5.3L cylinder head. Which side should be normal?

[Larryjb]

There has been a coolant leak with this motor. Engine oil analysis report says coolant in motor oil.

This was my first though when I saw your first post. The left side is just too clean. Before going any further with taking things apart, do a coolant pressure test with the valve covers off. This should show where the water is getting in.

If it were a small crack, you would see the cleaned portion just beside the crack. Mine was a very slow leak, and the area cleaned was small, just around the bolt head:

Latest oil change/ oil filters

I just pulled the valve covers to inspect the head. It is not a Castech, BUT it is cracked in the same position that the Castech heads were cracking. Time for new heads. In the oil drainback hole you can see the crack before I pressurized the cooling system. I already cleaned the area for...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

Was there any other unusual wear according to the report? I suspect the coolant leak is/was quite big, and may have caused other internal damage.

 

[wazzabie]

You might have the troubled 706 heads on that suv. To identify those heads look for the stamping shown on the pictures below.

Heads are not the castech 706.

 

[wazzabie]

This was my first though when I saw your first post. The left side is just too clean. Before going any further with taking things apart, do a coolant pressure test with the valve covers off. This should show where the water is getting in.

If it were a small crack, you would see the cleaned portion just beside the crack. Mine was a very slow leak, and the area cleaned was small, just around the bolt head:

Latest oil change/ oil filters

I just pulled the valve covers to inspect the head. It is not a Castech, BUT it is cracked in the same position that the Castech heads were cracking. Time for new heads. In the oil drainback hole you can see the crack before I pressurized the cooling system. I already cleaned the area for...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

Was there any other unusual wear according to the report? I suspect the coolant leak is/was quite big, and may have caused other internal damage.

High levels of lead and copper. So the coolant is eating the lower bearings. This is just in trace amounts. I caught it early. I read the orange coolant does not become milk like shake in engine oil. I'm using high millage synthetic engine oil. The motor oil looks normal when I drain it. I did a coolant pressure check with the valve covers off and did not see any water near the head bolts pool.

 

[wazzabie]

No noise and good oil pressure and no warning lights....should be good. Yes, pcv on left side. Please do not reuse the old v/c seals.

No noise, good oil pressure, no overheating, engine has never over heated on me, I do get low coolant light. The low coolant light is intermittent. The coolant usually stays about 1in below the reservoir line until I add more coolant. I replaced the coolant reservoir thinking it was the low coolant indicator switch but that was not an issue.

 

[OR VietVet]

No noise, good oil pressure, no overheating, engine has never over heated on me, I do get low coolant light. The low coolant light is intermittent. The coolant usually stays about 1in below the reservoir line until I add more coolant. I replaced the coolant reservoir thinking it was the low coolant indicator switch but that was not an issue.

You need to pressure test the cooling system. If you have rear heat, you need to check the heater hose tees at the p/s firewall area and see if damp/wet and also check the weep hole on the water pump. Check the tank seals on the radiator.

 

[solli5pack]

Looks a lot like mine did when I had a bad p/s head gasket.
D/S


P/S

 

[wazzabie]

I wonder if coolant is getting into the head some how and steam cleaning the passenger side.

 

[wazzabie]

Looks a lot like mine did when I had a bad p/s head gasket.
D/S
View attachment 433883

P/S
View attachment 433884

Did you end up replacing the head gasket?

 

[rockola1971]

So far I have heard zero evidence of a blown head gasket. Im more inclined toward a leaking heater hose tee, water pump or radiator leak.

 

[solli5pack]

Did you end up replacing the head gasket?

Yes. I took the opportunity to do a D.O.D. delete.