Tamsturn

Have a 2009 SD. About a year after we bought it we were going down the road and all of a sudden the temp gauge kept going back and forth from hot to cold. The car was not running hot but started making an awful noise. We pulled it over and had it towed home. Someone said the head gasket may need to be replaced. Could anyone out there give me a few details of how that's done and what it details?


Thanks
Tam in Tampa

kruso

Fastest and painless way is to pull the engine and perform the repairs then, it's fasts, clean and no guess work. It can however be done with the engine left inside. The valve cover and the lower oil pan will have to be removed first but to get to these, you'll have to remove accessories like the power steering pump, alternator and possibly ac compressor. Then the timing chain cover will need to be removed and eventually the timing chain and then finally the head. It's not for an everyday diy'er for sure but more importantly, if you started "hearing" noise after over heating...there's potentially more damage that's already been done to the motor. So assess your situation first before tearing it apart. Also if it is in fact a head gasket that leaked, make sure the headbolts didn't slip like they do on the 2azfe and you remachine/resurface the head before re-installation.