2003 ram 1500 4.7L using coolant and exhaust smells of coolant

dthomas27 · 11-03-2009, 10:06 AM

Most mechanics are looking at this thread and saying DUH you have a blown head gasket and/or a warped or cracked head. well I have come to the conclusion that since it has aluminum heads and a steel headgasket that yes most likely it is either a warped or cracked head

. Problem being that i dont have the $1600 that my local dodge dealer has quoted to take it and get it fixed, so i have to do it my self. therefore I am asking for any advice on doing this job my self

. I have already talked to a machine shop about getting the heads machined if they are warped and I have looked at rebuilt heads if they are cracked. the only thing i have ever had to tear into that far is a chevy 350 mid 1970's engine and a 1974 dodge charger with a 318 wich are both very easy and do not have Over Head Cams. I was told by someone that I need to bleed something hydraulic on the head due to having OHC but not sure what it is and how to do it.

bradrhale · 11-03-2009, 10:55 AM

its a long read, i know but this guy removed heads himself too without any previous knowledge of doing it. might skim through it. start around the 3rd of 4th page.
Fouling plugs out??

remember that steel and aluminum expand and contract at different temps so it may just be a head gasket. since you will be in it, you might have the heads tested. before you tear down into it, do a compression test to determine which side might be leaking. this info will become useful later on when trying to locate the source of the problem.

11-03-2009, 10:06 AM	#1
dthomas27 Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2	2003 ram 1500 4.7L using coolant and exhaust smells of coolant Most mechanics are looking at this thread and saying DUH you have a blown head gasket and/or a warped or cracked head. well I have come to the conclusion that since it has aluminum heads and a steel headgasket that yes most likely it is either a warped or cracked head . Problem being that i dont have the $1600 that my local dodge dealer has quoted to take it and get it fixed, so i have to do it my self. therefore I am asking for any advice on doing this job my self . I have already talked to a machine shop about getting the heads machined if they are warped and I have looked at rebuilt heads if they are cracked. the only thing i have ever had to tear into that far is a chevy 350 mid 1970's engine and a 1974 dodge charger with a 318 wich are both very easy and do not have Over Head Cams. I was told by someone that I need to bleed something hydraulic on the head due to having OHC but not sure what it is and how to do it.

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11-03-2009, 10:55 AM	#2
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,014	its a long read, i know but this guy removed heads himself too without any previous knowledge of doing it. might skim through it. start around the 3rd of 4th page. Fouling plugs out?? remember that steel and aluminum expand and contract at different temps so it may just be a head gasket. since you will be in it, you might have the heads tested. before you tear down into it, do a compression test to determine which side might be leaking. this info will become useful later on when trying to locate the source of the problem.