This does not look good

pwcracer

Founding Member
Jun 13, 2000
347
0
16
Hastings, MN, USA
I installed my rebuilt SC a few weeks ago, and drove it only a few miles. Tonight it was finally warm enough to really test it, and everything seemed fine. It had lots of power, and I never heard any detonation. I was even able to spin the tires in 3rd gear!

I parked it and when I went back out, i noticed it dumped about a gal, of coolent on the ground.. I can only assume this might be the tell tale signs of a head gasket failure *Again, this would be second time...

What do you guys think.. That to me is the only reasonable explanation.. Why else would there be so much pressure in the radiator to push out a gal of coolent out the over flow.. My car is F'ed isn't it???
 
Before you panic, make sure to top if off completely and get all of the air out of the system. Air pockets in the system can cause a ton of headaches such as this one in particular. I can't tell ya how many times I've seen cars puke out coolant, only to have it be a level or thermostat related issue, when the coolant just got too hot and expanded to the point of overfilling the overflow tank and dumping it on the ground. Just make sure your system is up to par first. A new thermostat and cap shouldn't be more than $10, and before you tear into the engine, it could save you some very large headaches, and your hair, before you pull it out by the handful.
 
Mine was overflowing the last time I was at the track. It was just a hot day and me running my car caused the coolant to rise high enough to where it would overflow because I filled it too high the last time. Check the simple stuff first.
 
Same thing happened to me days after installing my turbo on my old car. The HG must have been a little weak to begin with and my turbo or (your s/c) possible just helped it to its demise more quickly.

On my car, I was driving down the road and dam if the hot coolant wasn't spewing out on my feet!!!:banana: :damnit: :doh: :crazy: :eek:

I was hollerin and jumpin down the HWY and peoples thought I was bananas. I pulled over fast at a park and ride.
 
I replaced the cap, and drove it a lot yesterday. It only once dribbled out about a quart of water, and it only did that after I parked it.. I am going to watch it very close, but so far think it might be ok.. At least I hope it is..
 
if its only blowing out the overflow i don't think its a hg. it it was, wheres the break? if its between the chamber and water jacket, you'd have coolant in your chambers at idle/low rpms, and have white clouds out the exhaust. now you MIGHT have a head gasket that is on the way out and is only pushing it one direction when your into boost, but i doubt it.
 
hopefully its not, but i bet the hg's are gone...... I used to go through the same denialWHat ones did you use?

If you dont have them, get some cometic MLS ones....I changed 4 sets in a month untill i used them and even with knock they held fine!
 
I had this happen before too, and it was the HG, but it was much worse, I switched the e7 heads out for the gt40's and went with a graphite Ford motor sport HG. I run 93 octane and never heard it pinging, the air/fuel was ok too..

I wonder if my block is messed up, if this is the second time in a row. I am running a better tune now than I did the first time tho..

I had purchased cometic, but didnt want to pull the engine to have their special machining done to the block to make them work..


The coolant looks good, not dirty or anything, and the level in the radiator is a couple inches below the cap, The over flow tank is 3/4 full right now with the car cold...

(I know that smell all too well :( )