Is this the head gasket (2000 Dakota)

Yeah head gasket probably needs replacing along with having the heads machined (assuming they aren't cracked). No real way to tell unless you remove them and have them checked at a machine shop. Better be safe and have both heads done. I've done one side in the past and in a short time the other side needed attention.

You can try this stuff called BlueDevil that will seal head gaskets/ cracks etc. Just follow the directions to the letter. The cost is about $65 + tx which has enough for two treatments. I've sold several at my job, and I've never had one come back saying it didn't work.

Well, I looked at the 2000 Dosge Dakota I have at home that was my brothers. 1st I tried to start it but it had sat so long the battery was dead. Charged the battery for a minute. Got it to crank a few times but not start. I went ahead and took the plugs out:

That initially high reading on hole #3 supports that some liquid is present and is giving you some "sealing" that you are not getting on the other cylinders.

And the sweet taste is typical of ethylene glycol antifreeze, further supporting your hypothesis.

Have you checked for antifreeze in the oil?

r)

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Is the fact that anti freeze might be in the oil mean the bearings wont last long and the engine willbe toast? It has sat in my driveway and not driven since December. (But my I dont kwo how much my brother drove it before that). Oil was Changed in December before all this happend though.

I hate to spend money to fix it then have the engine fry. What would you do?

What is the best way to do that?

If it has anti freeze in the oil is it worth fixing?

What is the best way to do that?

If it has anti freeze in the oil is it worth fixing?

If you find it, it means that you have pretty much confirmed a bad head gasket, or a cracked head or block.

If you find coolant in the oil, it is justified to start pulling the heads and see what is wrong.

It does not automatically mean that the engine is ruined.

And the coolant DOES contain anti-corrosion additives, so even if the engine has been sitting around with that gunk in the crankcase that you may be okay. The OTHER good thing about it is that the coolant will settle to the bottom of the system and most of it is going to be stuck in the oil pan where it's not going to be doing much harm sitting idle.

You have four issues to contend with here:

1. Whatever caused the original problem (cracked head, bad head gasket, etc.).
2. The consequences of the original problem (oil in the coolant, coolant in the oil, coolant and oil in the cylinders).
3. The consequences of having left the vehicle idle for a a long time with those (which is to say mostly corrosion and rust, in cylinders, bearings, and maybe the oil pump).
4. The general consequences of having left a vehicle idle for a long time (ie. gunked up fuel system).

I'd pull the cylinder head and take a look around. I wouldn't want to put a whole lot of effort into the car at this point unless you really like it, though.

--scott

I plan on pulling the head. My idea was to drive it for awhile while trying to sell it.

Is it worth that?

Is it worth that?

Im not sure we discussed exactly which engine you have in this vehicle. Why not post this. IIRC, some of the possible V6's were a lot more problematic than others.

Who knows? Pull the head and look inside. If it's the gasket and it looks fairly clean, you might want to risk it. If you look inside and see a lot of rust, maybe you don't. Take a couple afternoons to get the thing apart and find out where you stand.

I wouldn't sell it to anyone, though, not unless they thoroughly understood what it has gone through.

--scott

Loosen the drain plug and see what drips. If it is coolant, collect it in a clear container until you start getting oil. Let us know the quantity.

This is a v6. It has cast iron heads. Maybe a 3.9 liter?

This is a v6. It has cast iron heads. Maybe a 3.9 liter?

That is exactly what it has to be.. Only two other engines were listed and they are V8s.

This V6 is supposed to be a pretty durable engine, according to what I read. Doesnt mean it cant blow a head gasket however.

Probably time to get into the bowels of this one.

Unless the rest of the truck is ragged out, ts probably worth it even if you have to buy a complete engine from a junkyard. In fact, that might be the cheaper, higher probability of success option, given that the damage inflicted on the existing engine may go well beyond just a head gasket.