IS IT TIME FOR A NEW HEAD GASKET?

jamieZ · Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 7:09 pm Post subject: IS IT TIME FOR A NEW HEAD GASKET?

I have been losing rad fluid over the last couple of months and it looks like it's going into the engine oil.The dip stick reading shows higher level. The rad fluid bottle has a top layer of oil in it. The bike is a 2004 700 Sportsman. The engine was rebuilt two years ago next month.Would the oil getting in the rad fluid and rad fluid getting into the oil a good idication the head gasket is now toast or is something else going on? Thanks, Jamie

strandr · Wolf Joined: Jul 23, 2007 Posts: 618 Location: Alberta

Could be the oil seal behind the water pump seal too.

jamieZ

Does the engine have to be split for that one?

skiboat

if there is coolant in the oil the oil will be milky if not check the waterpump seal if it is leaking replace it and snorkel it.

strandr · Wolf Joined: Jul 23, 2007 Posts: 618 Location: Alberta

jamieZ wrote:

Does the engine have to be split for that one?

The shop manual says you have to remove the flywheel and the entire timing gear housing but I have done both the water pump seal (twice before I snorkeled the weep hole) and oil seal by only removing the water pump cover. Be EXTREMELY careful not to gouge the aluminum case(s) or bend the oil pump shaft.

HERE is a link to my previous post on snorkeling the weep hole.

jamieZ

I don't think syntectic oil gets milky with the presence of water in it? Correct me if I'm wrong. There is no wetness around the weep hole so the water pump seal is good ( hole isn't plugged either). What's left, besides tearing down the engine and have a look i guess. Big bucks. The engine was just rebuilt less than two years ago. The Polaris home made twins just don't seem to stand up very well.Jamie

skiboat

you might want to pres test the cooling system & see what it does.there is a kit you can use to test for head gsk problems but may be to costly to just use one time.also check the tail pipe if it is using coolant it will show white smoke or white in the tailpipe.

jamieZ

I guess I will have the head and base gaskets replaced again. Any other gaskets anyone can think of that should be replaced while it's apart that could possibly contribute to the problem? Thanks, jamie

Farmr123

If it is the head gasket or gaskets, be sure to have them check for warped heads. The twins are known for warping the heads, especially if it was ever overheated or run low on coolant.