OEM thermostat, plastic fitting catastrophe

Mountainman · **Posted:** Thu May 12, 2016 12:29 pm

So you're running an OEM stat with that plastic connector? Well, my latest project did too, and it didn't play out so well. The PO was driving along where he couldn't shut it down right away, (not that he would have necessarily have been able to notice in time anyhow) and the plastic fitting let go. Enough of the water blasted out that the engine temp went through the roof, the head gasket failed dramatically and dumped much of the coolant into the oil. Now for the good parts, the top part of piston #2 was incinerated! It wouldn't bar over, so off with the head, and then it barred over, and pressed out a cinder "cookie" of aluminum. I assumed it was head material, but the head didn't melt, it was all piston. The head got so hot that I had to remove most of the exhaust side lifters with a pair of vise grips, and the glow plugs came out with the threads. Head is beyond warped, one piston is toast, one injector has a little slag on it. It turns over fine now, so I have to decide if with a new sleeve and piston (and all bearings inspected), if I want to chance building this toasty piglet. Or did the heat damage other things? I don't have it out yet to look closely for a cracked block.

What do you guys think about reusing the good rockers, and the rods, pistons etc? Everything got pretty hot. I'm hoping that all that coolant in the oil didn't toast the bearings. It feels pretty smooth though, and the other 3 cylinder walls look fine.

I think he drove it about a minute with the temp gauge pegged, or I think that's what he said. Good thing I've hoarded spare engines...

turblediesel · **Posted:** Thu May 12, 2016 1:02 pm

Plastic fantastic!

Keeps those customers coming back, or walking.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Thu May 12, 2016 5:10 pm

Was it the little plastic elbow that broke?
That thing is hanging out there waiting to be leaned on, bumped on, cracked and broken.
I broke mine. Sealed it back up with a screw and some JB weld. And rerouted my coolant lines to accommodate.

Mountainman · **Posted:** Thu May 12, 2016 5:59 pm

flash7210 wrote:

Was it the little plastic elbow that broke?
That thing is hanging out there waiting to be leaned on, bumped on, cracked and broken.
I broke mine. Sealed it back up with a screw and some JB weld. And rerouted my coolant lines to accommodate.

Yes it was. Yeah, it can get cracked now, and blow out when the pressure is high, like a big hill in the summer when there's no room for losing your coolant. I advise a metal fitting or an upgraded thermostat optimally.

geordi · **Posted:** Thu May 12, 2016 6:07 pm

Ouchie. Well, there isn't anyone I know better equipped to deal with that level of carnage on these. Good luck.

Personally, I don't know that I would chance the rockers, but then again - they don't directly get affected by either the water or the temperature, so other than the lifters being stuck in the warped head, they could be just fine.

If they feel good like regular rockers / lifters that haven't been bathing in lava, it might be worth the shot.

You need a warehouse space!

Mountainman · **Posted:** Thu May 12, 2016 7:27 pm

Yeah, someday I'll hopefully have funds for a real shop :ALONE:

Oh, I didn't bother on the release torque lol. The two center exhaust bolts got so hot that they released with about 20 ft pounds of force! I'm just hoping the block and crank aren't toast. There was a lot of water in there.

OEM thermostat, plastic fitting catastrophe

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