1st off.....new(ish) to the site, and apparently VERY noob to Porsche!

ok, story time... Found a 944 on craigslist (of course) saying blown head gasket...cheap. So I went and looked. Milkshake oil (half way up the dipstick)....low coolant..yadda yadda yadda. Bought the car, drove it home (less than a mile). I never did a compression test or checked it out very much cause in my head, it couldn't be anything else. So now, 5 hrs later, I have the head off, and the head gasket looks fine!!!!! Ok, I know the oil cooler seals can leak...but that much? I also found oil in the intake system, but I'm thinkin cause the oil level was so high, but maybe another problem?? I haven't seen any visable cracks in the block or head....I guess I'm just askin for some advise. Can a head gasket leak and still look good? I've never seen that, but maybe someone else has? Also, with that much water in the oil, should I now be worried about the bearings? The guy I bought it from said it was driven less than 5 miles with this condition, so I thought this would be a quick fix (as far as head gaskets go). I'm feeling stoopid right now and need help from the 944 gods! I've read a few people saying "The most expensive car in the world is a cheap 944" and I'm starting to believe it! (Car is otherwise in fantastic shape.....or I wouldn't have bought it with the bad engine)

Thanks ......
Mark
.... 85/2 944 with 64,000 miles BTW

 

"The guy I bought it from said it was driven less than 5 miles with this condition"õ

How he knows?

Best you could do is to rebuild the engine. If the car is nice and you want to use it for years do bearing and other maintenance stuff.

http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-ma...ure-index3.htm

 

64,000 miles? Wow... makes mine look REALLY old (200,000mi+)
Back on topic... Hmmm, where else is there really for coolant to get into the engine besides the oil cooler or the head gasket??? (disregarding cracked blocks here..) Sorry I couldn't really be of any help, so just consider this a free bump

 

Yes, the oil cooler seals can leak that much.

 

Sometimes the crack in the head gasket is VERY hard to see, check the pistons for clean spots (no carbon) then look really hard at the gasket in that spot. Just someting to check.

 

Since you have the head off, send it to the machine shop and put it back together after you change all the gaskets and seals INCLUDING the oil cooler seals/o-rings. The machine shop will pressure test your head so assuming you have no cracks in the block (very unlikely), the car will run well. I wouldn't go around changing rod/main bearings until I do all the above first.

 

+1 Oil cooler seals, this is exactly what happens when they go. Also, check your AOS pipes and seals as these can cause the excessive oil build-up in the inlet manifold. M

 

lol, i bought my 944 in same condition. blown headgasket. me and friend popped off head, replaced gasket, new valves, new timing belt, new oil relief valve, new hoses, new wires, and 4 oil changes later, the car's driving. i sttill have a low oil pressure problem when making right turns that i'm trying to figure out though. good luck in yours i know mine's a money pit.

 

Sorry, I forgot to mention....its N/A. Do I have an AOS? Where would it be (Porsche noob, sorry)? I'm not really in the mood for a money pit. I know the 944 needs regular maint., which I'm fine with...but I don't have the time to rip the thing apart every weekend....So be on the look out for a 944 with a new head gasket for sale soon HAHAHA

 

+1!

My head gasket went bed and it was pressurizing the cooling system. When I pulled the head gasket, it didn't look damaged at all, with the exception of one really really clean spot on the #3 cylinder metal ring surround.

 

OT...
What are AOS pipes?

 

Air oil seperator

 

The pipe from the Air Oil Separator to the inlet manifold. Sometimes gets gunked up with oil from the fumes which then gunks up your throttle, boot and intake manifold.

 

If you are crying now wait until you get the bill.

 

The 944 is a $7500 car for a daily driver. If you pay less than that expect to spend at least the difference (in real money and/or personal time) within a minimum of the first year. You can beat these odds a little by finding a car with "problems" that you fix yourself, with at least some money thrown in as a sacrifice to the Porsche gods.

A blown head gasket is a misfortune but not a tragedy. You've taken the head off so you apparently have some mechanical skills. I wouldn't throw in the towel on this one yet. You have a project ahead of you now but that doesn't mean you're going to have to take the car apart every weekend after this. If the car is fixed the way it should to begin with you won't continue to have major problems.

You'll find lots of help here and I think Legoland's advice is right on. Also pics are always helpful.