DAAAMMMMNNNN!

I pushed to 11.7psi today, just a little too higher than I really wanted. Now I have white smoke from my valve cover breather and i have a little bit of bubbling up from my coolant reservoir and my coolant reservoir is quite a bit higher than usual! Car still drives ok. Car was well tuned so I know I didn't detonate.

I know, classic example of blown headgasket! I guess something bad was inevitable with a turbo on a stock engine!

1)I haven't yet checked for milky oil or oil in my coolant. Should I expect some with just a headgasket leak or is that a sign of cracked sleeves


2) Anyway, its the first time I've blown a headgasket. What should I replace it with? An Ideal gasket and lower my compression a little? Or go with another stock one with ARP headstuds? I mean, I'm not going to be building this motor. I plan on building another motor sometime this year

3) Anyone here have one in stock or know where to get one ASAP at a good price?

4) How long is it safe to drive around with a small headgasket leak?

 

I wouldn't do it long at all...you can warp the head pretty quick, if it isn't already done.

 

I would go with a stock head gasket. Have it changed ASAP. ARP head studs are a good idea.

 

You aren't going to blow a head gasket unless the motor was pinging...

Do you have a J&S?

Compression test the car first

Dustin

 

dustin, car wasn't pinging. Only thing is though is I hit 11.7psi and that is where hondata is set to boost limit! Geeze, you think I may have detonate if hondata cut fuel? i heard nothing out of the ordinary! Anyway, when the car cools down I will compression check. I know my heart will be in my mouth when i do it. I have to move next week, only 45 minutes away but still, I'm gonna have to drive my car this way to my new house. i hope its ok.

 

I don't think anyone can hear WOT pinging though.

How much ignition advance were you running at 11psi?

I'm not sure which method of rev limiting hondata uses @ boost cut... probably fuel

Why compression test the car when it's cool? you want it warm!

 

The bubbling in the resivor is a tell tail sign. As is steam (not smoke)
The bubbling is from the presure in the cumbustion chamber being re-routed via hole or tear (blown spot) in the head gasket, and put threw a water jacket.


Rob

 

timing is well retarded in boost.
23.5 degrees at 11.4psi. its set to cut at 11.2

anyway, I hope to check my compression in a few minutes. I'm praying its ok and I just tore my headgasket.

Hey, how hard is it to replace one? I've never had to change on out? Am I going to have to take my turbo and turbo manifold off and my entire intake manifold assembly off to change it?

 

It's easy to change.

You'll have to take the cams out to take off the head bolts, but you can leave the intake manifold and exhaust manifold bolted on to the head ... you just have to disconnect /everything/ from them

 

Ike's then that means taking off the turbo then since I cant' take the turbo off the manifold without taking the whole turbo out.

to take the cams out, I'm gonna have to take the timing belt off again and take the camgears off, etc...?? if so, ****! i just adjusted my timing belt last weekend!\

 

Oh sorry, you can leave the turbo on the manifold, I meant you had to disconnect all the oil lines and the downpipe.. and disconnect everything from the intake manifold i.e. all those dumb vacuum lines, sensor connectors, etc..


Nah, just unbolt the cam caps and 'lean' them up and the timing belt will slide off -- no reason to remove the cam gears. Adjusting the belt only takes like 2 minutes

Dustin

 

2 minutes? on what planet? perhaps if you have your lower timing belt cover off. I have mine on! my upper is off but thats no help. I can't figure out how to get to that adjustment bolt through the timing cover without taking all the accesory belts off. Do you have a good method?

 

I just shove a wrench with a deepwell socket down there.... works every time It barely clears and I kinda hit my hand while doing it, but it works. Kinda hard to explain with words.


I have the lower and upper covers on

 

Ok, should I cry now?

Compression test:

Cyl 4: 120
Cyl 3: 210
Cyl 2: 210
Cyl 1: 120 and there is a little gooey residue on the top of the plug although the electrodes look just fine and they look perfect without signs of any serious detonation. Oil looks ok and coolant looks clear still.


I still wonder if my headgasket could be the problem? If I got head float could I have blown my headgasket through at the outer cylinders causing this? I suppose I won't know till I take the head off?

[Modified by GruvyTune, 8:08 PM 6/21/2002]


[Modified by GruvyTune, 8:39 PM 6/21/2002]

 

Dustin, you got a few minutes? Can I call you?

 

So, I have my 2 outer cylinders with low compression. I don't have the capability to do a leakdown test right now and it wont tell me anything anyway if it is just my headgasket!

I guess its possible to have the headgasket blow in 2 spots like that although I would expect it to go between cylinders??

Anyway, since I may have to replace 2 pistons and rings, am I just better off ordering a set of 4 stock pistons and rings, get a honer and do all 4 as long as I have my head off and my oilpan off?

torin

 

My car goes in for surgeory next month...I was also runnning Rideal with but I blew my oil rings...probably from running too rich for a long time...so this is what I will have done:

1. Eagle rods; Endyn pistons 9:1
2. back to stock hgasket
3. ACT clutch
4. will have the PFC tuned on a dyno


after that ...no more money on the engine...I hope...


[Modified by MiraiZ, 10:11 PM 6/22/2002]

 

are they removing the engine to do that and replacing all your bearings? I don't want to have to take my engine out at this point thats why I would rather just replace the pistons and rings.

 

Taking it to a friend's garage...I have a feeling that the block will need to be yanked...so major downime for me...but my car has been down for 3 weeks now..so no big deal


[Modified by MiraiZ, 10:14 PM 6/22/2002]

 

that is shitty...

 

Look! Now is your chance to put in 4 new low comp pistons, high strength rods and a blockguard.

 

I was talking with Dustin. I thought of that however I don't want to pull my whole motor. Its my only car and downtime is a concern. If I were going to replace the pistons and rods, I would want to replace the main bearings as well. Engine has 76K miles on it.

I think I'm gonna pray that its just the headgasket and replace it then over the next year or so build a new motor to go in a newer gsr eventually!

 

sux to hear that, man. those compression #s in two cylinders look bad... but maybe its just a headgasket leak. good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

and hondata didn't save your motor ha! i guess it's a sucky system after all...

 

I don't think it had anything to do with the hondata. I overboosted. I'm not set up to run over 11psi. I did overheat last month so I wonder if I was prone to headgasket failure anyway. I will be pulling the head this week so I'll let you all know what I find. Needless to say, I'm not happy at this moment.