[WLJohnson05]

Im thinking im having a head gasket failure creeping up. how much does it run to replace, and how do they know which one is dying? also while they have the heads off is it easy to see if the rings and such are doing ok?

also where does everyone recommend getting new gaskets and all head bolts, etc.?


the problem that is making me think this is smoke coming out the exhaust during a longer trip. for short drives (a couple miles or less) i dont have any problem with it at all. the last oil change (less than a week ago) the oil looked fine in it. on my trip from home back to college (about an hour and a half trip) i see it start acting up. after driving for a while i stop at a light and all of a sudden this big burly smoke starts coming out the exhaust and like creates a huge cloud....then taking off it blows a little then goes away.

also i put coolant in the reservoir bc it was low and i filled up to the full cold line, along with topping off the radiator, and i just checked it and it is lower now than it was by a good bit.

my conclusion is that it is a head gasket...

[stephen]

If the "smoke" is white it is steam and may be from a head gasket. If it is black or blue in color it is oil or excess fuel burning off and not a head gasket. I doubt it is a head gasket from what you say.

The coolant loss could be from many causes, such as a loose hose clamp etc. A pressure test could probably find the cause.

The condition of the rings can be checked by a compression check and from the oil usage.

[WLJohnson05]

Originally Posted by stephen If the "smoke" is white it is steam and may be from a head gasket. If it is black or blue in color it is oil or excess fuel burning off and not a head gasket. I doubt it is a head gasket from what you say. The coolant loss could be from many causes, such as a loose hose clamp etc. A pressure test could probably find the cause. The condition of the rings can be checked by a compression check and from the oil usage.

its not steam, i know that for sure. its not black and its not blue. im for the most part sure that it is burning coolant in small portions when the motor gets hot. either there is a warped gasket or worse, a warped head.

[Codeman]

If you have white smoke out of the exhaust that is most definately coolant burning. Im guessin it could be either a head gasket or a warped head. As far as the cost, you are going to need new gaskets for the intakes, heads, and then new head bolts. Idk i would say the time to change it at a shop would probably be somewhere around 4 hrs. Hmm i just read your description again and that actually does kind of sound like coolant comming out of a cracked radiator or loose hose, because if your burning coolant it should happen pretty regularly. Does it smoke more than normal? Also you could try this, warm your car up and then just rev it up in the driveway and see if you get tons of smoke out the exhaust, or if you start seeing a lot of smoke while driving next time you could pull over and make sure it is coming out of the exhaust.


another test, if your using coolant and it is a head gasket be really carefull, because coolant and oil do not mix. So if you think it is a headgasket, try draining the oil and slowly remove the drain plug, and the coolant should come out first slowly, if it does then you have a blown headgasket, and then I would definately change the gasket, and change the oil also.

[WLJohnson05]

Originally Posted by Codeman If you have white smoke out of the exhaust that is most definately coolant burning. Im guessin it could be either a head gasket or a warped head. As far as the cost, you are going to need new gaskets for the intakes, heads, and then new head bolts. Idk i would say the time to change it at a shop would probably be somewhere around 4 hrs. Hmm i just read your description again and that actually does kind of sound like coolant comming out of a cracked radiator or loose hose, because if your burning coolant it should happen pretty regularly. Does it smoke more than normal? Also you could try this, warm your car up and then just rev it up in the driveway and see if you get tons of smoke out the exhaust, or if you start seeing a lot of smoke while driving next time you could pull over and make sure it is coming out of the exhaust. another test, if your using coolant and it is a head gasket be really carefull, because coolant and oil do not mix. So if you think it is a headgasket, try draining the oil and slowly remove the drain plug, and the coolant should come out first slowly, if it does then you have a blown headgasket, and then I would definately change the gasket, and change the oil also.

i've tried just about everything....i just changed the oil last week and there isnt anything in the oil that i could see. thats why i think its something warped. it gets hot and then it could be letting out small amounts that i cant see while driving and when it sits still it lets it build up around the car is what im figuring.

[Codeman]

hmm, if the smoke is white that should be coolant, but as far as if you let it sit and you get smoke when you start your vehicle, that sounds like some worn valve guides, but that would be a poof of blue smoke. I would recommend doing a compression test on each cylinder if you have a blown head gasket it should show up. check this out Checking Compression | Tooldesk Automotive Tool Blog

then if all of your compressions on each cylinder check out ok, you can eliminate a head gasket. It is hard to diagnose without seeing it you know. If you are not comfortable doing those tests yourself, take it to a shop and tell them and see what they think.

[99 BLUE V6]

Originally Posted by WLJohnson05 i've tried just about everything....i just changed the oil last week and there isnt anything in the oil that i could see. thats why i think its something warped. it gets hot and then it could be letting out small amounts that i cant see while driving and when it sits still it lets it build up around the car is what im figuring.

pull spark plugs.bump motor around see if your getting moisture out of any clyinders.also with motor running .remove radiator cap look for bubbles. (compression). you could also put put a pressure gauge on rad, pump it up with plugs out look for issues. you turboed ?
are you running mls head gaskets.bolts studs psi?

[HMUSN]

About 40 bucks for the gasket and another 20 for the chiltons.

[99 BLUE V6]

Originally Posted by WLJohnson05 Im thinking im having a head gasket failure creeping up. how much does it run to replace, and how do they know which one is dying? also while they have the heads off is it easy to see if the rings and such are doing ok? also where does everyone recommend getting new gaskets and all head bolts, etc.? the problem that is making me think this is smoke coming out the exhaust during a longer trip. for short drives (a couple miles or less) i dont have any problem with it at all. the last oil change (less than a week ago) the oil looked fine in it. on my trip from home back to college (about an hour and a half trip) i see it start acting up. after driving for a while i stop at a light and all of a sudden this big burly smoke starts coming out the exhaust and like creates a huge cloud....then taking off it blows a little then goes away. also i put coolant in the reservoir bc it was low and i filled up to the full cold line, along with topping off the radiator, and i just checked it and it is lower now than it was by a good bit. my conclusion is that it is a head gasket...

dont know what gasket ford uses,but you should use a mls gasket,if that is what ford uses then just go with that. use ARP studs or bolts if you dont already have for better clamping force for turbo. cometic and fel pro have mls for 3.8. a little pricey. make sure heads are resurfaced properly for mls gasket. smooooth.

[JTs03v6]

Originally Posted by HMUSN About 40 bucks for the gasket and another 20 for the chiltons.

Look to spend 100 in gaskets and 150 for studs. No need for the chiltons if he has the web.

It could or could not be a head gasket. Do the tests to know for sure. Compression test will let you know if the rings and headgasket are in tact.

Pull each plug from each head and compare the plugs from one head to the other. Plugs should be a light brown in color. If there is any white residue on any of them that would indicate coolant.

Are you running dual exhaust without midpipe?? If so is smoke coming from both pipes??

Any over heating issues?? Any cel's??

[Matt.]

johnson i love your stang and you have alot done to it, but you need to get a chin spoiler trust me. Its worth the 99 bucks it makes the front of your car look sick

[stephen]

A Felpro top end gasket set from Rock auto sells for $167.99 plus about $30 for new head bolts.

The heads need to be resurfaced and the new stem seals from the gasket set should be installed.

I think the typical labor estimate is about 8 hours.

[WLJohnson05]

Originally Posted by JTs03v6 Look to spend 100 in gaskets and 150 for studs. No need for the chiltons if he has the web. It could or could not be a head gasket. Do the tests to know for sure. Compression test will let you know if the rings and headgasket are in tact. Pull each plug from each head and compare the plugs from one head to the other. Plugs should be a light brown in color. If there is any white residue on any of them that would indicate coolant. Are you running dual exhaust without midpipe?? If so is smoke coming from both pipes?? Any over heating issues?? Any cel's??

yea im hoping ill get enough time to do it this weekend to find out for sure. as far as exhaust goes im just running a down pipe (3") to a magnaflow muffler that ends just under the driver seat pretty much. no codes or anything and the motor seems to be running ok too, just it starts pouring out the cloud.

Originally Posted by Matt Stang johnson i love your stang and you have alot done to it, but you need to get a chin spoiler trust me. Its worth the 99 bucks it makes the front of your car look sick

chin spoiler wont exactly work on a roush bumper

[ESG-642T]

Originally Posted by stephen A Felpro top end gasket set from Rock auto sells for $167.99 plus about $30 for new head bolts. The heads need to be resurfaced and the new stem seals from the gasket set should be installed. I think the typical labor estimate is about 8 hours.

Don't get the Fail Pro gaskets, please for the love of God get the ford MLS gaskets. If you want you can also get the arp head studs while your doing this.

[stephen]

Originally Posted by ESG-642T Don't get the Fail Pro gaskets, please for the love of God get the ford MLS gaskets. If you want you can also get the arp head studs while your doing this.

Both felpro and victor are MLS gaskets for this application. I don't know who makes the Ford head gaskets.

[ESG-642T]

Originally Posted by stephen Both felpro and victor are MLS gaskets for this application. I don't know who makes the Ford head gaskets.

I know this, why are you telling me?

[03_StangGuy]

def do a compression test, and possibly a leakdown. I didnt thinkin it was a head gasket and removed the head and the gasket was fine!! No I have to reassemble it and do a compression test to see whats wrong. May not have ever needed to remove the head :/. Im at the mercy of the weather waiting for it to warm up to get more work done.

[JTs03v6]

Look to spend around 500 bucks for labor at a shop. Or have someone you know that you trust help you with the install.
ssm has a writeup on this job if you want to save a little money and do the job yourself.

[99 BLUE V6]

JOHNSON / So with all those stickys you wrote. Surely this is a job your going to tackle your self right. I don't think your lacking in the knowlage department. Seems a little odd your even asking.

[stephen]

Originally Posted by ESG-642T I know this, why are you telling me?

Perhaps I misunderstood what you were saying. It seemed you were saying only the Ford head gaskets are MLS. Actually victor first developed the MLS gasket. Before that Ford had major problems with aluminum heads on steel blocks. Anyway the two major gasket manufacturers are victor and federal-mogul (felpro). It's likely one of these makes Ford's head gaskets.