BeerBurner

I think I paid $1,200 to have mine done. Maybe $1.5k, but I'm not sure, so I'll throw that out as an upper limit.

Just to add to it, this might be a good time for belts and such, too.

Or hose a MN head gasket wrenching party!

BB.

pcarfan944

Yeah I should. Alas, I don't think too many people from MN hang out on this forum. Now i'm wondering how long i've been driving around with a BHG. The engine seems to running smooth as ever so I doubt any damage has been done. I had the belts done last summer, but what else should I have done while they have the head off? I know my mechanic will probably go over this with me, but the more ideas I can offer up the better.

Chris_924s

holy schnikes!! do it yourself!

Mike C.

How many miles? It would probably be smart to get a valve job done while you have the head off. New belts & rollers and maybe a water pump too. If the hoses are original.. well, you get the idea.

pcarfan944

Yeah I wish I could do it myself... I could really use that money i'd save.

The car has 115,000 miles on it. I just did the front end service last summer, so I won't waste my money on it again. How much extra would a valve job cost? I was under the impression that the valves on the 944 didn't need to be adjusted.

Mongo

wait wait! 944s have mixing issues when oil cooler seals start leaking too! Check that out too, don't assume immediately right off the bat it's a headgasket too. I saw a 944 at my mechanic's shop flood smoke and nothing was wrong with the headgasket. He did the oil cooler seal on it, next day I came back it was running and no white smoke. Check the coolant reservoir too. If it's only in the oil filler tube, I'd consider getting a group of Rennlisters together who have experience in headgaskets and a lot of beer...

Mike C.

A valve job is generally regrinding the valves and valve seats to effect a better seal. Excessive valve guide wear may be present in which case new valve guides may be in order. A simple regrind shouldn't be terribly expensive. I'm sure someone here has had it done more recently than me (13 years ago). These cars use hydraulic lifters and so do not need valve adjustment but it wouldn't be bad idea to have the lifters checked out too.

JoeRJGR

Could it be the oil cooler pressure relief valve? I know when the seal go that that oil will get into the antifreeze, but what happens when the relief valve goes?

JoeRJGR

I see someone else agrees with my oil cooler idea. A compression check should tell you for sure.

Campeck

HA!
he can leave his belt covers off for eternity if he pleases

Zero10

Stupid question, but how does the oil look on the dipstick?

I know up here, the weather can be cold enough to cause that kind of condensation on the oil filler cap, and it will run down the filler tube, looking pretty similar to that. My subaru does it all the time in the winter. If the oil on the dipstick looks as bad, then it's either head gasket, or oil cooler seals (most likely oil cooler seals).

CurlyDE

I just ordered new oil filter housing seals, oil cooler lines, and a mess of power steering stuff (might as well fix that too). My car was smoking (white) on start up (after sitting for extended periods) ... compression check was 140-145 across all four cylinders. I did have the build up on the oil filler cap, but the oil in the pan still looks great. I do have small amounts of oil mixing in the coolant reservoir ... so I am going on the assumption that it is the oil cooler seals.

I would recommend having a compression and leak down test run before you jump into doing that head gasket. My local shop will perform a leak down test for something like $150 ... you can buy the equipment to do it yourself for a similar price (assuming you already have a decent air compressor).