Head gasket replacement instructions

Tiny
SILVERADODRIVER67
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 5.3L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 198,000 MILES
Drove truck home from work (1 1/2 hour drive). Everything normal, no problems, no doors, no alarms, nothing wrong. Next morning, when checking fluids before leaving for work again, found reservoir starting to change state into a " light/slushy type form. Drove other car to work. Came home checked engine oil condition, no change in color, odor, or viscosity, checked transmission fluid same results, checked actual fluid in radiator, no change, no harm was done.

Drained all existing coolant from radiator, after cleaning out overflow with room temperature water, also, flushed all hoses in and out of coolant system. After allowing all to completely empty itself, I refilled with new dexcool coolant, only bumping engine at first to move fluid level so able to top off system. Then at idle only, while watching and listening to engine, allowed to idle with cab heat on until change in cab temperature from cold to just passed warm present. Then shut off engine, had to lay down before leaving for work again. Haven't actually driven this vehicle yet, still investigating what/why/how this occurred.

Respectfully request your input if possible. Thanks.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 1:42 AM

22 Replies

Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
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Hello, I'm Danny.

Do have any leaks in the cooling system? Has the coolant level stayed the same or are you having to add coolant? The reason I ask this is the reason when Dexcool brand coolant can cause problems is when air is introduced to it. Air causes Dexcool to thicken, clog, discolor and wreak havoc on the cooling system.

This guide can help us see if the head gasket is blown

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

You might want to first check the coolant overflow bottle to see if the cap is providing a tight seal without cracks or damage allowing air to be introduced to it. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 3:28 AM
Tiny
SILVERADODRIVER67
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Will fully investigate when off work this weekend, vehicle not going to be driven until I check all areas. Thanks for all your all's support, wish you all safe weekend.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 4:07 PM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
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Hello again.

I'm attaching repair instructions for replacing the head gaskets if needed. To get started you will need to remove the intake manifold. Here is a tutorial showing what is involved:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-intake-manifold-gasket

I've attached picture steps below for removal and replacement of the intake manifold for your truck. Hope this helps and thanks again for using 2CarPros.

Danny-
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 6:33 PM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
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Hello again.

This is a continuation from last post. Here are the picture steps below for the head gasket replacement for your truck. Hope this helps and thanks again for using 2CarPros.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 6:38 PM
Tiny
FIREDAD313
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 4.8L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 143,000 MILES
Replacing the head gaskets on my truck. I have found torque specs for the 5.3, but cannot seem to find any for the 4.8. Are they the same and if not what are they? I am needing:

head bolts
intake manifold
rocker install sequence
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 AT 10:03 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
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4.8 is same as a 5.3L. Here are diagrams below to show you the torque specs for the head, intake and rocker arms with a video to show you how to use a torque wrench correctly.

https://youtu.be/juOClONIWeY

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed. Cheers
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 AT 10:03 AM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
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  • 4,544 POSTS
  • 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 212,000 MILES
I just replaced head gaskets and now at idle it makes a loud chirping noise. I thought it was the bellt so I took it off and it still does it. It sounds like it coming from passenger side valve cover. Any help would be appreciated
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 AT 10:05 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Oil may not have come up the push rod to lube the rocker

how long has it run?

Did you change the oil?

Roy
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 AT 10:05 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RIVERHOOTYBLUE
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I had it idleing for about an hour then I took it for a test drive and it died. I thought I had a bad battery so I replaced the battery then when I started it up is when it started making the noise yea I changed oil.
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 AT 10:05 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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What is the oil pressure? I am thinking maybe a lifter is bad not sending oil to a rocker arm

roy
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 AT 10:05 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RIVERHOOTYBLUE
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The oilpressure is reading 40lbs.
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 AT 10:05 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RIVERHOOTYBLUE
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I believe you are right on thank you for your time
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 AT 10:05 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KAREN LYON
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1995 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 4,138 MILES
We put a rebuilt engine purchased from a national company into our chev pickup truck. In under 1 year and 4138 miles the head gasket failed and caused serious damage to the engine. What could have caused this. I didn't overheat until the gasket failed and not knowing the problem, I kept the truck running to get it 10 miles home. The concern is; did the headgasket fail for some reason other than overheating as it overheated after failure of the head gasket. I'm confused.
Thank you for any help you can offer.
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 AT 10:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
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Hi there,

There are a few reasons why the gasket could fail, normally it's due to a chronic over heating problem, other reasons are incorrect head bolt tensions and re used torque to yield head bolts, another cause can be the failure of a previous head crack repair. The head will have to be removed and inspected to try to determine the cause.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 AT 10:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TJ YOUNG MUSIC
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  • 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
Engine Performance problem
1994 Chevy Silverado 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic

Need info on torque for head bolts and do I need to warm the engine before torque?
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 AT 10:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DR LOOT
  • MECHANIC
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Well if you have removed the head I don't think you can start it until you properly torque the heads, so your second question is out of the question. The head torque is in sequence, step one is 25 foot pounds, step two was 44 foot-pounds, and a final torque is 66 foot- pounds
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 AT 10:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CHEVY07
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
  • 1993 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 199,932 MILES
I was just looking in my engine and came opon a problem. I discovered that I have two blown head gaskets. I wanted to know what could have been the cause for that to happen to them. Could it be because it was low on oil or no? What could have happened and how could I avoid this problem in the near future?
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 AT 10:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
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Overheating is the typical problem sources with them. Low oil will create other lower end problems but can't say I can attribute one due to oil loss.

When you replace them make sure the heads are checked for cracks and surfaced flat. Replace the headbolts and be sure to tighten them exactly as the manual states.
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 AT 10:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DEANFIELDS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1990 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
Engine Mechanical problem
1990 Chevy Silverado 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Manual

after I remove the head what to look for to determine if the head gasket is blown?
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 AT 10:23 AM (Merged)
Tiny
IMPALASS
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,112 POSTS
Hello -

Before removing the head, there is a chemical test to determine if there is exhaust gases in the coolant. You should be able to see where the gasket failed. If you are removing the head you will need to use new head gaskets. Check the heads and block for any cracks.
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 AT 10:23 AM (Merged)

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