Head Lifting or torched HG
Head Lifting or torched HG Car seems to drink water and I can't seem to narrow it down. Had to add ~.5 gal yesterday after a few WOT hits the night before. (Edit: This is an LT1, gen 2, just to be clear)
-Car never overheats
-Plugs look really good, tune is good
-Oil is dark as sin, but no sludge
-The usual steam at cold start up but nothing at hot idle
The only odd symptom is a semi frequent water discoloration on the side of car that overflow is on. Dream would be that overflow (1qt) is too small and it fills then overfills before motor can draw back in. But reality is its prob torched a HG.
Thoughts?
-Car never overheats
-Plugs look really good, tune is good
-Oil is dark as sin, but no sludge
-The usual steam at cold start up but nothing at hot idle
The only odd symptom is a semi frequent water discoloration on the side of car that overflow is on. Dream would be that overflow (1qt) is too small and it fills then overfills before motor can draw back in. But reality is its prob torched a HG.
Thoughts?
I can see what I can rig up with a port on the head.
For the time being I ran a line from the top of the overflow tank to the rear with another tank in the back just in case it is pushing water.
Would doing another torque on the studs be worth the effort of yanking manifolds? Or are HG trash regardless if head lifted?
For the time being I ran a line from the top of the overflow tank to the rear with another tank in the back just in case it is pushing water.
Would doing another torque on the studs be worth the effort of yanking manifolds? Or are HG trash regardless if head lifted?
I ALWAYS retorque after getting it hot for the first time. Pain in the ...., but it's worth it to me. Give it a shot. Won't hurt and might fix your problem. Plus, they sell the tester to see of you're getting exhaust gas in the coolant system. Never bought one, but I have used them at a shop in the past. They work well.
Trending Topics
The push to reset tire gauges make for a nice and easy way to record max pressures for under $5. good idea to have one on the cooling system. My also check the VC vents for signs of coolant. I had very small amounts of coolant in my catch can and vents.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo 
Either way, the process sux0rs. 
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 0
I wouldn't yet.
I ran into similar issue with my quad. Same symptoms.
I bought that kit for checking for exhaust gases in the cooling system.
That's what I had. I was gonna pull the head and do the gasket then said screw it and did a re torque. Problem solved. It's been close to ten years I bet. I know it's not the same engine but same symptoms.
I ran into similar issue with my quad. Same symptoms.
I bought that kit for checking for exhaust gases in the cooling system.
That's what I had. I was gonna pull the head and do the gasket then said screw it and did a re torque. Problem solved. It's been close to ten years I bet. I know it's not the same engine but same symptoms.
What do you mean clunks when cranking? Did the engine hydro -lock at all? If it did pull it apart and have the rods checked. I lost 2 engines in the past due to bent rods from hydro locking. Stupid on my part. One was from a small leak around the head gasket oring and the other was from an actual part of the head casting fell out. If you bent a rod, the engine will eventually spin the rod bearing and weld itself to the crank. Not good.
Doh! I assume everything on this sight is an LS I suppose. I never had good luck with the graphite gaskets. They are a great weak link to have. If I ran into any detonation they’d blow quick. Unfortunately they would also tend to leak after a year or 2 on their own when running "big boost". If your confident in your tuning I’d go with the MLS.
I think the tune is fairly conservative and I am not really asking much from the motor. Will def be checking heads for straightness and rods for shortness.
Hopefully this is a cheap fix.
Hopefully this is a cheap fix.