just replaced intake gaskets

[mbuster]

experienced the overheating problem and could not locate a leak. garages wanted too much cash to do the job so myself and a buddy took on the task. originally we thought we were after the heads but when the intake was off we saw where the lower gasket was leaking out to the world and we stopped there. cleaned everything, installed new gaskets and put it all back together. bled the system with the bleeder at the t-housing loose and all air seemed to be out. ran it to move any other bubbles around and bled out more air. repeated this many times over to be sure there wasn't any more. running it down the road and the temp held right where it belonged. 2 days later wife comes home and the van is hot again. open the bleeder and air gushes out. go throuh another cycle of bleeding the system.


still overheating................where could it be coming from?


HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mike O

[MT-2500]

Lot more info needed.
What kind of test did the garage run on it to start with or what were they going to do in the first place that was to much money?
But I would have it checked for head gasket leakage.
Either a cylinder pressure test or a chemical block test.
A lot of repair shops can run a quick test for exhust in the coolant system with the chemical block tester.
MT

[cdru]

3 second diagnosis would be either an improperly bled system or head gasket leak. Several thermal cycles should be sufficient to remove trapped air in the system. Any more then that and you have air entering the system somewhere.

[mbuster]

today we pressure checked the cylinders and we have found the culprit. looks like the heads are coming off.

[MT-2500]

Thanks for posting back and letting us know how it went. Bad news but you know what it is and to do anyway.
Good luck with the head job. And be sure to get the heads to machine shop and get them checked out.
MT