23-2010, 10:56 PM

Bobby, check your pm for some info on this issue. Ron Muffett 145 I/SA.

Tim H · 12-23-2010, 11:07 PM

Interesting topic, Dexcool is still factory fill in many today ... Also thought the lawsuit stated that repairs had to have been completed in 2008 or earlier ?

SCOTT SST2871 · 12-24-2010, 09:48 AM

I work at a buick/gmc dealer ive been here 18 years and i also own a 4.3 s truck..the intake gaskets are almost always the problem make sure they use a metal gasket rather than a plastic one like the original the gm pn is 89017866
merry christmas
scott fifield

Bob Mulry · 12-24-2010, 10:40 AM

I worked at a Cadillac / Pontiac dealership, which had the fine HT4100 engine in the Cadillac and the 2.8 litre V-6 in the Pontiacs they both usually flattened the cam when the intake leaked internally and coolant got in the oil.

Make sure that you check the camshaft & lifters for damage so that you only have to fix this problem once...

Bob

12-23-2010, 11:27 AM	#1
Bobby DiDomenico Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 924 Likes: 103 Liked 101 Times in 52 Posts	2001 GMC Sonoma head gasket question A friend has one of these and was adding coolant, took it to local garage and they said intake is leaking coolant. They also said they checked it and it has a blown head gasket but need $1,500 to pull the engine and check for cracked block or head. V6 auto 4wd It is not nearby so I can't get to it and have no experiance with these. Any ideas? Is it possible to blow a head gasket on a 100,000 mile engine? I've always found they are like welded on. Thanks

12-23-2010, 11:51 AM	#2
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,115 Likes: 1,572 Liked 1,828 Times in 414 Posts	Re: 2001 GMC Sonoma head gasket question It is possible to blow a head gasket on anything at any mileage. There is absolutely no need to pull the engine. The head can be checked for cracks if/when it is removed. Most likely, it has bad intake gaskets, that's a common problem. That will most often be the source of coolant in the crankcase on those engines. They will also leak to the outside. A pressure test will determine if there is a head gasket leak or a cracked cylinder head or block. The location of the leak should be verified by the pressure test (what cylinder gets coolant in it?) and they'll know where the leak is. the head would then be removed, the gasket , head, and block would be inspected at that time. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

12-23-2010, 09:24 PM	#3
Rob Petrie E395 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Woodlawn IL Posts: 1,092 Likes: 162 Liked 216 Times in 77 Posts	Re: 2001 GMC Sonoma head gasket question Call the dealer. There is a class action lawsuit that was settled over Dexcool. The are covering intakes and heater cores on many years and engines. I have a 2001 S-10 shop truck and they covered the heater core with over hundred and fifty on the odometer. I am not in the shop right now so I dont have the list of years and engines that it covers but it covers car and truck engines over several years. I would guess that if the intake was leaking that is what caused the head gasket problem due to overheating. I dont know what they will say about the head gasket but its not real hard to get them to cover a intake gasket problem around here. Give them a call you might get lucky and get both covered.

12-23-2010, 10:40 PM	#4
BillK Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Waldorf Md Posts: 230 Likes: 12 Liked 30 Times in 17 Posts	Re: 2001 GMC Sonoma head gasket question Bobby, Any decent shop should have a tester for combustion gas in the radiator. This would verify the head gasket leak. Those engines have a lot of intake gasket problems, just like the 5.7 Vortec engines. I would suggest that he take it to another shop for a second opinion. The shops that are sponsors on this forum www.iatn.net seem to be a higher caliber than most. There is rarely a problem with the block. If they verify a head gasket leak, the heads can come off and get sent ot the machine shop to check for cracks and get resurfaced if needed. __________________ Bill Koustenis

12-23-2010, 10:56 PM	#5
RonM Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 16 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 2001 GMC Sonoma head gasket question Bobby, check your pm for some info on this issue. Ron Muffett 145 I/SA.

12-23-2010, 11:07 PM	#6
Tim H VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,042 Likes: 1,073 Liked 482 Times in 159 Posts	Re: 2001 GMC Sonoma head gasket question Interesting topic, Dexcool is still factory fill in many today ... Also thought the lawsuit stated that repairs had to have been completed in 2008 or earlier ?

12-24-2010, 09:48 AM	#7
SCOTT SST2871 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PORT ST JOHN FLORIDA Posts: 226 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 2001 GMC Sonoma head gasket question I work at a buick/gmc dealer ive been here 18 years and i also own a 4.3 s truck..the intake gaskets are almost always the problem make sure they use a metal gasket rather than a plastic one like the original the gm pn is 89017866 merry christmas scott fifield

12-24-2010, 10:40 AM	#8
Bob Mulry VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Coarsegold, CA Posts: 1,016 Likes: 57 Liked 320 Times in 102 Posts	Re: 2001 GMC Sonoma head gasket question I worked at a Cadillac / Pontiac dealership, which had the fine HT4100 engine in the Cadillac and the 2.8 litre V-6 in the Pontiacs they both usually flattened the cam when the intake leaked internally and coolant got in the oil. Make sure that you check the camshaft & lifters for damage so that you only have to fix this problem once... Bob __________________ Bob Mulry 7516 STK A & M Motorsports