Ways to check for a blown headgasket!

tomst9

Founding Member

Jun 17, 2002

851

0

0

Bethlehem Pa

Mar 1, 2004

#1

• Mar 1, 2004

• #1

I have a feeling that my car has blown a headgasket. Besides pulling the head off because the gaskets are a $120, is there another way to check. I had something in my oil, but i have seen coolant in the oil and it wasn't that. My oil looked like wood glue. I've checked my coolant for bubbles and there are some but i'm not sure if they are from that. Is there a way i can hook up a air compressor into the spark plug hole and see if it blows bubbles in the coolant. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
thanks
tom

 

IndyBlk5.0

New Member

Nov 24, 2003

1,122

1

0

New Whiteland, IN

Mar 1, 2004

#2

• Mar 1, 2004

• #2

wood glue look is a blown head gasket. dont drive your car if you want to replace the bearings in the near future. drain the oil, put new in, and change the head gaskets, get the heads milled while your at it to make sure they are not warped. ive delt with this problem twice, once with my mustang, once with my ranger... if you want you can do a compression test, and a radiator test (tests for exhaust gases in coolant) but i am 99.9% sure that it is a headgasket, sorry man

 

tomst9

Founding Member

Jun 17, 2002

851

0

0

Bethlehem Pa

Mar 1, 2004

#3

• Mar 1, 2004

• #3

well thats not good news. i was thinking of testing it by putting one of those fittings that you use when you want to change valve springs with the heads still on the car. It puts pressure in the cylinder, then i would listen to see if its leaking anywhere.
thanks for the reply
tom

 

IndyBlk5.0

New Member

Nov 24, 2003

1,122

1

0

New Whiteland, IN

Mar 1, 2004

#4

• Mar 1, 2004

• #4

if you need any advice on any of your teardown and build, feel free to send me a private message

 

Starscream88

New Member

Mar 8, 2003

1,277

1

0

Park Ridge NJ

Mar 1, 2004

#5

• Mar 1, 2004

• #5

Yeah Headgasket isnt too much of a job, Just make sure the heads are straight and not warped,

You can test for it, as mentioned above,

Compression test is usualy the most accurate,
Or a leakdown test,
But if the oil looks like Chocolate milk, Coffee, Wood glue (lol never heard that before) or has any green tinge to it, its usually a headgasket

 

tomst9

Founding Member

Jun 17, 2002

851

0

0

Bethlehem Pa

Mar 1, 2004

#6

• Mar 1, 2004

• #6

i won't have a problem taking the car apart, ive done it many times. I have a feeling that my intake manifold gasket is leaking coolant into the oil because when i turn the car off i hear a splashing sound

 

88stangmangt

Active Member

Nov 25, 2003

2,333

1

48

Stafford,VA

Mar 1, 2004

#7

• Mar 1, 2004

• #7

that is prob from your gas tank some times if i listen once i turn my car off i can hear my gas moveing around. or coud be your rad fluid in the resouvor could be alot of stuff. dont jump the gun like stated above the best way to tell is compression test or leak down.

 

tomst9

Founding Member

Jun 17, 2002

851

0

0

Bethlehem Pa

Mar 1, 2004

#8

• Mar 1, 2004

• #8

ok, i guess i'll go get a compression tester tomorrow. What should the cylinder pressure be?

 

IndyBlk5.0

New Member

Nov 24, 2003

1,122

1

0

New Whiteland, IN

Mar 1, 2004

#9

• Mar 1, 2004

• #9

anywhere from 120-140 depending... maybe be more, the important part is that all of the cylinders are in 10% of each other. just as a rule of thumb, if not, then you have a problem... tell us the results when ya do it! good luck

 

tomst9

Founding Member

Jun 17, 2002

851

0

0

Bethlehem Pa

Mar 1, 2004

#10

• Mar 1, 2004

• #10

will do!