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Blown headgasket? (preliminary pics)

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Old 01-06-2012, 02:32 PM
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Default Blown headgasket? (preliminary pics)

Tried starting the car last week. Turned over a couple times but didn't fire up. Tried a few more times and it finally fired up and a white smoke cloud lingered behind the car for a good 30 seconds. Didn't get a chance to smell it though. Started it up a few more times over the past week, but there has been no smoke come out. I have noticed some oil seeping out of the passenger head and the #2 sparkplug (front passenger side). On startup, I can see smoke come out of the sparkplug hole... I'm guessing it is oil burning off. I pulled the first 2 plugs on the passenger head for comparison. Left one in the picture is the #2 plug where smoke has been coming out and oil can be seen on its threads. Also, I see some oil collecting around the top passenger front headbolt as well. More "gunk" than usual is all over my rear bumper as well. These are 243 heads on an ls2 block. Patriot gold springs with titanium retainers. Engine was built about 8 months ago. Driveablity seems to be normal still, but for how much longer... so I'm thinking I wanna pull the head to see whats up. Does it sound like a headgasket?
Attached Thumbnails Blown headgasket? (preliminary pics)-photo-2.jpg   Blown headgasket? (preliminary pics)-photo-3.jpg   Blown headgasket? (preliminary pics)-photo-1.jpg   Blown headgasket? (preliminary pics)-photo-4.jpg   Blown headgasket? (preliminary pics)-photo-5.jpg  

Old 01-06-2012, 04:48 PM
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On the gasket pic it almost looks like someone rtv'ed it. Are you sure its not coming out of the valve cover. You would be leaking coolant out of the headgasket before oil.
Old 01-06-2012, 06:14 PM
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But why would oil be on the threads of the sparkplug? I don't see any oil marks going from the valve cover to the head
Old 01-06-2012, 06:36 PM
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Your spark plugs look like the motor wants fuel... Look quite lean. Hard to see timing but seems ok. who did the tune? How does the oil look? Have you drained it and it there metal on the magnetic drain plug?
Old 01-06-2012, 07:42 PM
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Reputable local tuner did my tune. Last time I changed my oil, a very small/skinny spring was attached to the magnetic oil pan bolt. Talked to the guy who built my bottom end and he said it looks to have come from the front main seal, but so long as there isn't any oil loss or oil pressure drop, I shouldn't worry too much. The only oil I'm seeing come out are from these pics I posted. No puddles of oil on the ground after a night of being parked
Old 01-06-2012, 09:44 PM
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Sure its not coming out of the intake gasket? Ifbyour pcv is screwed up it may be drawing alot of oil in your intake.



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