Author Topic: Think i have a bad head gasket? (Read 2850 times)

Pedro · « **on:** June 05, 2007, 12:37:50 AM »

Okay heres my problem.... Engine has coolant and radiator is filled to the fill line. Before i would let it run for a little bit, not longer than 10 mins probably. The coolant would drop and fill back up, but it wouldnt go exactly back to the fill line, just below it.

So today i ran it for 15-20 mins watching the coolant the whole time. This time it dropped all the way to where i couldnt even see it anymore. the temp gauge moved passed half way almost to the 3/4 mark. i shut it off and removed the cap and it foamed out a little bit and then that was it there was nothing. No coolant and upper and lower hoses were hot.

Ive replaced so much shit on the motor. This the second motor in the car and i just cant seem to get it all completely fixed. Im gonna start checking out tomorrow but i just wanted to see what you guys thought before i start getting into it.

Any question just ask away.

gearheadE30 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 05, 2007, 06:46:20 AM »

Is the coolant just draining out of the engine and onto the ground? If so, fill it and run it while looking around the engine bay to see where it is leaking and plug it. Sounds like you would have already done that, though, so look for coolant in the oil or a smoking exhaust. That is *usually* what happends with a bad head gasket.

RED IS 91 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 05, 2007, 07:46:34 AM »

the coolant has to go somewhere ..........
Either White smoke out the tail pipe = leaking into combustion chamber.
Or coolant into oil passages or past rings = coolant into oil pan .
Do you have milky looking oil on your dipstick and is the oil level high

good luck

Pedro · « **Reply #3 on:** June 05, 2007, 06:35:30 PM »

Quote from: gearheadE30;27119

Is the coolant just draining out of the engine and onto the ground? If so, fill it and run it while looking around the engine bay to see where it is leaking and plug it. Sounds like you would have already done that, though, so look for coolant in the oil or a smoking exhaust. That is *usually* what happends with a bad head gasket.

coolant doesnt drain to the ground or anywhere else outside the motor.

Quote from: RED IS 91;27120

the coolant has to go somewhere ..........
Either White smoke out the tail pipe = leaking into combustion chamber.
Or coolant into oil passages or past rings = coolant into oil pan .
Do you have milky looking oil on your dipstick and is the oil level high

good luck

Oil level is good and it is not milky or "milkshaked" on the dipstick.

There are no heavy signs of white smoke coming from the exhaust. If it were that it is so minute i can not see it just standing at the back of the car.

Just how much coolant goes in our motor? I see that being the problem as i filled it up cold, let it run and then filled it up again. Maybe i just need to check all the lines under the intake manifold again and make sure i have them connected correctly. As of right now i just find it very odd.

phredphish · « **Reply #4 on:** June 06, 2007, 11:30:04 AM »

As for coolant capacity...after being completely empty (I just swapped motors), mine took just over 2gallons to be completely full.

Pedro · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2007, 01:08:45 AM »

I'm at almost 3 gallons and its finally staying around the fill line. I didnt realize our motor took so much.

I've also been super paranoid with the motor because of all the crap ive been through with the motor before.