bubbles in the rad

[rdrash]

Hey guys Im new here, but I sure like what I see. I've got a lot of ideas from reading this forum that I will try when I get back in town from work. But the reason Im writing this is I have an old Cockshutt diesel that blows bubbles in the rad. Now I overheated it last winter and this summer I noticed it. There is no oil in the antifreeze and no antifreeze in the oil. Im thinking the bubbles are coming from 1 cracked head, 2 blown head gasket or 3 cavitation on the water pump. I dont want to pull the head if I dont have to as the gaskets are $300. Will a compression tester screw into the holes for the injectors.
Thanks for any advice
Trevor

 

[Sutol]

Hey guys Im new here, but I sure like what I see. I've got a lot of ideas from reading this forum that I will try when I get back in town from work. But the reason Im writing this is I have an old Cockshutt diesel that blows bubbles in the rad. Now I overheated it last winter and this summer I noticed it. There is no oil in the antifreeze and no antifreeze in the oil. Im thinking the bubbles are coming from 1 cracked head, 2 blown head gasket or 3 cavitation on the water pump. I dont want to pull the head if I dont have to as the gaskets are $300. Will a compression tester screw into the holes for the injectors.
Thanks for any advice
Trevor

Could have a sniffer test on the gas in the rad to see if it is from combustion process. this would decide if heard gasket or something else.

 

[rdrash]

Thanks I might try that. I guess Im wondering wouldn't there be a slick of oil from the diesel fuel on to of the antifreeze?
Trevor

 

[Ford tractor]

A good shop can use a sniffer to see if the bubbles are combustion gasses as was stated above. But that requires you taking it to a good shop! The cost of that may be prohibitive.

As the OP stated, diesel compression testers use the injector hole. I think that even Harbor tools has diesel adapter sets for pretty cheap. A "quick & dirty" test would be to use compressed air in the hole to see if you bubble. You would have to do it at TDC with the valves closed. It may take 100 psi to get any bubbles unless it's real bad.

 

[Short Game]

Cavitation bubbles are bubbles of vacuum. Such bubbles collapse as soon as they are away from the vanes of the pump. Head gasket is a likely culprit.

 

[rsewill]

It's 1or 2. Get your checkbook out.

 

[Johnp33]

First thing you want to do is get the rad cap checked, and be sure the coolant has antifreeze to -35F. then run it if it has a recovery bottle it takes a while to purge all the air out but if after a bit of work it is blowing air into the recovery tank, it is a head gasket. You can not run an engine with no preasure in the cooling system the water pump is centrifical and will draw in air.
I did engine for a living and like to start with a good diagnosis, and diagnosis by the ripping and tearing method is expensive.

 

[Soundguy]

i'd be betting on head gasket, in leiu of any other info if oil and water are staying seperate. is water level dropping?

have you retorqued the head?

how much is a new head gasket. might be a cheap route to try.

 

[Short Game]

have you retorqued the head?

Oh yeah, do that first.

 

[rdrash]

Right on you guys have gave me a couple things to try. Thanks. Ill try retorquing the head. Nope Im not loosing any water. The head gasket is around 300.
Trevor