Is the head gasket leaking?
replaceing head gasket questions
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replaceing head gasket questions
I am getting ready to replace the headgasket on my 1990 I6 and in reading the manual it states to remove the radiatior and water pump pulley. Do I really need to remove these or is it more of a convenience? Also after I put on the new gasket it states to check valve clearence's, will a new gasket change the valve clearence? or is this just to make sure its correct? The only way to change the valve clearence is to change the pushrods, right? Thanks for any input.
Jim
Jim
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From: Meggett SC
You are right about the valve clearance it can only be adjested with pushrod length. However it is extremely unlikely you will ave any problem since all head gaskets have about the same tickness. I did not pull the radiator on my 84 I6 when I rebuilt the head but I did take the Hood off.
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Thanks, sail2244.
Crash,
The reason I am replacing the head gasket is because Im losing coolant and the underside of my oil cap on the valve cover looks like a milkshake.
As much as I hate to admit it I have been drivining it like this(since I bought it) for about 40,000 miles.
I checked the compression on it when I first got it and it was about the same as it is right now 180's with not much difference between cylinders. My vacuum pressure has dropped in the past 6 mo's from 23 to about 20. So I am guessing(uneducatedly so) its not going into the combustion chamber. Once I get the head of I should know more or so I hope.
Thanks, Jim
Crash,
The reason I am replacing the head gasket is because Im losing coolant and the underside of my oil cap on the valve cover looks like a milkshake.
As much as I hate to admit it I have been drivining it like this(since I bought it) for about 40,000 miles.
I checked the compression on it when I first got it and it was about the same as it is right now 180's with not much difference between cylinders. My vacuum pressure has dropped in the past 6 mo's from 23 to about 20. So I am guessing(uneducatedly so) its not going into the combustion chamber. Once I get the head of I should know more or so I hope.
Thanks, Jim
Last edited by jimford6; May 24, 2006 at 03:50 AM.
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From: suburban atlanta
The 'milkshake' is probably condensation mixed with oil vapors. You probably don't drive this thing enough to get it hot, and have H2O condensing into the crankcase.
If you are not losing coolant, and don't have an external leak, and have decent compression, a head gasket will probably not fix the symptoms that you sort of described.
I'd take it out onto the freeway, or for a drive in heavy traffic to get the temp up for an hour or so, and then change the oil (while hot). Drive for a few days, and check for more milkshake.
tom
If you are not losing coolant, and don't have an external leak, and have decent compression, a head gasket will probably not fix the symptoms that you sort of described.
I'd take it out onto the freeway, or for a drive in heavy traffic to get the temp up for an hour or so, and then change the oil (while hot). Drive for a few days, and check for more milkshake.
tom
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From: Bonita Springs FL
Yeah, if your compression is good across all six, then I wouldn't suspect a head gasket. If you drive it with water in the oil for 40k miles, you will probably need a new motor.
Been there, done that. PO overheated it and I didn't notice until it was too late.
Been there, done that. PO overheated it and I didn't notice until it was too late.
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From: Columbus, Indiana
Headgaskets are a weak link on these engines, especially when the engines are running at higher combustion pressures (do to raised compression, turbo, ect.). This is a problem on all engines, of course, but it seems to be greater on this said engine than others from what research I have done.
If you are loosing coolant and coolant is in the oil, it is getting in there somehow. However, I agree with the other people that if a compression test turns out good, it probably isn't the head gasket. You could do a leak down test to check for a very small hole, but if it has a lot of miles, chances are it will leak a little anyway. I know that my engine had a leaky exhaust valve at 70,000 miles. Didn't cause a single bit of performance problems and didn't show up on a compression test. When I pulled the head and checked the valves, it leaked.
If you are loosing coolant and coolant is in the oil, it is getting in there somehow. However, I agree with the other people that if a compression test turns out good, it probably isn't the head gasket. You could do a leak down test to check for a very small hole, but if it has a lot of miles, chances are it will leak a little anyway. I know that my engine had a leaky exhaust valve at 70,000 miles. Didn't cause a single bit of performance problems and didn't show up on a compression test. When I pulled the head and checked the valves, it leaked.
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Sounds to me like it would be worth changing the head gasket. There a several ways that a head gasket can fail and it doesn't necessarily affect the compression. It is certainly possible for it to leak coolant into the oil.
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Thanks for the input,
I am getting ready to start replaceing the head gasket to night, I had already bought the parts and if it has to be done i would rather do it during warm weather and ride my motorcycle then wait for winter and be without transportation. Thanks Jim
I am getting ready to start replaceing the head gasket to night, I had already bought the parts and if it has to be done i would rather do it during warm weather and ride my motorcycle then wait for winter and be without transportation. Thanks Jim
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