Hello All .... Recently purchased a 1979 IH 280A Tractor Loader Backhoe, with a few problems. I've had two bucket cylinders repacked, two hoses for the steering cylinder replaced, and now apparently the head gasket on the D-358 engine has failed. Have made arrangements for the repair, but my question is this; typically what causes head gasket failure? Granted, none of the gages work, including the hour meter that stopped at ~3700. The coolant level was up, and the engine wasn't being worked extremely hard when I noticed the pouring out of a milky white substance. My mechanic buddy pressure tested the cooling system and discovered the failure. Not that I'm second guessing his capabilities (I've been told by others he's a "gifted" mechanic ), but what other components should be looked at closely while the head is off? Thanks for your input. :usa JV
Radiator- inside and outside- make sure the fins are not plugged with dirt- make sure the core flows a good amount of coolant-- head gasket failures are quite often heat related- look for any reason it may have overheated- also was it given cool down period or just shut off hot.- before replacing head gasket check for proper liner stick out and head /block warp
There was a pile of leaves stuck behind the grille, jammed in up against the radiator, but that was cleaned out the day I bought it. I try to run it at idle for about 5 minutes prior to shutdown ... often it may only be 3 minutes. Too short a time for proper cool-down? If money was no object (when isn't it?), suppose I should have the valves reseated and new seals put in, right? Thanks guys ... JV
I have to agree with OneWelder. He has mentioned liner protrusion too, very important. Do take your cylinder head in for a valve job, they will check for cracks and warpage. Always replace the thermostat with the correct style and if you want to be thorough, check the water pump for a loose impeller, as a lot of replacement pumps are now out there. A quickie check of the rad core can be made by pouring a pail of water in the top and it should come out the bottom just as fast. Check for air-lock after filling with coolant, and if the head bolts or studs fell stretchy when torquing, replace them. Phil
Getting hit hard with starting fluid will push a head gasket. Where is the milky stuff coming from?
That could be part of the cause IH ... the factory starting fluid system is out of order, but a previous owner installed a manual system - a small plastic tube running from the cab to a port on the intake ... with no way of controlling the quantity of ether! The D-358 does start hard in cold, or cool weather ... wouldn't fire the other day without ether at about 40°f! Apparently the milky substance was hydraulic fluid mixed with rainwater on the ground .. along with the blown head gasket, the machine has developed another significant hydraulic leak possibly at the cooler in front of the radiator. And yes, the head will be sent out and checked for cracks and trueness. Thanks for the advise guys :usa JV
need more info. sounds like you are saying milky white substance was pouring out-of radiator? what about in the oil pan? was it skipping? what about the exhaust? did you do a compression test?
Like mentioned we need some more info. Please answer the above questions, mainly the question about the oil pan.Thanks
I didn't see the fluid pouring out ... it was on the ground. Mix hydraulic fluid with water by running it over several times, it turns into a milky color substance. The work hasn't started yet so the oil hasn't been drained ... no, it wasn't skipping ... exhaust appeared normal ... no compression check.
what makes you think you need to tear into engine? so far , you haven't told us of anything that warrant that decision. oil and water mixing on ground could be from two different machines? maybe you only have a water leak and a hydraulic leak to fix.
I think you are jumping the gun. I have not read anything you have wrote that warrants a head gasket replacement. From my experience a head gasket failure would give you one of these symtoms. Excessive pressure in the radiator, engine locked up and will not turn over due to cylinder full of coolant, coolant in the oil pan causing white milky oil, you could see white smoke or steam from the exhaust. These are a couple but your coolant level was full and your engine oil looks good.
From my first post guys ... No cooling system hose leaks, and radiator cap is tight. I wasn't there for the test he did, but he told me to take a look at the right side of the engine, about two cylinders back from the front, right at the head gasket ... it's obvious coolant has been pissing out for some time. Sounds and looks like a head gasket failure to me I have no reason not to believe my mechanic. Granted, there are other problems with this machine, and we'll get to them as we can. :usa JV
580 c just posting my first couple posts as a new member.
580 c just making my first couple posts
pressure test should have pushed water out the supposed leak.should not have held pressure. could only be what is called a cold water leak, leading eventually to a head gasket leak. retorqing head bolts could save a year or two. My 12.1 detroit with 1.6 million miles ran for 4 years with just such a leak. Good luck.
Well, I heard from my mechanic yesterday and he had this to say ... Head gasket had failed, a slight failure, but would have gotten worse eventually. Exhaust manifold is cracked, had been repaired at one time, but cracked again ... looking for a replacement. Injector on cylinder #6 is cracked, will replace. Head looks excellent, will have it checked out for trueness. Cylinder walls look excellent as well. Transmission cooler has a major leak (no ****!) and will have that repaired. He also told me the engine was made in Germany! Geeze ... I thought IHC were 100% American made :beatsme :usa JV
Try this http://www.redpowermagazine.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=41066&st=0 and this http://www.ihace.de/
Thanks IH 3500A for the links ... that first one was a good read! And from the German IH site, it would appear the D-358 engine had a good run ... 21 years ending in '92 and 128,000+ units built. Hopefully should be able to find an exhaust manifold without too much difficulty. JV
update The head was slightly warped ... apparently there must have been a minor (or major!) coolant leak that someone attempted to repair with that "stop leak" stuff ... and plugged up a bunch of the passages . So the head was milled, valves lapped, and seals were replaced. Radiator had several leaks, in both the coolant and transmission sides ... that has been repaired. Still need to have the exhaust manifold brazed which will be done in the next couple of days. The head gasket kit is in .... just need to get everything back together! Real anxious to get her back to work! Thanks for listenin' to my tale of woe :usa JV
just posting first posts as new member. sorry form cluttering the thread.
posting again as new member. apologies again.
last time. sorry