blown head gasket

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Apr 14, 2013 | 11:07 PM

tht1guy

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blown head gasket

Hey guys im new to the site and for the past few days my 98 firebird with the ls1 engine with light mods has been randomly dieing while i was driving. i have found out that i blew my head gasket. any tips about replacing it?

Apr 14, 2013 | 11:08 PM

Zlow28

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just curious, how do you know its the headgasket?

Welcome!

Apr 14, 2013 | 11:12 PM

ZouMechE

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From: Columbia, MO (Mizzou)

Who told you its the headgasket? Check your oil dipstick, and if it smells like coolant, or the oil is a milky color, then yeah, shot or leaking headgasket, but its sounds like more of a spark or fuel issue to me..

Apr 15, 2013 | 12:14 AM

tht1guy

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I put a dye into my coolant and the die is on my dip stick

Apr 15, 2013 | 12:48 AM

Zlow28

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tip, do not strip a headbolt.
now's a good time to put in a ls6 intake if you dont have one yet.

Apr 15, 2013 | 08:54 AM

tht1guy

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Do I have to pull the whole engine in order to change it properly?

Last edited by tht1guy; Apr 15, 2013 at 09:11 AM.

Apr 15, 2013 | 10:54 AM

FBGSU02

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No you do not have to pull motor to change head gasket. Since your taking it apart you might want to to both sides. Change lifters while you are there. depends on miles you might want to put in new valve seals.
Did car overheat?

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Apr 15, 2013 | 01:06 PM

dailydriver

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From: Bucks County, Pa.

Besides the above mentioned symptoms, what are the other symptoms of a gone gasket/warped or cracked head??

Wildly hunting/almost stalling idle??? VERY rough running? Or are these all electrical/computer/sensor problems as well?

Apr 15, 2013 | 02:04 PM

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lt1pwr1

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Quote:

Originally Posted by dailydriver

I would be very careful driving your car if you are burning that much coolant that it is dying. You can bend a connecting rod trying to compress that water/coolant.

Are you noticing smoke out the tailpipes? I'm very surprised if you aren't if your car is stalling that bad b/c of the coolant.

Apr 15, 2013 | 03:18 PM

#11

tht1guy

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I have never been so confused about a car...like coolant on the dip stick I threw like 4 serperate codes and no smoke that I've noticed

Apr 16, 2013 | 06:49 PM

#12

brandenprato

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And you didn't see it overheat before it blew? That's odd...

Apr 16, 2013 | 11:15 PM

#13

tht1guy

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That's what im sayin...I mean why else would there be coolant in my oil?

Apr 17, 2013 | 08:28 AM

#14

FBGSU02

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I would not crank it anymore. Take it apart and inspect. sounds like a head gasket. The gasket kit is not that expensive. get the heads checked to make sure they are not warped. As I mentioned above I would refresh heads while there off and change lifters.