First of all, I want to say thank you to everyone that has taken time to share their knowledge through this forum. It has been an invaluable resource for me since purchasing an M1009 in September of last year. This will be my first real post with a question because all my other questions have been answered by reading here. In truth, this question may have been answered as well. I just want to confirm without a doubt before I put more effort into correcting the problem, that I understand it.
My M1009 has 19,000 miles on the odometer. I purchased this vehicle from someone who bought it from a government auction. I used this forum to do the needed maintenance and modifications. I have done the doghead relay mod, the glow plug resistor bypass, rebuilt the alternator, changed all fluids, changed all hoses, replaced all window and door seals, repaired the rusty floor pans, upgraded the headlight harness and head lights, repainted with HD house paint.
The vehicle had been sitting for a couple of months while I saved for a set of tires to replace the worn out ones that came on the truck. I decided to take the truck to work one afternoon and made it a block when the low coolant light came on. I turned it around and headed back to the house. I pulled the radiator cap and couldn't see any coolant. I put about 2 gallons of water into the radiator. The radiator was full when it was originally parked. To fix the problem I replaced my head gaskets, had a machine shop steam clean and pressure test the heads. I also had them machine the heads to make sure they were not warped. I replaced the head bolts with ARP studs and used ARP stud sealer on the threads. I used the ARP lube and followed the torque sequence they recommended. I replaced everything with new seals, filters, and fluids.
I completed the work and have driven the vehicle around town on short (10 miles or so) runs. I installed a coolant temp sensor using one of the posts on the forum as a guide. Engine temps were consistent and steady, never exceeding 180 degrees. It has been fine for a couple of months.
Last week I drove the vehicle to a local lake about 40 miles round trip. I watched the coolant temp gauge closely and it remained steady. I returned home and parked the truck. This morning I went out and started up the truck, my brother in law is in town and wanted to see it run. The coolant light came on and I checked the level, it was very low again. I put about 2 gallons of water in the radiator before it was full. I pulled the oil fill cap and dip stick with the engine running, white steam vapor is poring out of them again.
I am trying to figure out what I should do now? I'm assuming it is still the head gasket or could it be the block? Could the machine shop have missed a crack in the head? I have coolant in the oil for sure, but no oil in the coolant that I can tell.
Thank you,
Chris
My M1009 has 19,000 miles on the odometer. I purchased this vehicle from someone who bought it from a government auction. I used this forum to do the needed maintenance and modifications. I have done the doghead relay mod, the glow plug resistor bypass, rebuilt the alternator, changed all fluids, changed all hoses, replaced all window and door seals, repaired the rusty floor pans, upgraded the headlight harness and head lights, repainted with HD house paint.
The vehicle had been sitting for a couple of months while I saved for a set of tires to replace the worn out ones that came on the truck. I decided to take the truck to work one afternoon and made it a block when the low coolant light came on. I turned it around and headed back to the house. I pulled the radiator cap and couldn't see any coolant. I put about 2 gallons of water into the radiator. The radiator was full when it was originally parked. To fix the problem I replaced my head gaskets, had a machine shop steam clean and pressure test the heads. I also had them machine the heads to make sure they were not warped. I replaced the head bolts with ARP studs and used ARP stud sealer on the threads. I used the ARP lube and followed the torque sequence they recommended. I replaced everything with new seals, filters, and fluids.
I completed the work and have driven the vehicle around town on short (10 miles or so) runs. I installed a coolant temp sensor using one of the posts on the forum as a guide. Engine temps were consistent and steady, never exceeding 180 degrees. It has been fine for a couple of months.
Last week I drove the vehicle to a local lake about 40 miles round trip. I watched the coolant temp gauge closely and it remained steady. I returned home and parked the truck. This morning I went out and started up the truck, my brother in law is in town and wanted to see it run. The coolant light came on and I checked the level, it was very low again. I put about 2 gallons of water in the radiator before it was full. I pulled the oil fill cap and dip stick with the engine running, white steam vapor is poring out of them again.
I am trying to figure out what I should do now? I'm assuming it is still the head gasket or could it be the block? Could the machine shop have missed a crack in the head? I have coolant in the oil for sure, but no oil in the coolant that I can tell.
Thank you,
Chris
