General Maintenance & Repairs - Problems: Coolant Leak & Choppy Ride

Here is the deal. I have a coolant leak. I am pretty sure one of my heads is cracked. That doesn't really bother me as much as the second problem. For about the first 10 minutes of driving the car will cut out bad.

For example, I will be driving at any speed in any gear and it will miss hard and pick back up. It is getting plenty of fuel, but it isn't sparking. It reminded me of when I had a lose ground behind the head, but the tach and stereo stays functional. After about 10 minutes of driving it runs smooth as it ever would.

I am having a bitch of a time narrowing the problem without the proper equipment. I was just wondering if someone had a solution or an idea of where it could be off the top of their head.

Sounds like there may be coolant getting into the cylinder, it will run like that untill the coolant is gone and the plug has dried out. it will usually do after it has sat all night or until the engine cools off, the coolant is seeping into the cylinder. Check which cylinder is miss firing and pull that plug when the engine cools.

Compression check the cylinders and check to see if you have combustion gasses in the cooling system. Have you checked your coolant level at all?

Here is the deal. I have a coolant leak. I am pretty sure one of my heads is cracked. That doesn't really bother me as much as the second problem.

:eek2:

If a cracked head doesn't bother you sell your car and move to China where they ride bicycles everywhere. I'm gonna agree with Beedo on your misfiring problem.

lol it doesn't bother me because I have another set I can use. I have to fill the coolant regularly. I know that coolant is getting in there. I just want to know where at. I haven't run a compression test, but I will soon.

EDIT: I went ahead and took out a few spark plugs (1,2,3,4,5,7).

They were all rusted. Number 5 was wet.

So I get the intake ready to be taken off and I decide to go to get the last spark plug (#8). While I am under the car I notice oil all over the bottom of the oil pan. It seems to be leaking out of the filter, but the filter is on there pretty tight. Anyway I will clean that up, just thought I should note it.

lol it doesn't bother me because I have another set I can use.

Well I guess it isn't a huge deal other than wondering what kind of damage has been done already if any.


So I get the intake ready to be taken off and I decide to go to get the last spark plug (#8). While I am under the car I notice oil all over the bottom of the oil pan. It seems to be leaking out of the filter, but the filter is on there pretty tight. Anyway I will clean that up, just thought I should note it.

Hmmm.....well I doubt that is related to your coolant problem. Maybe a double gasket on the filter?

Thanks for the reply. I will be changing the oil and filter anyhow so I will snap some pics if I find anything out of the ordinary. I need to run up and get the tool needed to take the fuel line off. Once I get the intake completely off I will post up some pics and details.

So the intake is off and I don't notice anything strange from first glance. The intake runners on the heads are charred black except in cylinder number 5 (it's normal, washed). Remember that plug number 5 was wet when I took it out. I am trying to find my usb cable to upload pics but I am having no luck.

I still can't figure out exactly what is letting the coolant in. It is really giving me a headache. I have classes on the weekdays and need a ride!

Blown head gasket?

I will find out tomorrow. I completely forgot about some important information. Here is what I think is going on based on what I have fixed.

1. I noticed some overheating and I was frequently adding coolant.
2. I noticed a leak coming from the water pump. Turns out the water pump was cracked.
3. I replaced the water pump, but I think the overheating might have already taken its toll on the heads.

NOW: After further inspection of the plugs and intake runners, I think we may have narrowed it down to cylinder number 5. I showed a few people the plugs and it seems that the rusty color I thought was rust is just normal char. The problem seems to be originating somewhere in #5. I will be taking the head off and inspecting it closer tomorrow. Thanks for the replies all.

Well at least you tracked it back to the water pump. Keep us posted on the rest

So the heads are off and I sent them up to O'Reilly's to have them inspected for cracks. I'll find out sometime tomorrow morning.

What did you find out?

He said that a piece of the metal around the spark plug had somehow been cracked off and made its way in between the valves, but he didn't see any cracks (cylinder 5). He is going to run a pressure test and let me know.

Hmmmm.......well where might this metal have come from?

It chipped off the head from where the spark plug comes through.

UPDATE: I called up to O'Reilly's and the technician called in sick. So no test results on the heads today. I just need for them to tell me that they are cracked or not so I can get to work. I need a car damn it. heh All is well that ends well.

So there is a pinhole crack in cylinder #5 just as I suspected.

That means it is time to order a new set of heads! I was thinking some PRC 2.5 from TSP. I might as well throw in an MS3 and some true duals while I am at it. :-)