Blown head gasket - I think. Questions inside

[GRGT1994]

So I was pulling onto the highway today. Car was running great. I look in the rear view mirror, and there is a good cloud of smoke. I killed it and pulled over. Coolant in on the lower intake, splashed on the firewall, and pooled on the top of the timing cover.

I'm guessing a blown head gasket.

How long do you think it would take for me to tear down the top end? Then how long to put it back together again? (looking for a reasonable estimate, I'm not all that fast in the garage)

I did my HCI by myself last summer, so I have a good feel for what I need to do. But I want to get some thoughts on how long it might take me.

The alternative is to take it to a good shop I know. They said that they would do it for $800. And that would include planing the heads if warped.

Best I can figure is that it will take me at least a few hours to tear it down and clean it up. Probably all the free time I have this weekend. Then next weekend is the 4th - so no car work then (out of town). And at least another week, if not more, before I could get back in the garage and put it back together. So maybe I would be best to just let the shop do it this time.

Opinions? Any suggestions on avoiding another blown gasket? (mods in sig - except gears which are now 3.73)

 

[SeventyMach1]

If you have a garage .... there's no point in paying $800 to have it done, IMO. That is .... unless you need the car A.S.A.P. (I noticed you said you were slow in the garage). Don't feel bad. So am I. I like it that way so I don't overlook things.



BTW, your problem does not necessarily indicate a blown head gasket. But you will probably have to tear it down anyway .... and you will see the problem. Could be the lower intake.

 

[Guero]

2 days easily.taking your time. 800 bucks seems like alot, im paying 750 for them to put in the new block and build it back up.

 

[HISSIN50]

Brad, do you have a cooling system pressure tester? I'd put it on there and see if you can determine where you're losing it. What you described didnt strike me as HG at first blush.

Good luck bud.

 

[drakesdad]

Brad....it comes down to you having the "scratch" to pay someone to do it out of necessity.......I enjoy working on mine but I did send the 94 Crown Vic to shop just because I did not want to get all stressed on the oil pan......a lot of rusted bolts etc......we all try and save the dollar doing it ourselves because labor is crazy.......but I will sometimes think that "my" time is valuable and justify it that way.........follow JT's and Justin's advice and try to narrow the problem down first......good luck and let us know..
Will

 

[OrangeMustangGt]

i have done 4 in the last 2 months.......im getting to be a pro now, and IMO its not really that hard at all.......do it yourself, learn and save.

 

[GRGT1994]

If it doesn't sound like a blown head gasket, then what might you expect to see with a blown head gasket?

 

[94GTPilot]

I had the same problem about a year ago, and that really sounds like it's the timing chain cover gasket... I, too, thought it was the head gasket, but turns out to be a different one. Check right behind your water pump, or behind/below it,.. Just my $.02....

 

[GRGT1994]

I filled up the radiator and water immediately started dumping out. I traced a trickle up to the back of the motor (so I doubt it's the timing cover gasket). Can't tell for sure where it's coming from. But I'm still hoping for a head or lower intake gasket blowout. If it's not those, then the next suspect would be a cracked block.

Any other suggestions? I will prolly be dropping it off at the shop on Monday.

 

[urban96]

might just be the lower intake to head gaskets

 

[GRGT1994]

Am I crazy to try to drive it to the shop like this? (Only about 1 mile)

 

[mo_dingo]

Fill the radiator, get a pressure tester and pressurize the system to whatever psi written on the cap (15 i believe), and see where the coolant is coming from.
Scott

 

[GRGT1994]

Fill the radiator, get a pressure tester and pressurize the system to whatever psi written on the cap (15 i believe), and see where the coolant is coming from.
Scott

See above.

I filled up the radiator and water immediately started dumping out. I traced a trickle up to the back of the motor (so I doubt it's the timing cover gasket). Can't tell for sure where it's coming from. But I'm still hoping for a head or lower intake gasket blowout.

 

[BlackVert]

do blocks just crack like that out of the blue?

 

[mo_dingo]

do blocks just crack like that out of the blue?

I haven't seen many on here.....or maybe people don't post it if they do.....

Typically the rotating assembly or bearings go first.
Scott

 

[HISSIN50]

The thing with the pressure testing that Scott and I mentioned is that the motor is off and you pump it up and can see a stream coming out, often times. The instant pressure from the pump is what helps - a cooling system doesnt go to 16 PSIG instantly on its own.

If you can rent or borrow a tester, it's worth it IMHO. Were you local, you could borrow mine.

It could still be a HG issue, but we'd sure hate to see you do a tear down, esp when you're pressed for time, if it's not needed. If 30 mins of testing some stuff can narrow it down, that's time well-spent, as you know.

Good luck Brad.

 

[mo_dingo]

The thing with the pressure testing that Scott and I mentioned is that the motor is off and you pump it up and can see a stream coming out, often times. The instant pressure from the pump is what helps - a cooling system doesnt go to 16 PSIG instantly on its own.

If you can rent or borrow a tester, it's worth it IMHO. Were you local, you could borrow mine.

It could still be a HG issue, but we'd sure hate to see you do a tear down, esp when you're pressed for time, if it's not needed. If 30 mins of testing some stuff can narrow it down, that's time well-spent, as you know.

Good luck Brad.

Yup, if I would have tried a pressure tester on my car, I would have eliminted a lot of grief. But oh well, c'est la vie. I took my dizzy out and saw it was coming from the back of my timing cover.

Don't know what you will have to do, but I am sure you will get it done in no time. The testers are not cheap, so good luck. The Cornwell testers run almost $100, maybe more.
Scott

 

[HISSIN50]

:OT: Scott, mine's just a Stant, but you're welcome to borrow it anytime.

Cornwell is some rediculously wickedly nice stuff. And though it's been awhile since I priced them, that's a great price for a quality tester.

 

[GRGT1994]

Thanks for the help guys. I think I don't really need the pump to see a stream, cause it just starts pouring out when I fill the radiator back up - without any pressure.

To me that suggests a pretty big gap, and low enough to drain a filled coolant system. But high enough that I see a stream on the block just behind the passenger header. That's what got me thinking it was a head gasket.

Could be the lower intake gasket too I guess, but that seems high enough that I don't know if the water fills that high (especially without starting the water pump to pressurize the system.

I guess either way, I'm gonna let my guy at the shop look, cause they usually charge half what anyone else would (which is half again what a dealer mechanic would). And I just dont have the time to work on the car for the next month or so (summers in Michigan are too short already).

Anyway, I think I'll get a tow over there. All that water has me concerned about hydolock.

Thanks again for the help. Any I'd appreciate any more thoughts on the tow/drive question.

 

[HISSIN50]

Considering the cost involved in doing the work, I agree that the towing cost is small. You very well might be alright to drive it, but peace of mind is kind of a nice thing. A one mile tow should be cheap.

Good luck bud.