Blown head gasket

[theaddman]

Hi All, I am a newbie. I blew my head gasket kj 3.7L ( US passanger side - I am in South Africa so everything is according to you on the wrong side). This is leaking coolant out and down the side of the head and block... luckily it just seemes to have burst on the outer side and not in to the cylinders, but soon we will see.

Is replacing the head gasket someting a DIYer could do... I will obviously take the head/s to an engineering works to be pressure tested and skimmed.

I would love to know if it is possible to remove the heads and without the 8429 tool.

Could somebody give me a walk through on what will save time and effort - I do not want any remarks like to save time and effort drop your jeep at your local mechanic/stealership... that would not assist me at this point!

I am planning to take them off this comming weekend, buy the spares and drop them off to be skimmed and tested and reinstall the following weekend.

How hard is the job... I have the jeep manual in pdf form... but it says I need tool but some input from some members who have done this would be helpful.

Thanks

Bob

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

Is that tool to help hold the timing chain in place while installing the cam sprocket?

If so, the answer is No, you don't need it. When I replaced my engine I was able to keep everything in place without special tools so you should be fine. If that's not what the special tool is for let us know so we can help.

And just cuz I have to ask... Are you sure it's the head gasket? Are you getting coolant in the oil? Did the Jeep overheat and cause the coolant leak? If it is the gasket and you're removing the head be sure to mention to the machinist that he should pay special attention to the #2 cylinder valve seats. When this engine overheats that's one of the first things to go. Unfortunately dropped valve seats in the cylinder don't play nice with the piston... :emotions34:

Gives us more background on what happened.

Bob

 

[theaddman]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the reply. Yep the tool is for holding the timing chain.. I am, glad you say it is not necessary.

OK bought Jeep Liberty 3.7Litre 7 years ago (a d*mb *ss driver had flipped her so I picked her up cheap)... I had a shop fixed the bodywork at 8k miles on the clock. She has been a joy ever since... only problem being consumption, but I guess with the gear ratios... we have to live with that!

After restoring her (and quite out of the blue) I was told that the car was driven around without a radiator prior to being restored... But this did not seem to affect her, I have taken her on long runs up to 400 miles each way and up to now no serious problems.

Did approximately 47k miles since repairs and was not getting hot air in to the cabin... so I flushed the heater core... after that a little drip...

Could not see where water was going, but a smell came from the engine bay. My wife drove the car and it overheated... not a very far drive but long enough for the reservoir to be empty... then I recently started noticing water started dripping out fast.

I noticed large amounts of water on the floor and after checking all hoses I eventually checked the water pump... nothing and went underneath (Liberty on ramps) and I saw a rust stain running down outside by cylinder 4 (middle cylinder -US drivers side). As the only place the water could be coming from is between the heads and the block I am pretty sure the gasket has blown. I have checked oil, although no antifreeze in the water (as antifreeze ran out and I was filling her up with the garden hose) oil is clean and brand new like... I can not see water on dip stick and when I fill up water and run her, no oil in water.

Actually she is still going quite nicely, but I am sure I am going to do some real damage if I do not pull head and replace gasket.

I have been around, when the gasket was done on a little 4 cylinder run-around last year... so I have seen this being done... I have not actually done this before myself, but I would rather buy a whole stack of tools and do this over a weekend that pay for labor and not be sure it has been done right!

Do you think its the gasket? Would a novice be able to do this? If so what hints and tricks could you pass on to me?

Thanks

Bob

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

Thanks for the details.

It does sound like a head gasket - just interesting as usually these engines get hydrolocked due to coolant draining into the cylinders. But if you can see the coolant/water running out while filling with a hose then...

Just for clarity, when sitting in the Jeep looking to the front the cylinders on the left are numbered 1, 3, 5 while the cylinders on the right (your driver's side in South Africa) are numbered 2, 4, 6. So the leak you're describing is under the #3 cylinder.

When I replaced my engine recently I had to swap my exhaust manifolds onto the new block. One of the points made in the FSM when installing the manifolds was to be sure to use the correct manifold bolts and use a sealer to ensure there are no water leaks. Here's the text right out of the service manual for the left exhaust manifold:

LEFT EXHAUST MANIFOLD
CAUTION: If the studs came out with the nuts when removing the engine exhaust manifold, install new studs. Apply sealer on the coarse thread ends. Water leaks may develop at the studs if this precaution is not taken.

Check the bolts/studs for the exhaust manifold as you may be able to avoid pulling the head and save yourself a load of time and effort. If not the exhaust manifold bolts might it be a freeze plug...? For the water to run out that freely it makes it seem to be more than a gasket.

Let us know what you find!

Bob

 

[theaddman]

Hi Bob,

When sitting in car middle cylinder on right bank, so cylinder 4.