Took the truck into the dealer today. I know the dead mechanic and after inspection this morning he calls me up and has some bad news for me. The head gasket is leaking, and instead of fixing he suggests replace the motor. Iguess the trade off is that the new motor will have a new 3 year 100,000 mile warranty, injectors and all. This also includes a new injector pump and water pump. ugh so what do you all have to say about this?:(

And the price for a new installed motor is ? versus a head gasket replacement ($4,000 or so)

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yeah IDK. My dad talked to them cause I was not available. They told us that the head would have to be replaced. Is that right? I have heard 4,000 been thrown around before. They told us that it would be almost 50-60 hours labor to fix it versus 30-40 to replace the motor. anyone else have first hand experience with the dealer and a headgasket?

My headgaskets gave out and it took 45 hrs to replace. The heads were just fine on mine and it has been perfect ever since. Just be sure to torque the heads to 02 and later specs, the 01's were a little loose from the factory. New specs came out in 02 that kept them intact longer.

My Head Gaskets where replaced at 120,000 miles. No issues seance.
They can check the heads. the 01- 1/2 of 02 had bad gaskets.

Headgaskets pay 25.6 hours warranty time, so the 50-60 hour time seems OBSCENE. I pulled the engine and tore my 01 donor apart in under 10 hours by myself, and I'm into it for almost 10 hours now cleaning it up and re-assembling it. I could see 40 hours labor for CP, but anymore is rape. Parts will cost you around $500 for the head gaskets, head bolts and then a head set. When I pulled mine apart it was actually leaking between the block and the gasket and was sealed fine between the head and the gasket. Theres no way they can say it needs a new head without pulling it down unless there is a big crack or something visible from the outside. Sounds to me like you got a dealer that is hurting for money and smell a paycheck.

Headgaskets pay 25.6 hours warranty time, so the 50-60 hour time seems OBSCENE. I pulled the engine and tore my 01 donor apart in under 10 hours by myself, and I'm into it for almost 10 hours now cleaning it up and re-assembling it. I could see 40 hours labor for CP, but anymore is rape. Parts will cost you around $500 for the head gaskets, head bolts and then a head set. When I pulled mine apart it was actually leaking between the block and the gasket and was sealed fine between the head and the gasket. Theres no way they can say it needs a new head without pulling it down unless there is a big crack or something visible from the outside. Sounds to me like you got a dealer that is hurting for money and smell a paycheck.
I REALLY hope they are not trying to pull some money out of us. We have been family friends with the owner for like almost 25 years. This is all info that my dad told me today after talking to the head mechanic, maybe I will call and talk to the mechanic myself and ask a few questions tomorrow.

where are you located? pm if you want.

you are looking at $13,000 for a new motor from the stealer so yeah I would replace the head gaskets

sounds like your dealers trying to screw you bigtime.

where are you located? pm if you want.

Near sacramento, ca
Having to do this really sucks, not only because of the cost, but also the truck was/is running like a top except for the smoke. hopefully the new motor(if we go that route) performs as good if not better than the "old" one.

That sucks, if you were near illinois, I would try and hook up with you to see if I can help.

They are trying to get you big time. The first duramax I ever worked on was a head gasket job and I did it in less than 20 hours. I also had .005 machined off the heads with no problem. This truck belongs to a friend of mine and it is not treated nice at all. He has put 20,000 miles on it since.

yeah IDK. My dad talked to them cause I was not available. They told us that the head would have to be replaced. Is that right? I have heard 4,000 been thrown around before. They told us that it would be almost 50-60 hours labor to fix it versus 30-40 to replace the motor. anyone else have first hand experience with the dealer and a headgasket?


That is total bull!

I would NEVER trust a dealer service department.

I talked to the mechanic myself today. He has done a couple over the years, and each time he has torn them down he sees damage to the cylinders from the coolant. he also said that the heads are not repairable and that to replace the heads and everything that we would only be saving a couple thousand, and he did not want to see us save the couple thousand and six months down the road have the rings or something go bad and actually have to replace the motor also. Sooo, after talking to them myself I feel much better after getting the info first hand. Also, at least the new motor will have the 3 year 100,000 coverage, with a new water pump and new injector pump, both with lifetime coverage. The new motor is suppose to be equivalent to the last year of the LB7, so I shouldn't have to worry to much about having the head problem again in another 170,000 miles.

I talked to the mechanic myself today. He has done a couple over the years, and each time he has torn them down he sees damage to the cylinders from the coolant. he also said that the heads are not repairable and that to replace the heads and everything that we would only be saving a couple thousand, and he did not want to see us save the couple thousand and six months down the road have the rings or something go bad and actually have to replace the motor also. Sooo, after talking to them myself I feel much better after getting the info first hand. Also, at least the new motor will have the 3 year 100,000 coverage, with a new water pump and new injector pump, both with lifetime coverage. The new motor is suppose to be equivalent to the last year of the LB7, so I shouldn't have to worry to much about having the head problem again in another 170,000 miles.

He's also an idiot. He's supposedly "done a couple over the years" and there's hundreds here that have too and will tell you the opposite. I'm on my 2nd 01 and just got the heads back in tip top shape. The coolant damages the gasket, not the heads or cylinders, and usually not even enough to see on the gasket. Ask him why the gaskets go, and report back to us with his answer if you would, then I'll tell you the real answer.

Also, since your motor is supposedly junk, I'll take it for free. :cool:

If i was going to spend that kinda money on putting a new motor in the truck. I would not use an lb7. I would try to find a lly with lower miles and try to use it. I know its not going to be a walk in the park because you have to swap stuff out to get it to work, but in the long run it might be worth it.

If i was going to spend that kinda money on putting a new motor in the truck. I would not use an lb7. I would try to find a lly with lower miles and try to use it. I know its not going to be a walk in the park because you have to swap stuff out to get it to work, but in the long run it might be worth it.


I hear that, and if I was going to spend dealer replacement money I'd buy a whole other truck.

If you're that relaint on the dealer for your work, then do what they say, but a new engine will cost you about what the truck is worth. I just saw a complete LLY/Alli takeout advertized in Denver for $3800 IIRC. You could do alot of things with as much $ as you'll spend for a new engine at the dealer!
Don't commit to anything until you see it tore down and internal damage. I've had several vehicles blow head gaskets over the yrs and none of them damaged the internals. I still think they're trying to take you for a ride!

Not to mention price hasn't come up yet either. Let me guess, $15k?

Not to mention price hasn't come up yet either. Let me guess, $15k?

$12k

$12k

I've got a whole truck, with new HG's, remanned heads, NEW injectors and new FPR, new WP and starter, etc I'll sell you for the same price ;)

I had mine done a couple of months ago, cost me $3500. The flat rate book say 29 hours to change out both head gaskets. Heads on the duramaxes have some room for milling but only 6 thousands, if they need more than that then they need replaced, but at least have a machinist check them, i had to take 5 thousands off, added ARP head studs (expensive), new glow plugs, and water pump, along with injector o rings and everything else.
if you do get the heads off hopefully u won't have too much ring ridge, mine was in good shape and my pickup has about 90,000miles on it too and so far i haven't had any trouble,

i would also have to say the dealer your looking at is trying to screw you and doesn't really want to do it so thats why they bid the job soo high. good luck

Iam calling BS on the motor coming with new injection pump and water pump. i just had a new motor put in my truck and it didnt come with that stuff. Thet stripped all the bolt on stuff off and put in on the new motor. I also didnt know they gave lifetime warrenty on injection pumps and water pumps.

How do we tell if our truck is a 2001.5 or a 2002?

How do we tell if our truck is a 2001.5 or a 2002?

There's no such thing.....either its an 01 or its an 02.

I am sure that's right. I believe some folks refer to it like that because of the in service date or something. Mine was one of the last off the line for 02. I do not have the cab filters either.

He's also an idiot. He's supposedly "done a couple over the years" and there's hundreds here that have too and will tell you the opposite. I'm on my 2nd 01 and just got the heads back in tip top shape. The coolant damages the gasket, not the heads or cylinders, and usually not even enough to see on the gasket. Ask him why the gaskets go, and report back to us with his answer if you would, then I'll tell you the real answer.

Also, since your motor is supposedly junk, I'll take it for free. :cool:


Need help gettin screwed...........

If it were me I would run far away from that dealer, but whatever put the new motor in. Just my opinion, I think you're getting screwed.

Your family made of money and the dealer knows?

I would get several other estimates if it was going to cost 12k.

I can't believe anyone would be willing to pay $12K to have a motor put into a truck that is only worth $12K at best? What did you even up doing anyway?

It looks that he put a new engine in the truck around June. Sad to see that a trusted dealer would recommend a new engine like that. My truck blew a head gasket and the heads were just as good as the day they rolled off the assembly line. They threw in 8 new sleeves and seals and it was good to go. Anyone getting this done needs to get the heads checked before condemning them. Not only that, but a set of LLY heads and injectors with EFI live tuning would have been much cheaper and more fun. That and a stout trans would have made that truck lots of fun!

ouch...

ouch...

you said it.

ya that does suck...dealers quoted me 3900, but i went with a local shop that promised 2500 max for labor, 500 was charged for machining, and 150 a peace for injectors...and i drove thousands of miles with bad hg's