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Cosmicenergy
Dodge Dakota
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2/07/2011
13:53:01

Subject: Do I have a bad head gasket?
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I bought this '02 Dakota with the 4.7L a couple of years ago with 70,000 miles on it at the time (now about 78,000). Over the weekend when I changed the spark plugs for the first time since I have owned it, I noticed that when I took the first plug out (#1), the threads were kinda rusty. All the others were a little bit rusty too, but not quite as much as that one was. A head gasket was the first thing I thought of for some reason, but the dealership said that the rusty plugs are not uncommon. Also, noticed that my coolant level is below the "add" level on the dipper, although I haven't actually checked that in ages until the other day. I just changed the oil too, but I didn't notice it to be out of the ordinary looking, although I didn't examine it closely because I changed the oil before I even knew about the rusty plug. Also, I'm not sure exactly what it's supposed to look like when it has coolant mixed in with it anyway. Truck seems to run good and all, although it always has gotten what I consider horrible gas mileage (10-11 miles/gal)....although I do like to keep my foot in it. lol.
As a note, the plugs that were in it were the original type of Champions, and all the plug gaps were waaaaaaaaay over from wear (approximately 70 thousandths), so I'm thinking they may have been the original factory plugs. Even with the huge gaps though, the NGK v-powers I put back in don't seem to make any difference in the way it runs. Hope they at least help with the horrible gas mileage though.

With that said, how can I tell if I am getting coolant getting into the combustion chambers.

Thanks in advance,
Cosmic



poorboy
Dodge Dakota
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2/07/2011
15:42:25

RE: Do I have a bad head gasket?
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check for symtoms of a blowen head gasket,water in oil,water out the exhaust,oil in the water but i don't think rusty spark plugs are one of them.if it runs good oil pressures good water temps good keep running it.



poorboy
Dodge Dakota
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2/07/2011
16:03:30

RE: Do I have a bad head gasket?
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water in anti-freeze will be milky white/tan,water in oil oil will be on top beings oil is lighter then water,or if it's internal and you don't see oil in water or water in oil. you will see white smoke out of your tail pipe,and it will have a sweet snell to it and it will throw mis fire cylinder codes, anyway anti-freeze in the oil will eat up bearings,and in the exhuast will kill your cat converter and O2 sensors which of course will throw more codes. i'd say your truck is just fine!!! keep on truck'in



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