Do I need a new head gasket?
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: New York, NY
Do I need a new head gasket?
So, I have coolant that is fizzing from two head nuts on the driver's side, enough now to steam and leak down the side of the engine. Fortunately, no coolant in the oil sump. Tomorrow I will pull the plugs. I believe this has been a slow process since I always noticed some coolant residue around these nuts (lol, I said "these nuts") but I attributed it to blowback from a leak in a cooling hose up front by the thermostat.
My fear is that the head is cracked. Has anyone had a similar experience? Could I be lucky and retorque the nuts in question perhaps?
My fear is that the head is cracked. Has anyone had a similar experience? Could I be lucky and retorque the nuts in question perhaps?
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: DFW Texas
Time to bite the bullet. Even if you could retorque the bolts the seal on the head gasket has failed and is contaminated from the coolant. It can only get worse. Remember oil pressure is higher than water pressure while running but water pressure is higher than oil pressure when you shut it down. It's only a matter of time until water is in the oil too.
Sorry for the bad news.
Sorry for the bad news.
Supercharged
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From: Back in Michigan - Full time!
Retourqing will not fix it. You can try some Bars Leaks as a temp fix, but you really need to replace the head gasket.
I doubt the head is cracked if you don't have oil/water mixing.
You will probably have to have the heads decked, but we're talking such a slight amount. Porsche offers a thicker HG for this purpose on the newer cars (87+), not sure if there is one avail for the OBs.
Good luck.
I doubt the head is cracked if you don't have oil/water mixing.
You will probably have to have the heads decked, but we're talking such a slight amount. Porsche offers a thicker HG for this purpose on the newer cars (87+), not sure if there is one avail for the OBs.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 140
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From: New York, NY
I will check the oil canister to make sure there is no mixing. I will also try the Barr's leak sealer, although for the amount of fizzing/leaking I got from both head nuts I am not that optimistic.
So, the question is, take it out in the car or remove the engine? I only plan on doing this one side and not rebuilding the entire engine.
So, the question is, take it out in the car or remove the engine? I only plan on doing this one side and not rebuilding the entire engine.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,075
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From: S.F. Bay Area
BTDT W/ the bars. It wont last and you will have to do the head anyway. If you are only going to do one side pull the head in car and be done with it. However if one side is bad the other will soon follow.
I would just pull both sides. If it is bad now it will also lead to more corrosion to the head/block.
I would just pull both sides. If it is bad now it will also lead to more corrosion to the head/block.
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If you had a very high ceiling in your house and you had two light bulbs in a fixture and to change one you had to rent a very tall ladder, borrow a truck to haul it home , repaint the wall where the ladder made marks.....when one bulb burned out .....would you change BOTH of them ???? or just one. The heads will NEED to be surfaced they WILL be corroded they ALL are to some extent (few people have done the two year coolant changes). And you will also need to refresh replace just about all the rubber and plastic bits on top of the engine because when you touch them they will crumble. You will of course have to have the timing belt off to remove the cam belt that also has a number of while you are in there opportunities.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,203
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From: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
If you had a very high ceiling in your house and you had two light bulbs in a fixture and to change one you had to rent a very tall ladder, borrow a truck to haul it home , repaint the wall where the ladder made marks.....when one bulb burned out .....would you change BOTH of them ???? or just one. The heads will NEED to be surfaced they WILL be corroded they ALL are to some extent (few people have done the two year coolant changes). And you will also need to refresh replace just about all the rubber and plastic bits on top of the engine because when you touch them they will crumble. You will of course have to have the timing belt off to remove the cam belt that also has a number of while you are in there opportunities.
You stagger the scheduled maintenance between them so you always have one to drive and ultimately avoid the more expensive repairs caused by putting off the needed upkeep...
Now to see if the wife will buy into my logic.
