Head Problems

I have a 98 Freightliner with a Detroit 60 series engine. The headgasket blew and when it was all said and done I ended up spending $7600 on new head, head gasket, and all new injectors. I used the truck local for 2 weeks and sent it out to Virginia and back to ND. It has less than 6000 miles on the new head and pulling into the yard it started clattering. Towed back to the Detroit Dealer that worked on it and they told me I needed a step 2 rebuild if not a step 3. They said that #1 cylinder failed and needed to pull it apart to see what happened. They called me and told me the piston blew apart and that I needed to fix it all. I talked with my father in law and my dad and they thought it sounded funny and suggested a dropped valve. I just stopped by and looked after the last phone call they gave me today. Night shift was on I got to look at my truck without anybody around I took pictures of the head and cylinder. The head is missing a valve as was guessed. My question is what of this should or is warranty? The head and all the top was gone through by them and caused this problem. I just want to cover my ###. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

I would say warranty! Thats BS get on them

 

Sure sounds like a warranty situation to me. Hold their feet to the fire. Keep us advised.

 

If that head they installed dropped a valve it will be warranty for damage to that cylinder.

 

Thank you all for your input, I'll let ya know what they have to say tomorrow after I talk to them.

 

i you get no satisfaction from them, then tell them you want to have a independant mechanic assess it and that you will arrange the mechanic yourself. make sure they do no further work on it until you have a agreement with them. if they say that no one else is allowed in their workshop tell them to tow it onto the road and you will have the mechanic assess it there.

 

Theres no reason at all they shouldnt be able to warranty at least the head. Need to find out though what warranty came with it in the first place. Probably wouldnt be a workmanship issue since I doubt they remanned the head inhouse. Might be hard to get them to cover the progressive damage too though (ie. Liner, piston, Inj., etc.)
Unless you MAKE them do it.
Its coverable and they will get there money back too..

It sucks that it happened but it DOES happen and this is where YOU got to be on the ball with your facts and warranty info cause they aint got your best interest in mind. To them, its just another Series 60 out of millions of Series 60's.

 

From what I understand dropped valves usually take out the piston...and to me it wouldn't matter if it was a used piston the valve caused the problem from their reman head...they should cover the damages...if they don't want to work with you go straight to Detroit and explain the work that was done and how many miles are on it...

 

Depends on where the valve stem broke off if it did or if the valve was just bent. If the valve dropped and it is separated(where the valve is fiction welded together) then most likely the overhead had been run loose.If the valve is bent then keepers,broken valve spring or engine has been overspeed at some time.

 

As long as it was replaced with oem detroit parts they should cover progressive damages.