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We have a 99 pete 379 with caat 3406E...recently had to have

 

Customer Question

We have a 99 pete 379 with caat 3406E...recently had to have cam, head gasket and head replaced..been back to the shop twice, still had oil leak and having to put in1-2 gal coolant every 2500 miles....now...the problem is....starting or not starting that is....when it is col..it starts up first time...when running down road after 6-8 hours,, I stop and turn engine off....after 2-3 hours try to restart and it locks up and won't start until it has cooled to 16- 175...any suggestions? sleeves are in good shape.

 



Already Tried:
have to let it cool down to lower temp to start...can't afford to let it idle 24 hrs.

Submitted: 325 days and 12 hours ago.
Category: Medium and Heavy Trucks
Value: $28
Status: CLOSED
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Expert:  Cat Man replied 325 days and 12 hours ago.

Hi. Thanks for using JA! I will try and help you out.

Does the check engine light come on when this happens?

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Expert:  Cat Man replied 325 days and 12 hours ago.

Also, could you get me the engine serial number?

Customer replied 325 days and 11 hours ago.

its raining and i'm waiting to get unloaded...be back asap.

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Expert:  Cat Man replied 325 days and 11 hours ago.

Sure no problem.

 

When you say it locks up, is it like a hydrolock like there is water on the piston? OR does it just spin over and not fire?

 

Also, May I ask why the head and cam were replaced?

Customer replied 325 days and 11 hours ago.

it is like a hydrolock......when head gasket blew..it overheated...and mechanic said it needed to be replaced....no seriel number for you yet just vin no. if that would help. also it is a 3406e cat with single turbo and 14.6 L

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Expert:  Cat Man replied 325 days and 11 hours ago.

I see. Thanks for the information.

 

If the engine is consuming that much coolant in 2500 miles, and the head has already been replaced, I am suspecting you could have a cracked cylinder liner. I have seen this before after an engine has been run hot.

 

To confirm, you can pressurize the cooling system after the engine is shut down. Then remove the injectors and see which one has coolant on it. If one does, you will know which liner is the problem and needs to be replaced.

 

Please reply back if you need more help.

Customer replied 325 days and 11 hours ago.

linings have been checked when head and gasket replaced gasket replaced....also, when it finally does crank...there is a puff of white smoke/vapor? when it first starts...this only happens after the "hydro" lock has cleared...does not happen on regular basis...thanks

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Expert:  Cat Man replied 325 days and 11 hours ago.

I see. Thanks for the information.

If you get a puff of smoke, there is definitely something getting in a cylinder.

When they inspected the liners, did they remove them and inspect them? Or did they just inspect them with the liners still in the block?

Customer replied 325 days and 11 hours ago.

liners in block

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Expert:  Cat Man replied 325 days and 11 hours ago.

Thanks for the information.

Many times cracks are very hard to see when the liners are in the block. The cracks are normally under the flange of the top of the liner. When the liners are removed, the cracks are easy to see. There have been many times I have seen the liners look great until I remove them.


Let me know if you need more help.

Customer replied 325 days and 11 hours ago.

Do the pistons have to be removed totally to replace sleeves or can the replacement be done from "bottom"? "in frame"?

Accepted Answer

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Expert:  Cat Man replied 325 days and 10 hours ago.

Unforatunately, They cannot come out from the bottom sorry. The head will need to be replved and then the piston as well. Sorry. I wish they could come out from the bottom. That would save me a lot of work.

Expert TypeEngine Instructor
Category: Medium and Heavy Trucks
Pos. Feedback: 99.1 %
Accepts: 510
Answered: 6/24/2012

Experience: I am ASE Master Truck Certified.

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Customer replied 322 days and 11 hours ago.

Mr. Yellowman,, I have one uestion..now mechanic says it needs pistons and sleeves......

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Expert:  Cat Man replied 322 days and 10 hours ago.

Did he say why? Are there holes in the lners?

Customer replied 322 days and 10 hours ago.

Ive got a call into them, will get back, thanks anything else I need to ask?

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Expert:  Cat Man replied 322 days and 10 hours ago.

I just was wanting to know why he says it needs them. I assume there are holes in the liner. Just keep me posted.

Customer replied 322 days and 10 hours ago.

it seems odd to me that a month ago, the liners were fine, and now that he visually inspected them, he finds they need to be replaced along with the pistons? I just don't know how to question this.

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Expert:  Cat Man replied 322 days and 10 hours ago.

The only thing I can think of is the liners may have holes in them. This happens to liners over time. Its called cavitation erosion. Cavitation eroion caan put holes in the liners after many miles.

Customer replied 322 days and 10 hours ago.

and the pistons? shouldn't he have seen this when he first looked at the liners a month ago? he said they were "ok"...liners, and didn't mention pistons..not to put you in the middle, but trying to educated myself in this situation.

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Expert:  Cat Man replied 322 days and 10 hours ago.

If there are holes in the liners, they are very hard to see when the liners in the block. But easy to see when the liners are out of the block. As far as the pistons, most folks recommend replacing the pistons when the liners are replaced. They kinda go together. I recommend it as well.

Customer replied 322 days and 10 hours ago.

why would they need to be replaced? If the sleeves protect the core and the pistons slide up and down the sleeves, why would they need to be replaced? I can see replacing all the sleeves at the same time due to age, but I don't understand pistons, too...please clarify..thanks

Accepted Answer

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Expert:  Cat Man replied 322 days and 9 hours ago.

To be honest the pistons can be reused but the rings would need to be replaced. But like I was saying earlier, most folks prefer to replace both. Especially if.the engine has a lot of miles. They kinda go hand in hand.

Expert TypeEngine Instructor
Category: Medium and Heavy Trucks
Pos. Feedback: 99.1 %
Accepts: 510
Answered: 6/27/2012

Experience: I am ASE Master Truck Certified.

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