12.7 tough spin when cold

I think you're right, Rideandrepair. I think it's the head gasket. I'd like to be as sure as possible because if I pull the head and change the gasket, and still have the same problem, I'm gonna kick a puppy.

I'm not gonna do anything for a while but run it, keeping an eye on the coolant loss and the gauges. I'm gettin' decent rates and the engine is not showing any signs of self-destructing.

Although, as spsauerland said, there can be coolant in the oil without it showing on the stick, I doubt that there is very much coolant in the oil, and now that I'm using straight water, I'm not worried as much. I'd worry a lot more about antifreeze getting into the oil than straight water.

It only lost about 2/3 of a gallon in 3 days and over 600 miles, most of which were the cussed hills in northwest and central Pennsylvania.

I've had this truck for over 20 years and it now has close to 2,000,000 miles on—never had the head off—never had the oil pan off—still running the original injectors. I've got faith in it. I'd be a fool not to have faith in it. I'm amazed at the dependability and the resiliency of series 60 engines. I'm gonna give mine a good chance to keep earning for me before I pull the cylinder head.

If water loss begins to increase, I'll probably park it under the beam and hoist I built on my multiple trunked black walnut and yank the cylinder head.

My main worry is the oil. If I was visibly getting coolant in the oil I'd go right home, but as long as that's not happening and as long as the coolant loss is relatively little, I gotta run it.

"If it’s building pressure, any weak point will leak." My fear is that the weak point might be between the cooling system and the oil system. Right now, there is more pressure in the oil system than there is in the cooling system. I like it that way. As a matter of fact, when I put my finger in the surge tank to see if I can feel the water, I get sludge on my finger. I think I am getting a little oil into the cooling system. As long as it stays that way and not the other way around, it's livable.

 

I will check it out, although I don't think I have those valves. I have simplified this truck, removing unnecessary parts. I think if I had anything like that I would have removed it (and forgotten about it).

I can't remember the last time I ran this truck with the radiator cap on tight. I haven't crossed the Rocky Mountains in a long while. If the cap ain't on tight when you cross the mountains the coolant will boil off.

 

I just turned 74 years old.

You tryin' to kill me?

Seriously, everything you said is true, I know.

I mainly wanted to know why it's hydro locking and what's the most likely part to be first in line for replacement. Thanks to all the replies, I'm going with head gasket, which is what I have suspected all along, but just wanted to verify the best I could. Thanks to everybody who replied. I learned a lot in addition to my original question. This is a good forum—good place.

I'm old. I'm a loner. "—it is only a matter of time"

Yeah, and maybe not much in my case.

I know this sounds crazy, but even though I know that most of what you said is true, I get a perverse pleasure out of defying the odds and running this old Freightshaker against all odds. In case anybody's wondering, my brakes are good, my tires are good, and my lights work.

In any case, I think I found the answer I was looking for. It's the head gasket. I'm almost certain now. So again, thanks to everybody who replied.

In fact, I don't think I could have prepared for the task any better way than to come here and ask, ask, ask... questions.

If I go through all the work of changing the head gasket and it turns out to be something else, at least I tried. Coming to this forum and asking questions is a lot better than throwing parts at a problem.

Who knows? If it turns out I did a lot of work for nothing, I may not even kick a puppy.

 

I know you're not trying to kill me.

I was just trying to inject a little humor into the situation.

Actually, I'm bringin' it home, but not for the engine problems.

The old super 10 is growlin'. I have another transmission at home. A trans swap is in order, outside, on the dirt, just me myself and I, no electricity, no heat, but it needs to be done, so I'm gonna do it. The super 10 has almost 2 million miles on it. I figure it don't owe me anything. I'm gonna give it a rest. Also, the fan clutch bearings are growling. I don't intend to let my fan charge through the radiator.