Head prob?

snoop · Jul 14th, 2007, 04:30 PM

So during the winter I was going up the canyon with no coolant in my car

and I hurd a big pop, temp guage was way up there. So I let it cool down and it drove fine. So summer comes and I've been loosing coolant/water really bad, like having to refill it every 2 days. Oil was getting into the resevore, so i figured I blew my head gasket. Just got the head off and the gasket is in one piece. What does a head gasket look like when it's blown? If the head gasket was not the problem what could it be? cracked head?

rbo1577186 · Jul 14th, 2007, 04:55 PM

Warped / cracked head........ You can't run an engine hot......
You may be able to take it to a machine shop, but it's probably a waste of your time.

If you're ever in that situation again....... PUT COOLANT IT IT. Water is better than nothing as long as you're not in a super cold climate.

When the engine temp goes high, lets say approaching the 250 mark, pull over open the hood and let it cool down for 10- 15 minutes(until the temp guage goes back down to a little below normal). Repeat until you can get the car to a safer place. Also keeping the heat on full blast will help.

snoop · Jul 14th, 2007, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbo1577186

If you're ever in that situation again....... PUT COOLANT IT IT. Water is better than nothing as long as you're not in a super cold climate.

When the engine temp goes high, lets say approaching the 250 mark, pull over open the hood and let it cool down for 10- 15 minutes(until the temp guage goes back down to a little below normal). Repeat until you can get the car to a safer place. Also keeping the heat on full blast will help.

Yea, trust me when I say Iv'e been in that situation more times this summer then anyone should need to in there life, always having a gallon of water in the car and refilling the radiator every day. but I made the mistake of not putting coolant/water in the car and not looking at the temp guage one day and now trying to fix it.

snoop · Jul 14th, 2007, 06:49 PM

So can a machine shop tell me if the head is messed up? Also since the head gasket is in one piece does that mean it is fine?

snoop · Jul 14th, 2007, 07:49 PM

Just made a discovery. If you look at the spots that are kinda rusted water is sopposed to be flowing threw there but its blocked. If you scrap it off there are little holes. So im thinking it was blocking the water from flowing therefore heating it up, evaporating and boiling in the resavore. Yea? What would cause this?

IanH · Jul 14th, 2007, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snoop

Just made a discovery. If you look at the spots that are kinda rusted water is sopposed to be flowing threw there but its blocked. If you scrap it off there are little holes. So im thinking it was blocking the water from flowing therefore heating it up, evaporating and boiling in the resavore. Yea? What would cause this?

I suggest you compare to the holes on a new gasket.
on a new gasket there may only be small holes.
no, a head gasket in one piece can still have a problem, look for areas that are wet with oil or coolant compared to the rest of the surface. remember its not the gasket per se but the head or block warping because of the heat.
i think this is your problem, a machine shop can measure your head flatness and compare to spec for warpage.
i had a Honda head machined once but ended up buying a new one anyway, your best solution may be a complete used engine, it could work out cheaper
just my experience, good luck.....

aminidab · Jul 17th, 2007, 09:11 PM

It sounds like you defiantly have a blown head gasket from the symptoms, it might be hard to find the leak if it's not a big one. The small holes in the gasket are normal, if you look at a new HG not all of the holes are the full size of the coolant passages.
Like ian said, take it to a machine shop, they can check it for warpage and cracking and level it if needed. I had this done a year or two ago, not sure how much I paid though.