blown 87

I have done a couple of head gaskets on a couple of cars, I cant remember one pouring out the plug hole like that.

Strange to have a catastrophic failure of a head gasket like that happen all at once.

Charley B

I'm afraid I'm not as optimistic. I sure hope I'm wrong.

killav

What about the two bolts at the back of the manifold (that also go through the fuel dampner/fuel presure regulators) that tap into the water jacket? They are back by cylinder's 4 and 8. I don't know how, but would it be possible for one of these to be leaking underneath the gasket and filling cylinder number 8 though the intake port??? I always put a dab of sealant on these threads after a manifold R&R.

SeanR

That was my first question to John but he ensured me that the intake was tight. Rog asked if there was any coolant on top of the heads at the rear also.

soontobered84

Sean, I can't remember talking to you about that specific thing. As a matter of fact, I can't even remember you returning my call about this car. Maybe I just had a REALLY fun Fat Tuesday and I have fried the two brain cells that I had been rubbing together.

the flyin' scotsman

If that bolt was loose and cause a leak how did the coolant get into the combusion chamber? Recall the coolant is coming out the exhaust so its out the exhaust valve of that cylinder.

There's not a passage from that bolt to under the VC is there? Possibly through the intake gasket or fuel injector?

I have both VCs off...........I'll go out to the garage.

SharkSkin

Hydro-locking the cylinder could have pushed the gasket out from the bore/head interface. Bummer.

SeanR

If there was coolant leaking from that port, and the intake was not sealed properly, then the intake valve will fill with coolant, doing what we are seeing here. I've not seen the car but with the many questions asked over the phone, and there not being any coolant in the engine when the intake was off.....I dunno. I'm wondering if the block plugs were pulled when this all was done. There would still be coolant in the engine if they weren't.

namasgt

the block and the radiator were both drained. In fact I bought 2 new plugs from Roger to replace the corroded ones.
I think that if the fluid is flowing like that the cylinder wall should be broken.
If thats true I have two options:
buy another block and transfer all the parts or basically do a rebuilt
or
buy a known good engine transfer all the new parts from the old engine, then sell all the extra parts from the old engine.
Im planning to pull the head out to see what’s going on with #8 this Friday and Saturday.
right now Im very tempted to pull the engine and put it in the kitchen then take it apart there. the land lady did told me before its non of her business what I do inside the apartment as long as its not illegal.

the flyin' scotsman

Sean...........I just went out to the -20C garage and looked. The port is very close to #8 intake so there is a possibility that coolant could leak into the intake if the intake gasket isnt sealing properly.

The OP did mention changing the water bridge gaskets and water pump in the intial post........dont recall mention of the drain plugs being removed.

There's a few possibilities then:

the B12 flooded the cylinder and caused the HG to blow.
the port aft of #8 cylinder leaked/ is leaking past the intake gasket and flooding the cylinder
the HG gasket failed coincedently of all the projects (not buying this one personally)

Anymore?

the flyin' scotsman

Not necessary............a very badly blow HG would cause same.

Have you tried pressurizing the cylinder?

BTW...........your car's a '88 S4? If so you can pull the cylinder head with the engine in the car.

namasgt

ok I said this before here is, in detail why I think the engine is a goner:

few months ago I had just finished cleaning up and installed the new water pump, (no coolant in the engine I drained the block long time ago plus the water bridge was the last thing I installed before the intake installation which was last week.
anyways
I just had installed the new belt and was turning the engine so I can properly tension it. then the belt made a squeaking sound I got so frustrated I decided to put the old belt back on to see if the squeaking will go away ( I thought the new belt had a defect). but I had to put the engine back on 45 degree mark before I put the flywheel lock. so as I was approaching TDC the engine did not want to turn any more in fact I was using a 4 feet long pry bar tube on the 27mm socket. now in those 2 days that I was working on the car, it was raining, small ice flakes falling down, and at night lots of droplets would form on the cars outside turning to ice the temp in those 2 days was less that 33 F .
when I was turning the engine and it stopped it was midnight, I pushed a little harder on the pry bar and all of the sudden the engine turned and it made a loud sound, I had not taken the spark plugs out.
Now come to think of it maybe because of the weather some water got in the intake port (but I had them covered with napkins) and when I was turning the fluid could not compress and it end up breaking the cylinder wall.
What do you guys think

namasgt

I turqued the intake down. plus I did not remove or thouched the VC.

the flyin' scotsman

ok............given the latest info; the engine has serious issues.

One or more cylinders flooded with B12/coolant whatever and forcing the engine to turn did damage.

Pull the DS cyl head and lets go from there.

FYI..........cyl #8 comes up to compression before #1 TDC

the flyin' scotsman

Perhaps a mute point now put you did state in your first post that you replaced all the valve cover (VC) seals.