Blown headgasket?

**clg82** · 07-19-2010, 08:23 AM

Got a quick question, how can you tell if you have a blown head gasket. Don't worry it's not on my ls1 but my daily driver. Just wanted to know what your guys' suggestions on what I check first should be....thanks for any help!

**tep98ws6** · 07-19-2010, 08:33 AM

does your engine bay smell like crap? do you see a leak? are you smoking? are you throwing codes? have you done a compression test?

**0rion** · 07-19-2010, 08:35 AM

what does your oil and anti-freezelook like?

**clg82** · 07-19-2010, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by tep98ws6

does your engine bay smell like crap? do you see a leak? are you smoking? are you throwing codes? have you done a compression test?

thanks for the quick reponse. I had a lot of white smoke pouring out of the rear of the vehicle..I turned it off immediately and let it sit for a couple of seconds, then tried to turn it back over and just heard a clunk. I have nothing leaking from underneath from what I could see. It had an undescribeable smell....Almost like "smoking breaks" or hot breaks.....

Originally Posted by 0rion

what does your oil and anti-freezelook like?

I didn't have a chance to look Orion as I was on my way to work and had a friend pick me up. But I will check that first thing when I get back to my truck at lunch. Are those the first two things I should check?

**clg82** · 07-19-2010, 08:48 AM

Oh a couple more things....I did add some coolant because I noticed that it was low yesterday, and replaced the radiator cap because it was corroded.....not sure if either of those are significant or not.....to my situation

**tep98ws6** · 07-19-2010, 08:54 AM

it sounds like you blew it. like orion said, check the oil to make sure it's not mixing with the coolant. that'll be your best indication.

**clg82** · 07-19-2010, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by tep98ws6

it sounds like you blew it. like orion said, check the oil to make sure it's not mixing with the coolant. that'll be your best indication.

How hard is replacement? It's an 85 toyota pickup.....what will need replacing? just off the top of your head without looking at the engine of course

From what I can gather from surfing online at the least a new head gasket (of course) new spark plugs, new oil, and new radiator fluid.....

**tep98ws6** · 07-19-2010, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by clg82

How hard is replacement? It's an 85 toyota pickup.....what will need replacing? just off the top of your head without looking at the engine of course

From what I can gather from surfing online at the least a new head gasket (of course) new spark plugs, new oil, and new radiator fluid.....

shouldn't take longer than 9 hours

**clg82** · 07-19-2010, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by tep98ws6

shouldn't take longer than 9 hours

Any gasket besides the head gasket that I should think of replacing while i'm in there....and will any of this affect the cylinders, etc......

**0rion** · 07-19-2010, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by clg82

thanks for the quick reponse. I had a lot of white smoke pouring out of the rear of the vehicle..I turned it off immediately and let it sit for a couple of seconds, then tried to turn it back over and just heard a clunk. I have nothing leaking from underneath from what I could see. It had an undescribeable smell....Almost like "smoking breaks" or hot breaks.....

I didn't have a chance to look Orion as I was on my way to work and had a friend pick me up. But I will check that first thing when I get back to my truck at lunch. Are those the first two things I should check?

this is what kinda worries me.....what do you mean you just heard clunk? Did it try to turn over and stop or did it not do anything? Does it turn over now? Hopefully you didn't hydro-lock it.

**clg82** · 07-19-2010, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by 0rion

this is what kinda worries me.....what do you mean you just heard clunk? Did it try to turn over and stop or did it not do anything? Does it turn over now? Hopefully you didn't hydro-lock it.

Well Orion, I stopped by where it was during lunch, and looked at the oil cap....oil looks good, looked at the radiator fluid, that looks good, looked at the dip stick and that looks fine. But I did take a look at where the spark plugs are and their is water seeping from them......I tried to start it and it turned over

but runs like there's a cam in it....and not the good kind

.....either way any of your suggestions would be much appreciated.~Chris

**goof4080** · 07-19-2010, 12:23 PM

subscribed...

and a blown gasket looks like this...(2nd clip, 71 mustang, can't remember which..there were two, same color, stripes etc, but one was said mach1, the other boss 351

don't get it)
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqD_6zyTX_k[/ame]

**0rion** · 07-19-2010, 02:07 PM

a blown head gasket won't always show in the oil and water but normally will. Fact you have water seeping from around the plugs tells me it's either the gasket or cracked block. Just start tearing into it I guess. Sorry about your misfortune.

**dbrichrider33333** · 07-19-2010, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by goof4080

subscribed...

and a blown gasket looks like this...(2nd clip, 71 mustang, can't remember which..there were two, same color, stripes etc, but one was said mach1, the other boss 351

don't get it)

its cuz their both fords..lol

**clg82** · 07-20-2010, 05:14 AM

Originally Posted by 0rion

a blown head gasket won't always show in the oil and water but normally will. Fact you have water seeping from around the plugs tells me it's either the gasket or cracked block. Just start tearing into it I guess. Sorry about your misfortune.

Ok well I started tearing into it yesterday and just an update, the front two plugs were wet with water....the rear two WERE NOT...(it's a four cylinder)..how exactly (besides tearing it all the way down) will I know if it a cracked block or just a gasket?

**Cutlass** · 07-20-2010, 07:06 AM

well you pretty much have to tear it down and inspect the head gasket for signs of failure. If it looks ok, then you need to start looking for cracks

**clg82** · 07-20-2010, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by Cutlass

well you pretty much have to tear it down and inspect the head gasket for signs of failure. If it looks ok, then you need to start looking for cracks

Ok cool....I thought that maybe since it was only in the first couple of cylinders that maybe was a sign that it was just the gasket......

**pajeff02** · 07-20-2010, 08:14 AM

Once you get it off, make sure you check the head to ensure that it is flat. It's possible that it is warped and a new gasket will only be a temporary fix.

**clg82** · 07-20-2010, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Once you get it off, make sure you check the head to ensure that it is flat. It's possible that it is warped and a new gasket will only be a temporary fix.

I'll take a look at that as well.....thanks for the suggestion!

**Smittro** · 07-20-2010, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Once you get it off, make sure you check the head to ensure that it is flat. It's possible that it is warped and a new gasket will only be a temporary fix.

Wont even last that long if it's warped...

It would really be best to have the head checked for cracks, decked, and presure tested while you have it off, weigh the cost of a remanded head against the specialty work and go from there.. This is the only why to be sure you're not putting a damaged head back on the engine. I can tell you from some experiance (reason I hate I4's) that if the head has damage you can't see, you'll have the fun of doing it all over again.. I would also suggest (from orig op) a complete top-end gasket set. You may not need or use them all but you'll have everything you'll need too... Better than trying to piece some kind of set together guessing..