I have 480 miles on my rebuilt 7.3 and I think I have soot in the degas tank now. The coolant level is fluctuating more than usual also. I don't see any oil. I rolled up a piece of paper towel and stuck it in their, all red Cat ELC. So it looks like a copper washer (seal) on the bottom of one of the injectors is leaking? I disconnected the small hose from the top of the degas tank, which comes from the radiator and stuck it in a cup of water. I had the engine idling and at temp. NO BUBBLES. I can't believe this.
I had the machinist install new cups with Loctite 620 and pressure test the heads when they got rebuilt. I was meticulous when I installed the injectors. My procedure was as follows; remove o-rings/copper seal and clean injectors and nozzles, lube and install RiffRaff o-rings & copper washers, insert into cup, tap to seat injector with rubber mallet, torque, another tap and another finale torque. The torque changed on a couple injectors, so I tapped and retorqued until it didn't.
What now? Of course last night we got new snow on the ground here NE Wisconsin. My truck is too tall to get in my shed. So, I'm going to have a shop do it. Has anyone done a vacuum test on their coolant system? I don't think a pressure test would be a good idea? That would risk hydro locking a cylinder. Can the coolant be tested for soot? If so, who?
The leak appears to happen only when the engine is under higher loads? All appears to be normal if I just take a gingerly drive. I'm apprehensive to give it an acid test in a hot tune. I would like to be able to drive it to the shop.
No coolant in oil and oil level doesn't change.
Thoughts or recommendations?
I had the machinist install new cups with Loctite 620 and pressure test the heads when they got rebuilt. I was meticulous when I installed the injectors. My procedure was as follows; remove o-rings/copper seal and clean injectors and nozzles, lube and install RiffRaff o-rings & copper washers, insert into cup, tap to seat injector with rubber mallet, torque, another tap and another finale torque. The torque changed on a couple injectors, so I tapped and retorqued until it didn't.
What now? Of course last night we got new snow on the ground here NE Wisconsin. My truck is too tall to get in my shed. So, I'm going to have a shop do it. Has anyone done a vacuum test on their coolant system? I don't think a pressure test would be a good idea? That would risk hydro locking a cylinder. Can the coolant be tested for soot? If so, who?
The leak appears to happen only when the engine is under higher loads? All appears to be normal if I just take a gingerly drive. I'm apprehensive to give it an acid test in a hot tune. I would like to be able to drive it to the shop.
No coolant in oil and oil level doesn't change.
Thoughts or recommendations?
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