Lifting The Heads?
Originally Posted by KAOS
i am using arp head studs. and i torqued them, even though thats not saying much. i am using gm 6l metal head gaskets. so coolant would show up in the oil now? its only been doing it for a day so should i see some sort of coolant in the oil at this time. also i did have a little too much coolant in the over flow, it is now drained. have a few other item to straighten up so i will check. but my question is: wouldnt i lose power if i was blowing gases out. on the dyno i had this problem and never lost any power what so ever.
If the heads lift too much, coolant can get in the cylinder, thus coolant in the oil, among other serious problems. I would not drive the car or run the car any more until you have had a chance to take the heads off and investigate. You are asking for trouble. There is nothing else that would cause coolant to come out under boost.
i followed the torque sequence as far as the heads go. once i pull the heads i need new gaskets right? they are not reuseable? is there some secret to torquing heads? i just slid the heads on the studs and followed the directions, then put everything back and and i figured it was game time. i think that the cap on my overflow is stripped out or some thing. that would also cause this problem, correct
Originally Posted by KAOS
i followed the torque sequence as far as the heads go. once i pull the heads i need new gaskets right? they are not reuseable? is there some secret to torquing heads? i just slid the heads on the studs and followed the directions, then put everything back and and i figured it was game time. i think that the cap on my overflow is stripped out or some thing. that would also cause this problem, correct
Under no circumstances should you be building pressure beyond what the stock system would build in the coolant system.
If you think the cap is bad, replace it. If the problem persist, check the heads. Also you can get under the car to see if coolant is leaking down from the heads.
Not to hi-jack but:
I had the milkshake goo in my oil-fill after I removed the PCV system and capped off all the outlets. I used one valve breather on each head and had goo everyday. This was when I was cam-only before the turbo kit. Do you think I had a gasket problem then? I recently blew the motor while tuning the turbo and had multiple burns in my head gaskets in multiple spots all over the place. Could the gasket have contributed to a lean condition?
I had the milkshake goo in my oil-fill after I removed the PCV system and capped off all the outlets. I used one valve breather on each head and had goo everyday. This was when I was cam-only before the turbo kit. Do you think I had a gasket problem then? I recently blew the motor while tuning the turbo and had multiple burns in my head gaskets in multiple spots all over the place. Could the gasket have contributed to a lean condition?
Originally Posted by Bryan Wilkinson
Under no circumstances should you be building pressure beyond what the stock system would build in the coolant system.
If you think the cap is bad, replace it. If the problem persist, check the heads. Also you can get under the car to see if coolant is leaking down from the heads.
If you think the cap is bad, replace it. If the problem persist, check the heads. Also you can get under the car to see if coolant is leaking down from the heads.
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
Like I said, if you have to top it off like every other day, like a pint or three, it's going somewhere. You are burning/ using it, or leaking it. Make sure you don't have a leak. You can buy a pressure tester to see what happens.
Originally Posted by Bryan Wilkinson
Coolant coming out of the overflow is a indication that boost is bleeding into the coolant in the heads. It may not mean that the heads are lifting, but you may have a gasket problem, or the heads have loosened at the back of the engine closest to the firewall.
For the other person to suggest that you could not lift your heads at 9psi is nonsense. If they were not torqued properly, or if you are not using head studs, or the gasket was weak, any of these could cause boost to leak in the coolant. I cant believe he would make that statement especially considering he did not build your engine.
SOLUTION:
The heads need to come off, and the gasket needs to be inspected. If you continue, you could contaminate the oil supply with coolant.
9Psi on factory bolts, or even ARP bolts are not recommended, you need to use head studs.
Get it checked asap.
For the other person to suggest that you could not lift your heads at 9psi is nonsense. If they were not torqued properly, or if you are not using head studs, or the gasket was weak, any of these could cause boost to leak in the coolant. I cant believe he would make that statement especially considering he did not build your engine.
SOLUTION:
The heads need to come off, and the gasket needs to be inspected. If you continue, you could contaminate the oil supply with coolant.
9Psi on factory bolts, or even ARP bolts are not recommended, you need to use head studs.
Get it checked asap.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-internal-engine/314854-losing-coolant.html
9 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 985
Likes: 7
From: Lake Orion, MI
Originally Posted by KAOS
pressure test the coolant system? will it show where it is going?
If it's going into the cylinder then your basic options are to re-torque the studs and test again or pull them for new gaskets.
Rick
Originally Posted by KAOS
do i need to do this with the car at operating temps or would i be able to see evidence of it at any time
Your heads are probably not completely loose they are probably shifting thus allowing the gasket to shift allowing the boost to bleed into the coolant. Also watch the coolant temp, this is another good sign that boost is making its way into the coolant, the water temp sensor is in the heads.
I would recommend taking the heads off and checking and do not reuse the gaskets, regardless of what anyone tells you. That is an inexpensive replacement considering what a set of heads and block costs. This is something that you should not fool around with. Be patient and thorough, It can be a pain sometimes, but doing it right makes up for the trouble everytime.
Good Luck.
well put gas in it and drove down the road for a little bit. got on it some, and no blow out, just a spot or two. came home and put it on jackstands and got up and under it and looked for these stains or streaks. i didnt see anything. blocked wasnt stained or anything like that, that i could tell. so does it look like i have a bad heads gasket or what? what do you all think
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 596
Likes: 0
From: Downers Grove,IL
read a couple post on here and was curious. i am getting a lot of coolant out of my overflow. and on a few post it suggest that i may be lifing heads, accorinding to some other peoples experiences
This is not some ls1 deal. I have replaced many many head gaskets on all makes of cars and motors.
And that symptom is almost a universal sign when the seal is compromised for whatever reason. If coolant is in the oil or dripping to the ground they are 100% shot.
As a matter of fact I just replaced head gaskets on my 93 Cougar 140hp v6.
And what was it doing? blowing coolant out the overflow.
If the heads are "lifting" then it will happen first only at wot. Then it will progressively get worse and if not repaired soon, a much bigger repair bill can be expected.
Steve