ok guys, i'm looking at getting an acura legend from a customer at my shop. he says it has a blown headgasket. it smells sweet but i haven't turned it on so i dunno for sure. what's some good ways of being able to tell if it's a blown headgasket? white smoke? steam coming from motor? i work at circuit city's roadshop so i'm good with tools.. but never replaced a headgasket. i kno my way around 4 bangers... but not these v6's. the bay looks super small. anyhow... all input would be appreciated. also... what other parts of the car may be affected by a blown headgasket? thx again guys.

 

while it's running is their smoke from the exhaust. when the radiator cap is removed from the cooling system smells like exhaust fumes worst case.the legend has a pretty solid motor and not to many heag gasket problems from what i have seen been working at the dealers for 20 years. i do see lots of leaks external from the gasket area.
as far as removing the head's take care not to break the knock sensors very fragile alsmot a given to break i think i have done 1 or 2 with out breaking they are so brittle from age and heat. and they are $$$$

 

if you send me a email i can send you some info on removal and installation
DINOTAPIA@SBCGLOBAL.NET

 

yea thx a lot man, my email is happyguysam@aol.com
so question.. how much does honda charge to change a headgasket? i wanna find out cause i may just bring it to a shop. i might obtain this car for free and the body is in immaculate condition. since i'm a honda guy, i won't mind picking it up, getting it fixed and using it as a dd while i build up my turbo hatch.

 

sent

 

look for swelling in the rubber hoses. The oil mixed with the coolant detriorates the rubber. Or simply check the resevoir bottle for crud inside. A car can run good with good headgasket combustion sealing but also share fluids outside the combustion rings of the headgasket. Also if the car is cold and while warming up the coolant will frequently bubble from exhaust gaskets if the leak is going into the cylinders.