Engine Problems, please help!!

S

SilverBullet00

New Member

Jul 5, 2004

1,150

0

0

Wichita, KS

Oct 19, 2005

#1

• Oct 19, 2005

• #1

To make a long story short here are my symptoms:

Loss of engine coolant
Oil in sparkplug well (only one cylinder)
Sparkplug being forced out
decrease in performance
oil consumption is fine, down about a 1/4 or a quart (since june)

I called the dealership and they said they would have to look at it to be sure, but It sounded like a blown head gasket. They want 2,000 to replace both head gaskets.. What do you guys think it is?

Im probably going to do the work myself with a couple friends, there is no way Im going to give them 2,000 for 2 gaskets!!!

 

streetstang03

unModerator

Dec 27, 2003

0

1

0

the dark side of the moon/home of the 1999, 2003,

Oct 19, 2005

#2

• Oct 19, 2005

• #2

sounds like headgasket to me too.

 

Dark Knight GT

I can't get it up......ok that didn't sound right.

May 26, 2003

3,653

2

56

Ozark, Missouri

Oct 19, 2005

#3

• Oct 19, 2005

• #3

Sounds like a head gasket to met as well. Oil rings on some of the pistons might be going bad as well. Can't really tell til the motor is broken down and inspected. However, 2,000 dollars just to replace a set of head gaskets is outrageous. I would shop around, and look for someone else to do the work. Dealerships are bad about ripping people off.

While you got the heads pulled, if you ever wanted to do a set of cams or cylinder head work, now would be the time to do it.

 

sgarlic

Founding Member

Apr 21, 2001

3,085

1

56

Oct 19, 2005

#4

• Oct 19, 2005

• #4

If you experience any overheating or white smoke from tailpipes, it's a sure sign of a blown headgasket. If so, watch that temp. gauge like a hawk. If it overheats, you could warp the heads.

I'd do it myself if I were you.

 

S

SilverBullet00

New Member

Jul 5, 2004

1,150

0

0

Wichita, KS

Oct 19, 2005

#5

• Oct 19, 2005

• #5

There has been no overheating yet at all, and how hard would it be to do myself? How would I know for sure its a blown head gasket, a compression test? Would it be better to take it to the shop and have them diagnose it for me, and then do the work myself?

And if I had to replace the gaskets I would TOTALLY put cams in it.. the only bad thing is there is no place around here to tune it for me... can you tune it at all with a mail tune?

 

K

Kilgore Trout

Fried or Broiled ?

10 Year Member

Mar 30, 2005

4,749

95

134

Oct 19, 2005

#6

• Oct 19, 2005

• #6

+1 for put in cams while you are in there... you will need a good torque wrench and good instructions for that advanced repair...

 

S

SilverBullet00

New Member

Jul 5, 2004

1,150

0

0

Wichita, KS

Oct 19, 2005

#7

• Oct 19, 2005

• #7

Do you have to remove the engine to remove the heads? If so, thats going to seriously suck....

 

0

02greenGT

New Member

Oct 15, 2003

38

0

0

Chicagoland

Oct 20, 2005

#8

• Oct 20, 2005

• #8

go buy a chiltons/haynes book and do it your self its a great learning experiance on how a motor works on the top end. These cars are pretty easy for head gaskets, make sure you inspect EVERYTHING. do not use the old head bolts without cleaning them meticulously. pay attention to torque settings, expect a weekend project 4 cases of beer, couple pizza and 2-3 buddies.

 

Dark Knight GT

I can't get it up......ok that didn't sound right.

May 26, 2003

3,653

2

56

Ozark, Missouri

Oct 20, 2005

#9

• Oct 20, 2005

• #9

SilverBullet00 said:

Do you have to remove the engine to remove the heads? If so, thats going to seriously suck....

Click to expand...

No, you don't have to pull the block from the engine bay to remove the heads, though it does make the job easier. It is something you can do with basic tools, but if you don't have any wrenching experience to this level, you might want to leave it up to someone who does. There are tons of great tech threads at Modular Depot concerning head swaps and cam installs. Probably would be a good time to read up on them. As for a tune, you can get a mail tune to help with the cams. It won't be as great as a dyno tune, but it will be good enough to get you by.

 

S

Smokeurhonda

New Member

May 1, 2003

457

0

0

Maryland

Oct 20, 2005

#10

• Oct 20, 2005

• #10

Check your dipstick. Look for what's called "milkshake". It looks like what it's called, it's like a chocholate color. If so it's deffinatly a blown head gasket. This is what happens when the oil and the coolant mix. If you do have this DO NOT drive the car. When coolant gets into your crankcase it acts like sand on the bearings and tears them apart. You can also do a compression check. If you do have low compression in one cylinder do a leak down test to see where it is coming from. Good luck.

 

S

SilverBullet00

New Member

Jul 5, 2004

1,150

0

0

Wichita, KS

Oct 21, 2005

#11

• Oct 21, 2005

• #11

alright, thanks guys.. ill keep you posted!

 

Cory281

Member

Jun 6, 2004

240

0

17

Oct 21, 2005

#12

• Oct 21, 2005

• #12

When you have a blown head gasket coolant will usually mix with your oil in the oil pan. Why don't you try draining your oil and see if it is mixed with coolant.

 

S

SilverBullet00

New Member

Jul 5, 2004

1,150

0

0

Wichita, KS

Oct 22, 2005

#13

• Oct 22, 2005

• #13

I thought about doing that, but when I checked the dipstick today there was no sign what so ever of coolant in the oil. Ive been checking into parts at different shops and I mentioned my problem to MPH, they said from what I was describing it sounded like a bad valve or valve seal.

So right now I am thinking about getting new stage 2 heads and stage 2 cams, with maybe an intake like the p-51 as well.. However, I havent thought of the whole "how am I going to pay for this" part yet...

I noticed that in the new 5.0 magazine there was an add from fox lake talking about a P-51 power pak that came with the p-51 intake, stage 2 heads and cams.. its suppose to make 120-130 HP... I need to find more info on this..

 

streetstang03

unModerator

Dec 27, 2003

0

1

0

the dark side of the moon/home of the 1999, 2003,

Oct 22, 2005

#14

• Oct 22, 2005

• #14

cant wait to see the price tag on that combo. the p51 intake is insanely priced by itself.

 

Dark Knight GT

I can't get it up......ok that didn't sound right.

May 26, 2003

3,653

2

56

Ozark, Missouri

Oct 22, 2005

#15

• Oct 22, 2005

• #15

SilverBullet00 said:

I thought about doing that, but when I checked the dipstick today there was no sign what so ever of coolant in the oil. Ive been checking into parts at different shops and I mentioned my problem to MPH, they said from what I was describing it sounded like a bad valve or valve seal.

So right now I am thinking about getting new stage 2 heads and stage 2 cams, with maybe an intake like the p-51 as well.. However, I havent thought of the whole "how am I going to pay for this" part yet...

I noticed that in the new 5.0 magazine there was an add from fox lake talking about a P-51 power pak that came with the p-51 intake, stage 2 heads and cams.. its suppose to make 120-130 HP... I need to find more info on this..

Click to expand...

Honestly, I would hold off on buying ANY aftermarket intake piece for a little while longer. I say this because HPS has their aluminum lower intake comming out, and I'll be one of the first to get one, and test it. The HPS intake should only cost around 700 dollars for both their upper intake elbow, and their full aluminum lower intake, which is portable for more gains. How well it will work, the dyno and track will tell. Main thing in our favor is its a full aluminum intake that doesn't give any clearance issues, and is about half the cost of the P-51 intake from Fox Lake. Also, I hear BBK is working on an aluminum lower intake, Purple Racing already has one out, but no dyno results as of yet and Dragon Performance "might" make be working on one in the future as well.

I would go with the head and cam package though, assuming you have valve train problems as it is.

 

P

prsrizdgt

New Member

Mar 12, 2004

231

0

0

St. Louis

Oct 22, 2005

#16

• Oct 22, 2005

• #16

If you can't get to a dyno, a good tuner will work with you after some datalogging, to get it real, real close. Maybe not perfect, but it will be a few horsepower you may not miss for the cost or situation your in (no dyno I mean). I know an excellent tuner in Virginia. If you need him, PM me. He did my car. 98 auto, roots blower, 90mm LMAF, cams, 11.8 A/F ratio.