Dharn55

My wife was driving my 2000 C4 Cab (50,000 miles) on Thursday when the temperature light started flashing. Had her turn the car off and turn it back on, no flashing light so she drove it home. On Sauturday I went to drive the car and the light was flashing again. checked the coolant tank, empty except for some "mayonaisse), then the oil, looks like chocolage milk.



I guess it is my turn. So how do you determine if it is a head gasket failure (I should be so lucky) or a cracked cylinder liner? Is there an easy way to differentiate?



The worst is that I had an extended warranty, but it ran out last January. Too bad it did not happen a year ago.

Tippy

Sorry to hear.

Only way I believe you could find out either way would be a borescope through the spark plug hole. That would only determine a slipped liner though, the head gasket would have to be removed to determine if it had failed.

Ubermensch

Has anyone blown a head gasket on these cars? I think the liner is a much more likely culprit, but I'd love to learn I'm wrong.

othomasjr

Same thing that happened to me. Sorry to hear it. A new motor will be required.

Macster

Usually look similar. A compression test might help if leak between two cylinders. The two adjacent cylinders will be both low on compression.

Bubbles/oil in coolant might be present if head gasket leak, but also could be present if leak from crack in cylinder wall.

Borescope as someone else suggested or removal of head of affected bank most likely required.

Check center cylinders. For 3.4l engines these are the cylinders mostly (all?) afflicted with the cracking.

If cylinder cracked in short time crack will complete and a piece will come loose and then next time engine started and run engine makes horrible sounds as it beats itself to pieces.

If cylinder cracked but no piece loose yet, engine might be salvagable. Autofarm in UK sleeves these engines. There might be a place or two in USA that does the same thing.

Have not researched this.

If sleeving not an option, a replacement engine called for.

Sincerely,

Macster.

Tippy

I believe someone had one fail, but it was found out to be a misinstalled gasket. There was a foreign object in between the gasket and the deck of the block.

msalamza996

Hey guys, I have the same kind of problem. I am eating coolant as welll. And i dont know where it goes. I took it to porsche and they said there is moisture/coolant in cylinder one. The engine light flashes on startup and stays on after that. There is no oil in the coolant tank, but i think there is coolant in the oil because i drained the oil and it was very thick and black. Any ideas what the problem could be? i was thinking cracked head or blow head gasket. Any pointers would be great... thanks!

2004 c4 tip.

RPMulli

This thread upsets me.. I hate hearing about milky oil and burning coolant...

Are the sleeves in the 3.4L defective in some engines or what? My 996 with nearly 100k is running strong. Knock on wood.

JOL

Any smoke coming from the exhaust?

Jeff996

I am dealing with the same issue. My 3.4 has recently developed a cracked cylinder head on bank 1-3. 2001 C2 with 73,000 miles. I am the original owner of the car.

I am still waiting to hear if the cracked head is reparable, or if it is new motor time. Cost of new motor > value of car.

ivangene

I would stop running the motor firth thing

second, its NOT a head gasket.

You might have to have it opened up to find the issue, but running it will make the problem bigger. Are you the type to do your own work, or have it done, where are you located, do you have a warranty?

<hoping for a good outcome>

nick49

Tons of info on this, do a search:

POROUS

SLIPPED SLEEVE

INTERMIX

BLOWN HEAD GASKET

Flat6 Innovations

We have NEVER, EVER witnessed a blown head gasket from any M96 engine even with coolant temps of 300F. The cylinders and cylinder heads are weaker than the multi-layer steel head gaskets that the M96 engine uses.

If the issue is on cylinder 1, our vast experience with this MOF says cracked head. We can repair 3 of the 4 most routine crack areas of the M96 head and I also have a good selection of good use heads as well.

A cracked head is not a new engine as long as collateral damage has not occurred, be sure before having a head repaired that there is no collateral damage to contend with, the diagnostics behind this can be extensive and if not carried out you can quickly throw good money at bad..
DO NOT RUN THE ENGINE ANY LONGER!!! Just a few seconds can create enough collateral damage to require a death certificate to be issued.