Pretty sure my head gaskets are done
#1
Staging Lane
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Pretty sure my head gaskets are done
Hey all,
I tried using the search function but it is failing me today.
I want to say my head gaskets are toast. I have been noticing the car running a bit on the hot side lately and loosing coolant at an accelerated rate. I recently had to have some hoses replaced that go to the heater core so I thought it may have been leaking from there and evaporating from the heat before I noticed it on the ground. Well I decided to really take sometime and figure out whats going on with it. Yesterday I filled the radiator and drove it to and from work. When I got home I was missing roughly 1/4 of my coolant in the radiator. Nothing on the ground or on the block. Engine oil looked ok also. I noticed my upper radiator hose wasn't hard until almost 210 degrees, I have the stock thermostat which i think is 187. So I figured I was boiling whatever water was in the system. The last thing I decided to look at was the exhaust. I closed my cutout and before my eyes I could see a puddle of coolant form in the tailpipes.
The car seems to still run fine so I don't think it is completely done yet but if I can literally watch a puddle form and run out of the tailpipes that would be a pretty good sign huh?
Also if the heads are coming off anything I should look at while it is in the current state?
98 Trans Am 165k miles. All stock besides cutout and air filter.
I tried using the search function but it is failing me today.
I want to say my head gaskets are toast. I have been noticing the car running a bit on the hot side lately and loosing coolant at an accelerated rate. I recently had to have some hoses replaced that go to the heater core so I thought it may have been leaking from there and evaporating from the heat before I noticed it on the ground. Well I decided to really take sometime and figure out whats going on with it. Yesterday I filled the radiator and drove it to and from work. When I got home I was missing roughly 1/4 of my coolant in the radiator. Nothing on the ground or on the block. Engine oil looked ok also. I noticed my upper radiator hose wasn't hard until almost 210 degrees, I have the stock thermostat which i think is 187. So I figured I was boiling whatever water was in the system. The last thing I decided to look at was the exhaust. I closed my cutout and before my eyes I could see a puddle of coolant form in the tailpipes.
The car seems to still run fine so I don't think it is completely done yet but if I can literally watch a puddle form and run out of the tailpipes that would be a pretty good sign huh?
Also if the heads are coming off anything I should look at while it is in the current state?
98 Trans Am 165k miles. All stock besides cutout and air filter.
#3
Staging Lane
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Got my first quote...1600 bucks
Includes tear down, sending the heads to a shop and getting them machined and pressure tested and assembling with all new top end gaskets that come with the kit. I figured it would be around there. Anything I should ask to have done with in reason while it is torn down?
@Omar: Thanks, yes it does suck when things like this happen.
Includes tear down, sending the heads to a shop and getting them machined and pressure tested and assembling with all new top end gaskets that come with the kit. I figured it would be around there. Anything I should ask to have done with in reason while it is torn down?
@Omar: Thanks, yes it does suck when things like this happen.
#5
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Got my first quote...1600 bucks
Includes tear down, sending the heads to a shop and getting them machined and pressure tested and assembling with all new top end gaskets that come with the kit. I figured it would be around there. Anything I should ask to have done with in reason while it is torn down?
@Omar: Thanks, yes it does suck when things like this happen.
Includes tear down, sending the heads to a shop and getting them machined and pressure tested and assembling with all new top end gaskets that come with the kit. I figured it would be around there. Anything I should ask to have done with in reason while it is torn down?
@Omar: Thanks, yes it does suck when things like this happen.
#6
Staging Lane
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After a block check it isn't the head gaskets. I guess it had a lot of condensation in the tail pipes, more than likely due to the cutout. Ended up the Water pump had a bad bearing and was leaking at the block also. It wasn't leaking where I could see it either. So after a new water pump, belt tensioner and idler pulley, thermostat (160), new belts, new rear shocks the car is driving better than ever.
#7
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wow you lucky bro.. i had the same thing but only difference was that i was getting alot of blowby through my oil cap and it was a ugly color in the oil.. i just took it apart and had the heads sent to the machine shop n they passed the comp test but it had to be one of the gaskets so i am changing out the water pump too and the thermostat... hope it gets better..she looks like she on life support hahaha.. best of luck to ya
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#8
Staging Lane
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wow you lucky bro.. i had the same thing but only difference was that i was getting alot of blowby through my oil cap and it was a ugly color in the oil.. i just took it apart and had the heads sent to the machine shop n they passed the comp test but it had to be one of the gaskets so i am changing out the water pump too and the thermostat... hope it gets better..she looks like she on life support hahaha.. best of luck to ya
Wow yeah I squeezed by on this one. I was positive it was a blown head gasket because I couldn't see the pump leaking and the amount of water in the tail pipes sold me right there. Oh well I still spent roughly the same but on other things that needed to be done. Sorry to hear about your ride. Hopefully you get it back together soon!
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After a block check it isn't the head gaskets. I guess it had a lot of condensation in the tail pipes, more than likely due to the cutout. Ended up the Water pump had a bad bearing and was leaking at the block also. It wasn't leaking where I could see it either. So after a new water pump, belt tensioner and idler pulley, thermostat (160), new belts, new rear shocks the car is driving better than ever.