After a week or so of highs below 0, it finally warmed up enough a few weeks ago for me to fire up the DC. It struggled to start and
maintain RPMs. After idling for awhile, I noticed oil leaking out of the exhaust manifold by the gasket. A little bit later oil had worked
its way up the exhaust elbow to the muffler. Finally, there was a small "poof" of an explosion and it shut down. I could see metal shards
through the weep hole in the elbow. Fearing a valve issue or a head gasket problem, I pulled the head. After further review I'm fairly
certain the oil was from the air cleaner and was somehow getting sucked through the system. The metal shards were the intake/exhaust
manifold rings.
I've never pulled a head before so I don't know what, if any, information can be gleaned from the different colors of the valves and such.
Is there anything I should be looking for here or any tell-tale signs?
maintain RPMs. After idling for awhile, I noticed oil leaking out of the exhaust manifold by the gasket. A little bit later oil had worked
its way up the exhaust elbow to the muffler. Finally, there was a small "poof" of an explosion and it shut down. I could see metal shards
through the weep hole in the elbow. Fearing a valve issue or a head gasket problem, I pulled the head. After further review I'm fairly
certain the oil was from the air cleaner and was somehow getting sucked through the system. The metal shards were the intake/exhaust
manifold rings.
I've never pulled a head before so I don't know what, if any, information can be gleaned from the different colors of the valves and such.
Is there anything I should be looking for here or any tell-tale signs?