head gasket

popmyclutch · September 12th, 2007, 03:11 AM

i have a 95 v6 3.8l. im fairly certain ive gone and blown my head gasket. is there any way to be 100% certain? when i drive for an extended period of time my pistons start knocking due to the engine over heating. i would jsut get rid of it for a newer v8 but i just painted the car got and got new rims and i dont wanna just thro that away. Is there anyway to be sure its the head gasket and if it is how much am i looking at to repair it?

SWEET2KSTANG · September 12th, 2007, 03:44 AM

start by checking the oil, coolant, and a compression test.

popmyclutch · September 12th, 2007, 03:49 AM

well the oil isnt milky which is what ive heard happens in this case. and i had the whole cooling system flushed when i swaped out my water pump.

Fryrice · September 12th, 2007, 04:20 AM

If its only misfiring at lower speed then its probably coolant getting into the cylinder. You wouldnt notice it as much at high speeds.

Did you check the oil when the car was hot or cold ? Any smoke from the tailpipe ? Does the exhaust gas smell sweet ?

A couple more ways to check :

1)Take a sample of the coolant and go to the local radiator shop and request that they analyze the coolant for the presence of hydrocarbons. If they are present then it is most likely that you have a blown head gasket.

2) Check your plugs for a white reside/coolant

3) I heard some people take off the radiator cap (Do this when the engine is cool )Start the engine and race it. If there is a compression leak and the gasses are going into the cooling jacket then the gasses will displace the coolant. Since the cap is off the coolant will be pushed out of the radiator.

Juggalo_X · September 12th, 2007, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by Fryrice

If its only misfiring at lower speed then its probably coolant getting into the cylinder. You wouldnt notice it as much at high speeds.

Did you check the oil when the car was hot or cold ? Any smoke from the tailpipe ? Does the exhaust gas smell sweet ?

A couple more ways to check :

1)Take a sample of the coolant and go to the local radiator shop and request that they analyze the coolant for the presence of hydrocarbons. If they are present then it is most likely that you have a blown head gasket.

2) Check your plugs for a white reside/coolant

3) I heard some people take off the radiator cap (Do this when the engine is cool )Start the engine and race it. If there is a compression leak and the gasses are going into the cooling jacket then the gasses will displace the coolant. Since the cap is off the coolant will be pushed out of the radiator.

dude if u take that cap off and drive coolant would come out even if your car was 100% mechanically sound. dont do that they take the cap off after it has reached an idle and its moderately warm. they also look for oil in the coolant and vise versa.

stephen · September 12th, 2007, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by Fryrice

If its only misfiring at lower speed then its probably coolant getting into the cylinder. You wouldnt notice it as much at high speeds.

Did you check the oil when the car was hot or cold ? Any smoke from the tailpipe ? Does the exhaust gas smell sweet ?

A couple more ways to check :

1)Take a sample of the coolant and go to the local radiator shop and request that they analyze the coolant for the presence of hydrocarbons. If they are present then it is most likely that you have a blown head gasket.

2) Check your plugs for a white reside/coolant

3) I heard some people take off the radiator cap (Do this when the engine is cool )Start the engine and race it. If there is a compression leak and the gasses are going into the cooling jacket then the gasses will displace the coolant. Since the cap is off the coolant will be pushed out of the radiator.

If the engine is overheating, it could be due to combustion gases going into the coolant. This could be confirmed by testing for hydrocarbons in the coolant or by removing the radiator cap and seeing if coolant is being blown out.

Of course don't drive around with the radiator cap off.

Since coolant isn't getting into the oil the gasket isn't leaking between the water jacket and oil passageways, but it may be leaking between the water jacket and combustion chambers.

Fryrice · September 12th, 2007, 03:51 PM

Juggalo ,I didnt mean for him to drive around town like that. I meant while hes sitting still. Doh.

Juggalo_X · September 12th, 2007, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by Fryrice

Juggalo ,I didnt mean for him to drive around town like that. I meant while hes sitting still. Doh.

oh sorry i miss understood.

Fryrice · September 12th, 2007, 04:04 PM

No worries. I could have worded it a little differently. I kinda looks like I meant race around town.

Juggalo_X · September 12th, 2007, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by Fryrice

No worries. I could have worded it a little differently. I kinda looks like I meant race around town.

that it does :wink

popmyclutch · September 12th, 2007, 07:46 PM

well when it over heats and the overfill cap is blown open and the radiator cap when i take it off coolant bubbles out

Fryrice · September 12th, 2007, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by popmyclutch

well when it over heats and the overfill cap is blown open and the radiator cap when i take it off coolant bubbles out

Huh ?

popmyclutch · September 12th, 2007, 11:23 PM

when it overheats the coolant boils out the radiator

Fryrice · September 12th, 2007, 11:26 PM

You gotta explain more. It boils out after you have been driving it and after you take the cap off ?

chevy_killer · September 12th, 2007, 11:48 PM

another good way to check if you have a blown head gasket is if you see water coming out of your tailpipe

September 12th, 2007, 03:11 AM	#1
popmyclutch Newbie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 28 iTrader: 0 reviews	head gasket i have a 95 v6 3.8l. im fairly certain ive gone and blown my head gasket. is there any way to be 100% certain? when i drive for an extended period of time my pistons start knocking due to the engine over heating. i would jsut get rid of it for a newer v8 but i just painted the car got and got new rims and i dont wanna just thro that away. Is there anyway to be sure its the head gasket and if it is how much am i looking at to repair it? __________________ sometimes its ok to ignore the "suggested" speed limit

September 12th, 2007, 03:44 AM	#2
SWEET2KSTANG mm's nitrous mod 2000 mustang gt 11.79@115.83 (old set up) Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: N.W. AR Posts: 12,430 iTrader: 8 reviews	start by checking the oil, coolant, and a compression test. __________________ project warhorse under construction being built by MP2 Performance

September 12th, 2007, 03:49 AM	#3
popmyclutch Newbie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 28 iTrader: 0 reviews	well the oil isnt milky which is what ive heard happens in this case. and i had the whole cooling system flushed when i swaped out my water pump. __________________ sometimes its ok to ignore the "suggested" speed limit

September 12th, 2007, 04:20 AM	#4
Fryrice Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: VA Posts: 2,034 iTrader: 0 reviews	If its only misfiring at lower speed then its probably coolant getting into the cylinder. You wouldnt notice it as much at high speeds. Did you check the oil when the car was hot or cold ? Any smoke from the tailpipe ? Does the exhaust gas smell sweet ? A couple more ways to check : 1)Take a sample of the coolant and go to the local radiator shop and request that they analyze the coolant for the presence of hydrocarbons. If they are present then it is most likely that you have a blown head gasket. 2) Check your plugs for a white reside/coolant 3) I heard some people take off the radiator cap (Do this when the engine is cool )Start the engine and race it. If there is a compression leak and the gasses are going into the cooling jacket then the gasses will displace the coolant. Since the cap is off the coolant will be pushed out of the radiator. __________________ Fryrice has left the building.

September 12th, 2007, 03:51 PM	#7
Fryrice Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: VA Posts: 2,034 iTrader: 0 reviews	Juggalo ,I didnt mean for him to drive around town like that. I meant while hes sitting still. Doh. __________________ Fryrice has left the building.

September 12th, 2007, 04:04 PM	#9
Fryrice Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: VA Posts: 2,034 iTrader: 0 reviews	No worries. I could have worded it a little differently. I kinda looks like I meant race around town. __________________ Fryrice has left the building.

September 12th, 2007, 07:46 PM	#11
popmyclutch Newbie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 28 iTrader: 0 reviews	well when it over heats and the overfill cap is blown open and the radiator cap when i take it off coolant bubbles out __________________ sometimes its ok to ignore the "suggested" speed limit

September 12th, 2007, 11:23 PM	#13
popmyclutch Newbie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 28 iTrader: 0 reviews	when it overheats the coolant boils out the radiator __________________ sometimes its ok to ignore the "suggested" speed limit

September 12th, 2007, 11:26 PM	#14
Fryrice Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: VA Posts: 2,034 iTrader: 0 reviews	You gotta explain more. It boils out after you have been driving it and after you take the cap off ? __________________ Fryrice has left the building.

September 12th, 2007, 11:48 PM	#15
chevy_killer Enthusiast 2009 v6 Mustang Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Winter Haven Florida Posts: 947 iTrader: 0 reviews	another good way to check if you have a blown head gasket is if you see water coming out of your tailpipe __________________ The LS1 was finally subjected to a paternity test, and it's daddy was to '03 Cobra

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