Hello there, I am moving back to Texas From Alabama. I have a 2005 chevy 3500 express box truck. 71,000 6.0 auto.
Engine Light was on when i bought it but being there is no inspection in Alabama, I did not think to much of it . It runs smooth & purrs like a kitten. I am thinking about taking to Texas But i am very concerned about the Engine light being on. I have bought that scan tools you recommended & P300 comes up . So far I changed spark plugs and wires, power packs,gas cap and just put in a new battery in the truck. I am thinking about changing the fuel injectors before I go. I also check all vacuum lines with carb cleaner. I spent some time up north in Bethlehem PA and if you fail and prove you spent $300.00 on tune up parts . They waive it for a year. I was only in Houston for 4 years and never had a vehicle that the light came on. Question #1 Does Texas have a waiver for engine Light being on, if you spend so much money trying to fix it. Or do you have keep spending a lot of money no matter what to have the to stay off?
I was told by one mechanic that cylinder 1 is weak & the previous owner told me he just change the water pump cause it over heated. I hate to take it down there and have get new head gasket or engine because this light will not stay off.
(PS) The tool I bought from your recommendation works great. I am able to use that tool clear the code . The light stays out until I hit 45 MPH .
Thank you for everyone's input. It is true there is bubbling of air in the radiator. I notice that when I was testing with the recommended block tester. Ok I will more forward with changing the head gaskets .
If a cylinder is weak then that could very well cause misfiring.
P0300 means random or multiple cylinders, though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoWZz1ckRGw
so since the engine over heated it may need a head gasket . What is the easy way to diagnosis a head gasket.
could the over heating over engine caused a cylinder malfunction .
Lastly , any info on Emissions test waiver in Texas. In Pennsylvania Trucks 1 ton trucks or heavy are exempt. If there is problem with something small like a 1500 pick up. All you have to do is spend i think 300.00 parts and labor to try and fix it. If that does not work then a waiver will be given. That is why i asked about Texas being you where in Houston for many Years. Thanks again for your help & i look forward to your response.
Ok since i do a lot times just watch scotty channel for fun. Most of the not really try tobtix a problem. But remember he one time said to try this liquid head gasket seal. Before spending all that money on a new head gasket. Can you kindly reference that gideo for me. Thanks for your response in my questions.
Hello there , here a follow up question. While i was told the head gasket is bad by the previous owner (by his mechanic) . I am really having my doubts. I used the block tester you guys recommended . after 6 tries it never turn yellow. except 2 times in the beginning when the antifreeze came up cause it started to warm up. I drove it over 3000 miles and thought about this ,there no oil in the anti freeze and no antifreezes in the oil. I would thought if the head gasket was bad that would show by now?. I am starting feel that the last owners mechanic was just trying to sell him a new motor. yes there a code po300 but it runs real good and only has a slight idle miss when at a stop sign. The engine light goes out when i hit over 45 MPH . I find that bit curious Too.Thanks
It is possible to still be just a very minor head gasket leak due to the fact it only regional gasses cold a lot of times if it’s minor enough once it warms up and the heads and block expand they will seal the leak. Also if it is that minor of a leak internal the engine would just be burning it so you wouldn’t actually see it in the oil or anything
Registered gasses
if its only minor then you're lucky! Change the head gasket quick before if fails and totals your engine.
Perhaps look into doing a leak-down test to get a better idea on why your cylinder is losing compression (if it is a compression problem in the first place...). Air bubbling in the coolant reservoir means it's a bad head gasket, hissing from the oil cap also means it's bad piston rings, etc. It could even be bad valves too.
Hello again , thanks again for your input. Would you guys believe that the head gasket sealer that scotty recommends would be a good start .Being that it is so small of a leak. I will be moving to Texas and they have a very restrict check engine light on . If the light is on they will just fail you. some places like up north Have a certain amount you have to spend like 150 bucks . If that does not work then they pass you until next year. Texas as far as I know is fix the whole engine until check engine light does not come back on. I do not really ever drive this truck here in Alabama but where I am going (Houston Scotty old stomping grounds) I will be using all the time 200 to 300 miles per day .I am not sure i want to stick 2 grand for head gaskets on a 16 year old truck. Head gaskets not something or shady tree mechanic want to tackle. it is a 6.0 V8 with only 73000 on it . That is why i bought it. The previous owner told me it that the water pump went out. so I know it must have over heated. Thanks again & hope someone could tell me if that head gaskets sealer really works
You got a nice heavy duty truck there with relatively low mileage. I would scrape together the dough to replace the head gasket, rather than using additives that could complicate things even further.
ok , will do. thanks again for your professional opinion.