I'll make it quick, I'm looking at buying a complete B18 swap and the guy claims it "just" needs a new head gasket. I'm still working on getting info from him (depending how honest he is) but so far he said, "it needs a head gasket because the one on it is blown and leaking oil." A blown H.G. alone doesn't leak oil does it? It would take bad pistons rings too, right? And I know hondas don't blow H.G. on a regulat basis so would some abuse be involved, possiably FI? The engine is local so I can check it out . Thanks guys

 

He could mean it's leaking oil into he coolant...

 

If the head is warped a bit it will also leak oil. Yes if the HG is bad it will leak oil as well. I've seen this first hand on an expirement that I did. If the motor was FI then he would have blown HG left and right, assuming that he was running high boost and such. Scince it is local, why not take it to have the compression checked? After installing a new HG on it.....


[Modified by advanracing62, 11:09 AM 1/11/2003]

 

It certainly could. A compression test will settle the debate...quickly.

 

a comp test wont be able to distinguish between rings and hg
you should do a leakdown test

 

It seems to me if it's the head gasket it'll be cracked in 1 place, and I agree that cylinder would then have poor compression. You could simply pour a tablespoon of oil in that cylinder and re-test however. If it's the rings chances are they'll all be somewhat worn and would all improve with additional oil to seal them.

 

there r several things that could have happened. first thing is first, how did it blow up? it could have bad rings, a bad gasket, the ring lands could be fryed, or you could even have a hole in the piston. the comp test will only tell u that u r loosing compression some how. the only way to know is to open it up. good luck on your adventures HiGhO|{TaNe

 

thanks for the info guys. I asked the seller a lot of more serious questions; what mods were done the he engine, what exactly was the engine doing when it happend, stuff like that and he won't get back to me so either he knows what exactly happend and doesn't want to say or just wants to find a less educated buyer so he won't have to come down in price.

 

Buying a motor with known problems is a crapshoot. Buying an engine with problems from someone who is not upfront is a gauranteed nightmare.

 

Indeed, but certainly it wouldn't take much to get the head off. If the cylinders aren't a nightmare, the head & block aren't warped beyond recognition, what's left? The crank I guess would be next most important. I certainly wouldn't take a used engine I knew little about and install it w/o replacing bearings at the very least anyway.