Forced Induction Superchargers | Turbochargers | Intercoolers

Possible Head gasket issue??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 13, 2015 | 11:04 AM
  #1  
dwayneogles's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: mooresville, nc
Default Possible Head gasket issue??

I ran my car pretty hard during lunch yesterday (forged 5.7 ls1 d1sc 9-10 lbs arp head bolts ls9 head gaskets 10:1 compression) and it pushed a little bit of coolant out of the radiator cap... the car never ran hot or smoked etc just curious if anyone else has had this happen?? coolant level was about 1 inch low in the radiator and started to fill back up when i restarted it after it cooled down a few hours later
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2015 | 11:55 AM
  #2  
VTC_WS6's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 727
Likes: 1
From: Austin, Tx
Default

I have a similar situation. I find just about every time I drive my car, I end up checking after the cools down and I'm about 6-8oz low on coolant again and I always seem to notice a Dex-like smell from the car, yet never see a drop of coolant anywhere. Oil doesn't appear milky, no obvious signs of oil in the coolant, but there is always that slight odor and always seem to "lose" a little regardless of how I drive it. I've come to the conclusion that I must be consuming it somewhere (despite the studs and LS9 MLS gaskets) through some minor imperfection, but it sure does get annoying.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2015 | 12:10 PM
  #3  
dwayneogles's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: mooresville, nc
Default

Yeah I could actually see a small amount of the antifreeze sprayed around the area of the radiator cap in my situation though so maybe a bad radiator cap??
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2015 | 12:47 PM
  #4  
VTC_WS6's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 727
Likes: 1
From: Austin, Tx
Default

Originally Posted by dwayneogles
Yeah I could actually see a small amount of the antifreeze sprayed around the area of the radiator cap in my situation though so maybe a bad radiator cap??
Possible, using a stock cap? How old? The seal could be deteriorating if it's original. Grab a new one and give it a shot. If it's still doing it, you might be pressurizing the system (pushing water).
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2015 | 01:08 PM
  #5  
dwayneogles's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: mooresville, nc
Default

It was a new 18lb cap but wasent a stock GM piece don't remember what kind it was gonna try a new stock cap and see if it does it again
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2015 | 01:30 PM
  #6  
Forcefed86's Avatar
8 Second Club
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 8,482
Likes: 1,026
From: Wichita, KS
Default

If you're getting manifold pressure in the rad the HG is leaking. The only thing you can do is re-torque the head studs and hope you don't see it again. If you do, you need to replace the leak. May also be a sign that you're cylinder pressure is spiking. Might be time to revisit the tune and drop timing down a bit.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2015 | 02:09 PM
  #7  
dwayneogles's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: mooresville, nc
Default

What's the best way to test to see if it is getting pressure into the radiator??
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2015 | 02:25 PM
  #8  
GrimReaper's Avatar
9 Second Club
iTrader: (33)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette Indiana
Default

Originally Posted by Forcefed86
If you're getting manifold pressure in the rad the HG is leaking. The only thing you can do is re-torque the head studs and hope you don't see it again. If you do, you need to replace the leak. May also be a sign that you're cylinder pressure is spiking. Might be time to revisit the tune and drop timing down a bit.


This is the truth!
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 13, 2015 | 02:25 PM
  #9  
oscs's Avatar
8 Second Club
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,903
Likes: 6
From: Cypress, TX
Default

Originally Posted by dwayneogles
What's the best way to test to see if it is getting pressure into the radiator??
Eliminate any other possibilities like bad radiator caps and re torque the heads to see if it continues. 10:1 and a shitty tune is a perfect recipe for pushing water. It happens ALL the time with higher compression S/C cars. If Your going to flirt with mechanically achieving Max CP be sure your tune is spot on or pay the price.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2015 | 02:45 PM
  #10  
dwayneogles's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: mooresville, nc
Default

Replacing the cap in the morning and I feel pretty comfortable with the tune Alvin at pcm of North Carolina tuned it and has done all my past cars as well
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2015 | 05:15 PM
  #11  
dwayneogles's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: mooresville, nc
Default

So I just got home checked coolant level, all good, warmed her up and went and drove the **** out of it again and everything was perfectly fine ran like a banshee and spit no water!!! What gives?!?!
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2015 | 08:19 PM
  #12  
Bad Apache's Avatar
TECH Resident
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 993
Likes: 119
From: Mechanicsburg, PA
Default

Originally Posted by dwayneogles
What's the best way to test to see if it is getting pressure into the radiator??

If the system over-pressurizes again and you can get your hands on a CO/combustion test kit, check it with that. In your case I would set up the tester and check the coolant in the overflow bottle as you slowly release some of the pressure/gases into the overflow from the radiator by very slowly loosening the radiator cap. Be damn careful. And it only takes a little turning of the cap to allow the gases out and into the overflow. The test kits are relatively cheap, easy to get and very accurate. Good luck!
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2015 | 02:23 PM
  #13  
GrimReaper's Avatar
9 Second Club
iTrader: (33)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette Indiana
Default

Originally Posted by dwayneogles
So I just got home checked coolant level, all good, warmed her up and went and drove the **** out of it again and everything was perfectly fine ran like a banshee and spit no water!!! What gives?!?!
Its probably that tick you developed from being ran over twice now on pit road! hahaha


Reply
Old Aug 14, 2015 | 02:28 PM
  #14  
stevieturbo's Avatar
9 Second Club
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 13,616
Likes: 185
From: Norn Iron
Default

Originally Posted by dwayneogles
What's the best way to test to see if it is getting pressure into the radiator??

Simple, monitor pressure in the cooling system.

Cheapest is hook up a fitting and use a cheap pressure gauge.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:29 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE