I just replaced my head gaskets. I got the heads back on today and plan to put the intake back on tomorrow and hook averything back up and see how I did. It was a bit of a job, but with the info I got fromj this forum I was able to pick up a few tools I did not have and replaced them.

The diesel is a four cylinder right? Just one head gasket to replace?

 

Prani, Limten Hammerns-Laapst, Ghen 1921

 

Sorry, I meant Ghent

 

I topped up the coolant level last night as it was low. The smoke still persists, but the temperature guage only made it half way up when I drove it this morning, does that tell you anything - that there is a leak in the heas gasket?? The other thing now is that the car is not starting well and idles for a few seconds then cuts out- it managed to get it going by pumping the gas then it was ok, but feels like there is only a day or two left in it..is this related???
Thanks again all (aside from the fool posting nonsense)

 

The best solution is to pick a middle-aged, balding deputy c.o.o. and thrust his head into the engine space. This will not help the coolant issue but it will cheer you up.

 

Yes this sounds exactly like a head gasket, the cyclinders are being flooded with coolant and so the fuel cannot ignite.
Stop driving the truck before you blow it up.
There is more involved in doing a head gasket job on a diesel, you have a overhead cam so you will have a timing belt that will also need to be replaced, and if you have a mechanincal injector pump then that will also need to be timed, unless you are very mechanincal I would not do this myself.
Once you remove parts on a diesel they need to go back in the exact same place/position they came from or it wont run right if at all.

 

Bensun, I have banned this person, sorry about his big mouth, I try to keep them out of here.

 

concerned now- Could it 'blow up'..?? Why does the white smoke vanish once it is running for 1 or 2 minutes?? Once I have driven home from the station tonight I will not be using it for a week or so..if indeed I make it home. thanks.

 

Because your head gasket, or head leaks only when it cools down, leaving a small amount of coolant in one or more cylinders and it will take a minute or two to burn off.

 

If you continually overheat the engine you will shorten its life, and if the leak gets bad enough it will fill your cylinders with coolant which will not compress during the compression stroke and it will hydro lock your engine and when all theat mass is moving at a high rate of speed and then suddenly stops because the engine is full of coolant something has to give and it is almost always a connecting rod.