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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2.3L (N/A & Turbo) Tech

1987 2.3L overheated gasket not blown

  • Thread starter Thread starter badgurl
  • Start date Start date Jan 10, 2009

badgurl

New Member
Dec 30, 2004
14
0
0
Vancouver, WA
Jan 10, 2009
#1
  • Jan 10, 2009
  • #1
I just bought a 87 hatchback for $200. The friend I bought it from said the electric fan went out and the temperature gauge went sky high. At the time he was sitting in traffic on a bridge on a hot day and didn't stop.
the hotter it got the rougher it ran. as he made through traffic and back up to speed he drove a few more miles to home. It ran real rough.

After I took the head off the gasket showed no signs of distress or leaking between cylinders. however there were some plugged water jackets in the head.

If the gasket wasn't blown, what else could it be? the head is a cast head.
 

bhuff30

Founding Member
Dec 11, 2001
6,037
35
129
Olathe KS
Jan 10, 2009
#2
  • Jan 10, 2009
  • #2
So what is the car doing wrong now? White smoke from the exhaust? Still running rough?
 
D

dreamer1uk

New Member
May 9, 2008
33
0
0
Jan 11, 2009
#3
  • Jan 11, 2009
  • #3
Hi,

If the water jackets are clogged in the head, it could be done to various problems such as Electrollysis (no idea if ive spelled that right), possible a high ph level of the antifreeze which would cause some lime scale build up.

Hows the Heater core?

You could try some Prestone Radiator flush and there other products to see if that will clean out those gallies.

Hope this helps.
 

Red_LX

I’m not much help unless you’re looking for ****!
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
5,896
73
129
Morgantown, WV...where couches meet their doom
Jan 12, 2009
#4
  • Jan 12, 2009
  • #4
Head could be cracked, that was what happened to my '90 when it overheated, although it didn't overheat for that long...just a few minutes.
 

Red

Founding Member
Oct 11, 1999
4,517
0
66
Rahway, NJ
Jan 13, 2009
#5
  • Jan 13, 2009
  • #5
how are the plugs? what do they look like?
 
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