R. Todd Rothrauff

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  1. UGA Automotive Center: August 2009 - present . . .
  2. 2010 Work highlights . . .

August 11: Blown head gasket in an old Chevy truck . . .

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  • I arrived at work on this day to find a familiar looking Chevy truck sitting in technician Kenny's bay.  Night Foreman Larry and I went were sent on a road call yesterday to try and rescue this truck for what was initially described as a crank/no start concern.  Once we arrived, we determined that the truck had died while driving and would not restart.<br />
<br />
I hopped in the driver's seat and turned the key on only to find the temperature gauge pegged.  A quick check of the radiator revealed it to be almost empty.  So I thought we were dealing with a coolant leak that overheated the truck.  <br />
<br />
I started adding water in hopes of getting the truck back to the shop.  I added, and added, and added.  After adding what seemed to be a ridiculous amount of water with no effect, I pulled the oil dipstick.  <br />
<br />
There was no use.  It was time to call a tow truck.

    I arrived at work on this day to find a familiar looking Chevy truck sitting in technician Kenny's bay. Night Foreman Larry and I went were sent on a road call yesterday to try and rescue this truck for what was initially described as a crank/no start concern. Once we arrived, we determined that the truck had died while driving and would not restart.

    I hopped in the driver's seat and turned the key on only to find the temperature gauge pegged. A quick check of the radiator revealed it to be almost empty. So I thought we were dealing with a coolant leak that overheated the truck.

    I started adding water in hopes of getting the truck back to the shop. I added, and added, and added. After adding what seemed to be a ridiculous amount of water with no effect, I pulled the oil dipstick.

    There was no use. It was time to call a tow truck.

  • Technician Kenny did some initial digging and then started pulling the engine in preparation for the ordered replacement.

    Technician Kenny did some initial digging and then started pulling the engine in preparation for the ordered replacement.

  • This is what happens when antifreeze mixes with engine oil.  The "chocolate milkshake." as it is colloquially known, is typically a telltale sign of some kind of catastrophic failure, (.i.e. head gasket, cracked block, cracked head, etc.).

    This is what happens when antifreeze mixes with engine oil. The "chocolate milkshake." as it is colloquially known, is typically a telltale sign of some kind of catastrophic failure, (.i.e. head gasket, cracked block, cracked head, etc.).

  • Getting engine oil in the coolant isn't the problem.  But getting coolant in the engine oil destroys the engine bearings.

    Getting engine oil in the coolant isn't the problem. But getting coolant in the engine oil destroys the engine bearings.

  • There was no saving this one.  This engine was toast.

    There was no saving this one. This engine was toast.

  • The new engine arrived after a few days.  Kenny transferred all of the necessary parts and put it all back together.

    The new engine arrived after a few days. Kenny transferred all of the necessary parts and put it all back together.

  • The parts he was reusing needed a good cleaning.

    The parts he was reusing needed a good cleaning.

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