|
Author
|
Topic: Head Gasket or Intake Coolant Leak???
|
Secnd2nun64
¯
Member # 1431
|
posted
 
 
My car has been loosing coolant recently and running a little warm so I did a coolant flush thinking there was just crap in the radiator cores. Seemed okay for a little and then when I go to drive it last wednesday while cruising on the freeway, the car surged. I check my guages and the temp is pushing on the Hot side. I pull it over and its completely out of water. So I let it cool off, put some water in it and drive some more. It then starts running hot again, I pull over and its shooting water out the over flow.
So I figure then maybe my radiator cap is bad, so I change it, drive the car and it still pukes. I then thought maybe there is air in the system so I burb it and that didn't help either. I then change out the themostat thinking the old one was bad, refill and burp the system. After that everything seemed okay. Running cool, no leaking.
Thinking it was fixed, I took the car out to a car show today and on the way back the car starts heating up to about mid way between my Cold-Hot gauge. It usually runs at 1/4 past the cold mark on the guage. The temp didnt increase past the half way mark all the way back towards home. I stop in at a store for 5 mins, come back out, start the car. While waiting at a red light, the temp climbs to 3/4 toward the hot mark and now the car is steaming out the exhaust! ![[Eek!]](eek.gif) So I pull the car off in the next drive way and shut it off. Turns out all the water was gone out of the radiator. I refill the radiator after letting it cool. Start it up, no more white smoke and I drive it home with no issues.
So now what do I do? I'm thinking head gasket or intake gasket? My vaccum readings are normal while at idle and driving. The engine does feel like it has a slight miss at times. I haven't done any compression test yet but will in the next day or two. There is no water in my oil. How can I tell if the intake gasket went? What other tests can I do that would tell which gasket went? I really dont want to pull the heads if I dont have to. Kinda weird that its still coming out the overflow too.
Thanks
[ October 09, 2010, 11:43 PM: Message edited by: Secnd2nun64 ]
Posts: 1460 | From: CA | Registered: Jun 2002
| :
|
|
turbo50
¯
Member # 6700
|
posted
Head gasket, hands down.
--------------------
.........when was the last time YOU built something with YOUR own hands?
I offer quality sidework at reasonable prices. PM ME
Posts: 7606 | From: Discovery Bay, California | Registered: Apr 2006
| :
|
|
BIGBALLFACTOR
¯
Member # 7277
|
posted
go to napa auto parts an by a block tester to check for a blown head gasket
Posts: 6908 | From: okc | Registered: Dec 2006
| :
|
|
Secnd2nun64
¯
Member # 1431
|
posted
Couldn't there be a possibility that coolant is leaking from the crossovers on the intake into one of the intake runners? How could I test for that?
Also what is a block tester? Do you mean a compression or leak down tester?
Posts: 1460 | From: CA | Registered: Jun 2002
| :
|
|
Secnd2nun64
¯
Member # 1431
|
posted
Nevermind on the block tester. I figured out what it is. Never used one before but it looks like you can rent them from Autozone. They dye is only $8 too.
Posts: 1460 | From: CA | Registered: Jun 2002
| :
|
|
SLOWSN95
¯
Member # 8269
|
posted
Do a compression test. Or go to a smog shop and ask if they can put the Sniffer in the radiator where the cap goes. If the HCs come back positive, its a head gasket..
--------------------
94' GT
347 Stroker
MM Suspended
2003 SB SVT Lightning
Pullied and Lowered
89'Hatch-SOLD
Posts: 2214 | From: 510/east bay | Registered: Mar 2008
| :
|
|
[SHO]TIME
¯
Member # 8962
|
posted
from what you have said it sounds like a head gasket. but think about this if there is no sighns of water in your oil milky white or grey on your dipstick then where did all your coolant go?have you checked your passenger floorboard for water.heater core. turn on your heater does it steem up your windshield.if so its heater core time.this is one of the weekest links in a 5.0 or any mustang for that matter.the white smoke is a sighn of water in your cylinders pull a couple plugs out and check the tips for sighns of rust.if its not your heater core that sucks cause then its time for a complete overhaul to remove any guess work.
Posts: 631 | From: marin | Registered: Feb 2009
| :
|
|
Secnd2nun64
¯
Member # 1431
|
posted
I havent done any compression test yet but when I started it this morning it sounded like a diesel truck and the water was gone again plus a little white smoke. 99% sure now that it's the head gasket. I'm still going to do the compression test.
I have the felpro MLS gaskets on there right now. I'm wondering why they went. From what I read they can handle boost and should be fine with my horsepower. I'll get up to 10lbs boost max but most the time I just get about 7lbs. I wouldnt think that I need o-rings. I'm estimating my horsepower is only in the upper 300 range. These gaskets are just a little over a year old. I put them on when I got the trickflow heads and I used new ARP Bolts and everything was torqed in sequence and double checked. I have about 8,000 miles on them. I know doing the wednesday night drags doesnt help it but you would think the gaskets would last longer than this.
[ October 11, 2010, 12:32 AM: Message edited by: Secnd2nun64 ]
Posts: 1460 | From: CA | Registered: Jun 2002
| :
|
|
66_5.0
¯
Member # 9974
|
posted
Have u checked your water pump by chance? I had mine go out not too long ago and when i would start it it would have this loud pinging noise which ended up being broken bearings on the pump
--------------------
1966 Mustang
Posts: 1967 | Registered: Apr 2010
| :
|
|
Secnd2nun64
¯
Member # 1431
|
posted
I thought about the water pump too. I've never changed it. It doesn't make any sounds and doesn't leak. Not too sure how else to check it.
I just did the compression test and I have 130psi in all cylinders which is normal for my setup. Looking at the spark plugs, cylinder #5 had some crusty deposits on it and the center electrode was warn into a wavy shape on top. The rest of the plugs looked okay. Cylinder #7 spark plug smelt a little sweet like coolant while the rest just smelt like fuel.
Still think head gasket? I was really expecting to have no compression in at least one cylinder with the way it was running yesterday.
[ October 11, 2010, 05:38 PM: Message edited by: Secnd2nun64 ]
Posts: 1460 | From: CA | Registered: Jun 2002
| :
|
|
Duncan Motors
¯
Member # 7045
|
posted
why would you drive it havin those problems? steamin out the exaust, i think head gaskets. let the car cool. fill the radiator all the way, leave the cap off, start or crank over the motor if your water spurts out the radiator, def bad head gaskets or cracked head.
Posts: 6310 | From: Vallejo | Registered: Sep 2006
| :
|
|
Secnd2nun64
¯
Member # 1431
|
posted
quote:
Originally posted by Duncan Motors:
why would you drive it havin those problems? steamin out the exaust, i think head gaskets. let the car cool. fill the radiator all the way, leave the cap off, start or crank over the motor if your water spurts out the radiator, def bad head gaskets or cracked head.
It acted normal for 45 minutes of driving before that steaming happened. I haven't driven it since. The last time I started it, I just idiled it for 30 seconds or so.
I'm thinking about another scenario... If the intake is leaking coolant into the cylinder that would cause an air pocket in the engine cooling system which would keep the thermostat shut and cause the remaining water to go out the overflow due to the thermostat not opening.
The water going in the cylinder from a leaky intake gasket would cause the white smoke and also cause a miss depending on how much water is going into the cylinder.
I think I'm going to go rent one of those block testers and see if there is exhaust in the coolant.
Could this scenario be BS or have some truth?
[ October 11, 2010, 06:56 PM: Message edited by: Secnd2nun64 ]
Posts: 1460 | From: CA | Registered: Jun 2002
| :
|
|
Darkhorse1
¯
Member # 10341
|
posted
Is your overflow tank full everytime it overheats? does it leak coolant? have you pressure tested the cooling system? have you seen the cooling fan turn on and cycle? if you do have 150# in every cylinder and if it was a coolant leak, block teaster will not work the only way block tester works is if coolant goes to combustion chamber and with 150# I bet thats not happening.
Posts: 28 | From: Pacifica,Ca | Registered: Sep 2010
| :
|
|
Darkhorse1
¯
Member # 10341
|
posted
BTW if it were a head gasket and you are not using studs that would be the first thing i would change when installing the new gaskets they have ALOT better clamping force
Posts: 28 | From: Pacifica,Ca | Registered: Sep 2010
| :
|
|
Duncan Motors
¯
Member # 7045
|
posted
the scenario could be just that, seance you said like it like that,. take it apart and inspect piece by piece, and then reassemble when that area is fixed. the intake does come off before the heads
Posts: 6310 | From: Vallejo | Registered: Sep 2006
| :
|
|
Secnd2nun64
¯
Member # 1431
|
posted
quote:
Originally posted by Darkhorse1:
Is your overflow tank full everytime it overheats? does it leak coolant? have you pressure tested the cooling system? have you seen the cooling fan turn on and cycle? if you do have 150# in every cylinder and if it was a coolant leak, block teaster will not work the only way block tester works is if coolant goes to combustion chamber and with 150# I bet thats not happening.
The overflow fills up and will spray out of it. The overflow is one of those billet tube ones so it doesn't hold much. I only got because they race track requires one. The stock setup just had a rubber hose down the side of the radiator. I haven't pressure tested the cooling system but I rented that tool as well. My fan runs off the water pump and is strait mechanical so it's always turning.
I figured the block tester would confirm that the water is not getting into the cylinders. So if that checks out okay, then the water must be getting in when the intake valve opens.
Here's some pics I took of the spark plugs. Notice spark plug #5. This one would be right next to the water jacket on the intake and is on the same side of the exhaust that I noticed the white smoke coming out of.
Spark Plugs bottom to top... 1-4 left side, 5-8 right side. 
Close up on#5
Posts: 1460 | From: CA | Registered: Jun 2002
| :
|
|
93coupessp
¯
Member # 8418
|
posted
Are you comp testing the rad cap on? If so do it with it off see what happens. But ur theory off the intake gasket could be it pull the manifold if it's not that then it's 99% the head gasket. I had this trouble before I was certain it was a head gasket
so I did all the work car still got hot And ate water but there was no water in the oil tirned out to have a cracked head dropping water in the cylinder
--------------------
89 gt project
09 f250 diesel 605hp
14 cts-v
13 harley fxdb 103ci
Posts: 1919 | From: Hell | Registered: May 2008
| :
|
|
Secnd2nun64
¯
Member # 1431
|
posted
quote:
Originally posted by 93sspCOUPE:
Are you comp testing the rad cap on? If so do it with it off see what happens. But ur theory off the intake gasket could be it pull the manifold if it's not that then it's 99% the head gasket. I had this trouble before I was certain it was a head gasket
so I did all the work car still got hot And ate water but there was no water in the oil tirned out to have a cracked head dropping water in the cylinder
I had the radiator cap on when I did the test. I'll redo the test on it with it off and see if there is any difference.
If it's the intake gasket I wonder why it would go bad. I had used that sticky red high tack stuff that comes in a can on each side of the intake gasket and then ran a silicone bead on the valley. I would be surpised if that intake gasket moved at all. I'm going to really check out each part I take off.
The intake is aluminum and only a couple years old. I use that GM dexcool coolant since it's silicate free to help keep the corrosion of the aluminum down.
[ October 12, 2010, 03:28 AM: Message edited by: Secnd2nun64 ]
Posts: 1460 | From: CA | Registered: Jun 2002
| :
|
|
turbo50
¯
Member # 6700
|
posted
quote:
Originally posted by turbo50:
Head gasket, hands down.
Wanna start taking bets??
![[burnout]](graemlins/burnout.gif)
--------------------
.........when was the last time YOU built something with YOUR own hands?
I offer quality sidework at reasonable prices. PM ME
Posts: 7606 | From: Discovery Bay, California | Registered: Apr 2006
| :
|
|
Blind
2.3L
CAFords OG
Member # 3052
|
posted
my vote is headgasket.
--------------------
89 LX Notchback ex 4cyl, 14psi
02 Harley F150, 15psi
Posts: 8521 | From: Fairfield | Registered: Jul 2003
| :
|
|
Secnd2nun64
¯
Member # 1431
|
posted
Did the compression test without the radiator cap on and the readings were still normal. I picked up a new set of spark plugs today. I'm going to put them into tomorrow and do the block test and coolant pressure test. Following that up with pulling the intake off.
For my own sake, I'm going to vote (I mean hope)for bad intake gasket. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Posts: 1460 | From: CA | Registered: Jun 2002
| :
|
|
Secnd2nun64
¯
Member # 1431
|
posted
Combustion test using the radiator pressure test tool and block tester tool showed no issues.
I've been reading up on the intake gaskets and people have been complaining about dexcool eating up the composite gaskets which is what I have in/on there right now so I'm leaning towards the intake leaking.
I'm going to pull the intake tomorrow and see if I can find the issue. Felpro makes a steel core laminate intake gasket so I think I will try that one out for the replacement.
Posts: 1460 | From: CA | Registered: Jun 2002
| :
|
|
Blind
2.3L
CAFords OG
Member # 3052
|
posted
dexcool takes YEARS to eat intake gaskets, and only will start to break down if there is air contained in the system.
--------------------
89 LX Notchback ex 4cyl, 14psi
02 Harley F150, 15psi
Posts: 8521 | From: Fairfield | Registered: Jul 2003
| :
|
|
Secnd2nun64
¯
Member # 1431
|
posted
Pulled the intake, looks like the coolant port was leaking into cyl 5. The gasket was very mushy there. The gasket was still stuck good to the head but leaked between the top of the gasket and the intake. You can see the color difference on the #5 intake runner due to the coolant and how the factory silicone intake seal on the intake gasket corroded away. I picked up a new steel core laminate intake gasket and some new ARP Bolts yesterday.
Posts: 1460 | From: CA | Registered: Jun 2002
| :
|
|
93coupessp
¯
Member # 8418
|
posted
coo good thing it wasnt a head gasket!! funny how a lil coolant leak into a cylinder makes hella smoke and hella problems
--------------------
89 gt project
09 f250 diesel 605hp
14 cts-v
13 harley fxdb 103ci
Posts: 1919 | From: Hell | Registered: May 2008
| :
|
|
Email this post to someone!
Printer friendly view of this Ford topic
