Hello Everyone,

I am new to the forum and I recently purchased a 2006 Chrysler 300 2.7L. It has 150,000 miles on it. It has a blown head gasket and I would like some tips or tricks on replacing it. I have done head gasket replacements on other cars in the past, but I know every car is different. I would appreciate any information that you can offer. Also, is there a thread or link to a "step by step" instruction on how to do it? Also, I have heard that it is a good idea to replace the head bolts and not use the originals because they may stretch. What is your opinion on that? Also, what brand of after market head gasket do you recommend?
Thank you for your time.

 

Get yourself a Haynes manual #25027 "Chrysler 300 Dodge Charger & Magnum 2005 thru 2010". It's not precisely relevant to your car but it will get you thru it.

Good luck and good on you for keeping the old girl running Be sure to look after any possible over heating issues before you crank it up after head gasket R&R.

 

Do they (haynes)really think that they are staying much the same thru 2910?..LOL I think you meant 2010.

 

I am planning on getting a manual before I start the job. I was just curious if anyone had any tips. It is always nice to pick someone's brain before going through a headache yourself.

 

Best course of action is to read the manual see for yourself if you have the tools to do it also if its to much for you to handle .

 

Hello Everyone,

I know it has been a while but I finally got around to working on the car and I made it to the head gasket. I have two questions.
1. After inspecting the old gasket, I do not see an obvious break. Can a head gasket "blow" without an obvious break?
2. There is a small hole close to the top of the engine block housing just above the transmission in between where the heads rest on the block. It appears to be there from manufacturing, but I was just curious as to what it is or what it is for.

If some pictures would be helpful just let me know and I will upload them.

Thank you for the help ahead of time.
Skitle47

 

It seems to me that you should be able to see a faulty head gasket unless it got torn up during head removal. Going back to the beginning, how did you conclude it was a head gasket at fault?

 

When I bought the car the man I got it from told me that a mechanic diagnosed the head gasket. There was obvious water in the oil and oil in the antifreeze. I did not go into any in depth diagnosis methods.

 

Maybe the other bank.? My knowledge of head gasket leaks is only from the literature. Like you I thought a head gasket leak would be self evident. but now I think on it, I do recall a 300m Special that had a pin hole head gasket leek that drove my dealer crazy till they just replaced both gaskets out of hand.
Can one of our pros help a guy out?

 

You cant break a headgasket its 3 layers of steel. The engine will only produce a max of 150lbs of compression and they will not bust through steel.
What will happen is the heads will warp and cause a gap between the head and block where the gasket can not handle it.