Hi All, Hope you all can help me, I have a 99 V-10 with 88,000 miles on it, 2 weeks ago, thought I had some bad gas, found out the number 5 Cyl only has 5 lbs, all the rest are good, I don't have the tools or place to work on the truck so I take it to the local dealer which until this point has always been really good to me, So now, they have to rip into the engine, they say if its a cracked head, they will replace both with rebuilt for $2500, if its a bad piston, cylinder, $9000 rebuilt. not knowing what it is, and not having the money to get into this venture, I'm not sure what to do.. I have had a small antifreeze leak since I got it used in 2000 with 7000 miles on it, and they have never been able to figure that out and just kept blowing it off until it showed up, but now that my 7 year 100,000 mile warrenty is up, this BIG problem surfaces. its also kind of rattling kindof like a lifter, but comes and goes, hard to tell where its coming from, at idle it is missing pretty bad, but during accellerations it runs good. Any body ever hear of problems with the heads or gaskets? or run accross this problem? I may just try to drive it until it warms up and rip into it myself. Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

I don't think a cracked head is going to bleed off that much pressure. That engine should deliver 190+ lbs per cylinder. A crack big enough to do that would almost surely give other problems (like a massive coolant leak).

That being said, you either broke a rod, busted the piston rings, or did some serious damage to the valve(s) on that cylinder. In that case, my UNproffesional opinion is that if you keep driving it, the engine will grenade and there will be no fixing it...... if that's even possible now.

If it shakes - rod....... if it smokes white and rattles - piston / rings. Valve damage can give many symptoms. YMMV

I'd get a second opinion, and get them to troubleshoot it, not just guess.

 

I agree with spiral72...I would take it to a good, oldfashion,local repair shop rather than the stealership. I know it's a generalization, but my experience with stealerships is they're lost if the computer doesn't give them a code and tell them how to fix it. Once it gets into good old fashion mechanics and troubleshooting it seems to be beyond their ability. I know that's a generalization and there are good dealer mechanics out there, but given what your dealer told you, I'd go to someone else.

Find out who the local dirt track and late model racers use for their engine work. They should be able to troubleshoot and give you a better idea of what in you're in for.

 

Thanks Guys, I will take it to someone else, I guess I don't have a choice.

It doesn't seem to smoke at all, never did, even with the small coolant leak, and only rattles when the gas is applied, but on the highway, even pulling a trailer, when you stomp on it, its runs good and quiet. I think once you get that one head off, we'll know for sure, eventhe valve cover, should be able to see the valve stems, Just wondering if anyone has come accross this problem, or I have read a few say that there has been a few of these with cracked heads. Might be awhile before I can take it anywhere, but I will let you all know.hate to say it, but maybe my baby will be up for sale. Thanks again.