So, went to cehck my CSB and saw something I don't like to see...

[Sean]

And it was, pictures coming soon, coolant all along the side of my block. No, not coming from a hose or anything, MUCH better than that.

Looks like it's coming out next to the number two cylinder, and between cylinders 4 and 5. Yep...that's right, looks to be coming right out of the head gasket.

Oh fucking joy.

So, anyway, I cleaned it up a bit with some good ole' simple green, and ran the car for a couple minutes, revving it a bit here and there - to see if I could get coolant to come out. Nothing.

Nothing is mixing, coolant looks clean and my oil is nice and amber. Not once has my motor overheated since it was put in. And, when I left Boise 3 months ago, I saw nothing of this sort either.

So, here's my question. Is it possible that my car decided to take a small piss for a second, then stopped - and my head gasket may be fine? I haven't topped off my coolant for almost 4 months - not a drop of anything under my car ever - and it sits alot and only gets driven on the weekends mostly.

OR - and this is what I'm leaning towards, my head gasket is saying, "I'm about to blow, here's my warning, now change me before I leave you stranded on teh way to Fort Worth, TX for Ofest?" LOL

I'll post a pic, but that's really beside the point. I think rather than dismantling my driveshaft right now, I'm going to go drive the piss out of it, after cleaning it all up and see if I can get er' to spring a leak.

Let me know what you think!

:(


PICTURES HERE: http://e30.electrontek.com/shit/

[PiercedE30]

I think it is trying to tell you something. Might as well go a head and change it now since it has atleast warned you.

[Court M3]

yeah mine it on the way out I believe and is begging to be changed.

[Sean]

So, you guys agree with me -this is my car warning me?

Now I'm just wondering WHY. What causes a headgasket to go bad besides overheating and overtorqueing bolts? Neither of which I've done. There's about 15,000 miles on my motor since I put it in.

Correction: 18,101 miles :)

[jlevie]

Which side of the engine? There are a couple of places on the intake side that can leak that don't involve the head gasket. And on either side of the engine a leak around the water pump or thermostat housing can masquerade as a leak from the head gasket. Air flowing through the engine bay will sweep any liquids back along the side of the engine.

[Sean]

Which side of the engine? There are a couple of places on the intake side that can leak that don't involve the head gasket. And on either side of the engine a leak around the water pump or thermostat housing can masquerade as a leak from the head gasket. Air flowing through the engine bay will sweep any liquids back along the side of the engine.

It is on the exhaust side, right below the exhaust headers. I've looked to see if it's coming from the front - and it definitely isn't. There would be a trail - because I had everything very clean, and it's very "coolant-ie" right at the headgasket. Not to mention, if either of those things in the front were leaking, there's no way there could be a trail of coolant going straight down right below the head between the 4th and 5th cylinders. I'm 95% positive it's coming from the head gasket - and I'm going to begin researching what I'll be ordering tonight. Only got about 2 weeks and 5 days until I leave for OFest!

[Sean]

OK, so I was doing some pondering, and here's what I'm wodnering now.

When I had my exhaust put together, I didn't have a flex pipe put in anywhere, so my exhaust is mounted pretty stiffly to the body of the car - is it possible that the motor, when it torques when being driven, is forcing itself on to the exhaust, and the exhaust is pushing back, possibly seperating the head from the block slightly, thus allowing such a leak? Or is that idea just ridiculous?

[PiercedE30]

if that is the case, then you should retorque your head bolts. How close does your exhaust run next to the body and the subframe?

[blunttech]

OK, so I was doing some pondering, and here's what I'm wodnering now.

When I had my exhaust put together, I didn't have a flex pipe put in anywhere, so my exhaust is mounted pretty stiffly to the body of the car - is it possible that the motor, when it torques when being driven, is forcing itself on to the exhaust, and the exhaust is pushing back, possibly seperating the head from the block slightly, thus allowing such a leak? Or is that idea just ridiculous?

no thats not possible.

[Sean]

no thats not possible.

Shucks. lol

I can't retorque the stock bolts though.

So, I'm just going to buy everything I need tomorrow, and try switching over to new bolts and see if I can eliminate the leak. If not, new gasket time.

[SpecM]

-Have a coolent syem pressure test preformed. This will help pinpoint the leak.

[Sean]

-Have a coolent syem pressure test preformed. This will help pinpoint the leak.

Could I perform this myself, or is this something only a shop can do for me?

[Farbin Kaiber]

Could I perform this myself, or is this something only a shop can do for me?

If you have an adapter and the ability to pressurize the cooling system via the fill cap. (eg. adapter, 15-30 psi regulated off compressor)

[M5wanaB]

I think auto zone rents them, but I think they only fit domestic. But may be worth a shot.

[AlarmedBread]

Could I perform this myself, or is this something only a shop can do for me?

I used a T into the overflow line with a fuel pressure gauge to find my coolant leak before, regulate the line off the compressor and keep an eye on the gauge and you shouldn't be able to hurt anything since the cap will still pop if you put in too much pressure, it took a few minutes for my head leak to show up.