After having a misfire in cyl 6 and overheating issues I found that cyl 6 had no compression at all. I removed the pass side head and the gasket had a good chunk blown. Should I go forth and replace the head gaskets and get the heads machined or will this happen again? Also notice within the valve cover there was a good amount of coolant and oil mixed but not in the oil in the block.

 

Drain out the oil/coolant, as coolant does not like bearings and such. Do heads (both sides of course), and get machine work done. Kit of parts is about $300 (uses new bolts, a must); machine shop will use the valve seals from the kit and replace them. Some machine shops charge about $200 for this work, shop around. Spec for flatness is .002 inch, your printer paper is about .0038 inch thick. Lots of posts and some with pictures on the HG DIY jobs. As you have found, about 2 weekends of work and machine shop in between. Indy shops get $1700 and up, dealer is $4200 plus, reported by posts.

 

You should be fine. How many miles on that engine, it is awfully clean, like a new block, has someone else been in it recently?

 

I bought the truck for dirt cheap knowing that there was issues. the previous owner stated he did a recent head job. I have found loose bolts and a missing bolt on the intake mani. Also a large amount of gasket sealant all over the intake manifold gasket. My guess is he was just trying to get it sold.

 

Hi,
I have done two head gasket repairs now.
One on a 1997 Discovery I. And recently on a Discovery II I picked up.

Seems the head gaskets just get old and crack.

I have wondered if people are running regular gas in the Discovery II
and then causing pre-detonation and blowing up the head gaskets that way.

Follow Sage advice of Mike and Savanna and you'll be fine.

Once you replace the heads, have the oil changed and enjoy
your new truck.

 

I just had the heads done last month. Do yourself a favour and get a new rad, thermostat and water pump too.I cheeped out and then had to get a new rad last week. did water pump and thermostat at same time.

 

Thanks for the advice.

toofaroffroad, what made you have to change those parts? where they gunked up? I found that there is the oil and coolant mix in the other valve cover. Does that mean it will be in the oil pan as well? How do you clean that out?

 

Yes, you will have to clean out all the oil from the coolant system.
Depending on your mileage, a new radiator can be a good idea, always replace the t/stat and coolant pressure cap.