Automotive help : Head Gasket

[GTO_VR4]

Yet another problem with my car..

Engine knocking
leaking oil
oil EVERYWHERE
little smoke comming from engine
ruff idling

So I went to a local auto store and the guy put in a thick solvent so I could drive it home..he said either the pressure hose has a whole in it (which I hope it is) or my head gasket is blown (which i hope it isnt)

What do you guys think?
If my head gasket is blown, with a decent toolkit, will i be able to replace it? with out spending 200+ for repairs?

 

[Klonie Gun]

I don't think so.

 

[Jon]

Moved to Automotive forum.

 

[Gil]

If the Engine is a V6 or V8 You will have to get two head gaskets.
Replace them both. If the car is Front-Wheel drive take it to someone and have it done, as the gasket that is blown is probably on the back bank of cylinders and will be a PITA to get to.

If the car is:
A. A four cylinder
B. Rear Wheel drive
C. NOT of Dual Overhead Cam design...
Get one of your gearhead friends (that you trust), A case of a non-alcoholic beverage(you can get out the "good stuff" after the car is fixed and running), food, A Chilton's or Haynes manual, and the necessary parts.
Help him change the gasket. It is a fairly straight-forward operation (if your car is not too modern).

Otherwise, suck it up and drop the $200 on the repairs, and eat peanut butter sandwiches and Ramen, until next payday.

 

[GTO_VR4]

Doin some research and look what i came across, actually let me quote the page

"AI'm happy you have a positive attitude about a blown head gasket and are willing to try to handle the job yourself. Replacing a head gasket can be a D-I-Y repair, particularly on an in-line four-cylinder engine. That's the good part. The bad part is this: Replacing the cylinder head gasket is a big job, requires some expertise, lots of patience and a few special tools. If you're willing to try, have at it. As an aside, do you have a friend, neighbor or relative who might have some experience with this type of repair? If not, cultivate one"

Looks like from the looks of it, it could be done without taking it to a shop...

 

[GTO_VR4]

93 Diamante LS
V6 SOHC
147,000 Miles +

Thats what I got



Ill get a friend of mine to help me out..I believe I can do this, I cant be stopped this easily.. 😈

 

[Acid X]

Knocking? May be bad piston rings, but what do i know.

 

[Gil]

Originally posted by GTO_VR4
93 Diamante LS
V6 SOHC
147,000 Miles +

Thats what I got



Ill get a friend of mine to help me out..I believe I can do this, I cant be stopped this easily.. 😈

Buy two Gaskets! When you check the front one it will prolly be fine. But since you have the head off anyway...
The back one will be the bad one and getting to the bolts on the bottom of the head...(at the back of the engine, by the firewall) let's just say I don't envy you one little bit. Ask PunkRock he's a professional.
For a V-6, Front driver, just take it to the shop. Trust me on this.

 

[MazKid]

Yea, take it to a Mitsu dealer.

If you do it yourself there's a lot to go wrong. Removing the old one also consists of scrapping any of it off of the block and the debris goes into the engine it's a bad deal.

The smoke is just the dripping oil burning off of the exaust header, nothing to really worry about. But drive the car as little as possible, you'll end up stranded on the side of the road of you just keep driving it.


Hope you get all of these problems with your(mom's) car worked out.

 

[GTO_VR4]

Oh yea, I forgot to mention its my car now (due to insurance prices)

But uhh, anyways.. With all this research ive been doing I dont think I have a blown Head gasket..

Symptoms for a blown head gasket usually include

-Overheating (Which my car isnt doing)
-Loss of Coolent (No loss in that)
-Oil everywhere (Yea , but I dont see it weeping out between the valve cover and cyl head)
-I read this somewhere, If you have a bad head gasket, open your radiator cap and turn on the car..if the coolant overflows u got a bad head gasket (Which hasnt happend)
-Also the coolent will be all bubbly and chocolate coloured (nope its still green)
-Smoke comming from exhaust everyonce in a while(no smoke)


What do you guys think?

 

[Duke]

You have a catastrophic oil loss somewhere, and if it has been run enough on low oil that the engine is knocking, you probably have bottom end damage, unfortunately.

Some info concerning your post above:

1) Blown headgaskets don't always make the car overheat. It depends on the head design and how the gasket fails.

2) See #1 above.

3) The head gasket isn't where you are looking. The head gasket is 4-6" below where the valve cover joins. You'll have to look up from underneath, under the exhaust manifold. Look and see if the back of the engine is wet with oil there, or the front. But look up under the exhasut manifold from below, with a flashlight.

4) Not necessarily. Extra pressure in the cooling system can be a symptom, but lack of it doesn't mean the headgsaket is good.

5) Did you empty all the coolant out? Just looking in the top of the radiator may not show you the contaminated coolant. Also look for white foamy streaks in the oil you drain out.

Other places you can check:

A) Make sure the oil filter is on tightly, and not damaged.

B) Look at the oil pressure sensor. This will look like a fat sparkplug, somewhere on the bottom of the block, with a couple of wires heading to it. Often when they fail, they leak; sometimes badly.

C) Look for damage or loose bolts on the oil pan.

Good luck! A headgasket is self-fixable if you have a solid weekend toi work on it, a good set of hand tools, and a buddy who knows cars.

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by neon_duke
A) Make sure the oil filter is on tightly, and not damaged.

If it isn't a blown head gasket, this is probably your problem spot.

 

[12sec. Civic]

It cost my dad $3,500 to fix a blown head gasket on his 1993 SAAB 900 Turbo Convertible

FWD Turbo DOHC 16 Valve 4 Cyl, but the engine is set in the engine bay logitudinally, not laterally like most FWD's.

 

[GTO_VR4]

$3,500!? Thats insane...They mustve accidently gotten some gunk into the cyl and had to add more labor cost..purposly

 

[cerbera]

Could be the valve cover gaskets leaking, check that out ,see if valve cover bolts are snug, they have been known to loosen ,especially if they have ben previously removed. Check the oil filter,make sure it has'nt come loose,it happens. I've known engines to knock when they are low on tansmission fluid.Rough idleing may be due to dirty PCV valve ,remove and rinse with solvent ,gas,or wd like oil untill it rattles when you shake it, check for cracked or disconnected vacume lines,I'd bet there are a few Smoke occasionally out the exaust has been known to be caused by a bad transmission module, solinoid?,inexpensive and easily replaced, usually the signs for this is ,when the car is being driven and it slows and turns ,after the turn a plum of smoke will appear behind the car. If you do decide to tear the engine apart be prepared to replace vacume lines ,hoses, belts, and those little plastic misc valves. And expect massive amounts of frustration due to the engineering idiots that don't have to work on their own cars. Hopefully it's something simple and easily fixed. Good Luck

 

[milefile]

Ever considered getting a new car?

 

[GTO_VR4]

Engine is gone , im getting a new motor for it..**** >(

 

[Duke]

So, what caused the problem in the first place? When you said it was knocking I pretty much thought that would be the outcome, but it's always good to post mortem things so you can avoid that problem in the future.

 

[GTO_VR4]

The mechanics have no of telling of really went wrong with the engine, unless they take it apart which cost a lot of $$ because its to "hard" to work with...bull****

Im getting a lancer >(

 

[Deathhawk]

Originally posted by neon_duke
You have a catastrophic oil loss somewhere, and if it has been run enough on low oil that the engine is knocking, you probably have bottom end damage, unfortunately.

Some info concerning your post above:

1) Blown headgaskets don't always make the car overheat. It depends on the head design and how the gasket fails.

2) See #1 above.

3) The head gasket isn't where you are looking. The head gasket is 4-6" below where the valve cover joins. You'll have to look up from underneath, under the exhaust manifold. Look and see if the back of the engine is wet with oil there, or the front. But look up under the exhasut manifold from below, with a flashlight.

4) Not necessarily. Extra pressure in the cooling system can be a symptom, but lack of it doesn't mean the headgsaket is good.

5) Did you empty all the coolant out? Just looking in the top of the radiator may not show you the contaminated coolant. Also look for white foamy streaks in the oil you drain out.

Other places you can check:

A) Make sure the oil filter is on tightly, and not damaged.

B) Look at the oil pressure sensor. This will look like a fat sparkplug, somewhere on the bottom of the block, with a couple of wires heading to it. Often when they fail, they leak; sometimes badly.

C) Look for damage or loose bolts on the oil pan.

Good luck! A headgasket is self-fixable if you have a solid weekend toi work on it, a good set of hand tools, and a buddy who knows cars.

1. They do if coolant is leaking out of the head as well.

2. Is the car "racing" idle? If it is than it IS a headgasket. (racing is speeding up and slowing down as air leaks through the headgasket.)

3. Have you checked the valve cover gasket? If it is shot, it will lose oil as well.

4. "knocking" (I assume audible) sounds like a bent valve, or an improper setting thereof.


Head gaskets ar DIY easily. just make sure you mark the belts, have tourqe wrenches ect.

To tell if it is a pressure hose or not, turn the thing on, and look for where the oil is leaking through.