Head Gasket

[johndemar]

While driving back from the pet food store a few weeks ago, I noticed this white cloud engulfing me while at a red light. My first reaction is #*%*!!!! I gingerly drive the few miles home and get it into the garage. When I pop the hood I notice coolant dripping near the number one cylinder on the right side of the block, so I assume the head gasket blew.

As long as I have the head off I thought I might as well replace the timing belt, water pump, and tensioner bearing.

Are new head bolts recommended? And what is the easiest way to make sure the head is flat?

Again, I'm assuming the head gasket is the issue. I just had major surgery, so I won't be lifting anything heavy for a while and can make sure I do this right. Not a mechanic, but I can read and turn a wrench.

[So Cal Mark]

head gaskets don't usually fail to the outside of the block, unless the water jackets in the head are eroded. I'd look closely at the water outlet and heater pipe for signs of leakage before I pulled the head

[johndemar]

Thanks Mark, will do.

That's why this place is so helpful for us novice wrenchers.

Won't be physically able to look at it for a few more weeks, but will check there first.

[azruss]

Are you leaving a pool of coolant on the ground? Did the "white smoke" smell like coolant. Usually if you blow and head gasket, your car runs like crap. Did you watch your temp gage on the way home. As I agree with mark, your water pump may be leaking as well. After it cools, look at your coolant level to see if you've lost any. You should also check your radiator hoses to make sure you don't have a crack in one. It is common for them to leak under heat and pressure and not leak when the car is cold. Before I would do anything, i would check the hoses. Let me know if you need any help.

[johndemar]

Thanks Russ.

I've had a bit of a setback on my surgery recovery and won't be out in the garage until at least January.
Didn't pay much attention to anything other than making sure I got the car home. It did run rougher than normal with white smoke out of the exhaust. I'm sure I could use a hand when the time comes.

[Nitrate]

Could be brake fluid getting into the combustion chamber from a bad brake booster.RB

[So Cal Mark]

brake boosters don't have fluid in them and how would it leak out from between the head and block?

[AZRoadster]

John,
Let me know if you want any help in January, or when you get to the repairs.

Dan

[Nitrate]

If The seal in the rear of the master cylinders is bad it can leak brake fluid into the booster. The fluid gets pulled into the intake manifold via the vacuum line between the booster and the intake manifold. It burns in the combustion chamber and exits the tailpipe as white smoke. Normally there is no brake fluid in a booster but it can end up there in a problem situation. So I guess you could say it "comes from" the brake booster because that is where it is being sucked out of. One way to verify this is to disconnect the vaccum line and see it there is any presence of brake fluid in the line. RB

[johndemar]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all of the advice of checking the simple things first, because that's usually what it is.

Russ and Dan, thank you for the offer to help and I'll probably take you up on the offer.
Won't be until mid January at the earliest though.

[johndemar]

I was feeling well enough this morning to give the car a look over. I discovered oil in the #1 spark plug well and around the thermostat housing as well, so there may be multiple issues. Good thing I ordered a complete gasket set. I decided to pull all the plugs and do a compression check. Did it dry, the gauge, battery and operator marginal at best.

#1 read 140, but when I moved to #2 and cranked the engine a fountain sprayed out of #1, over the windshield and splashing coolant everywhere. I think that confirms the head gasket.

I put a rag over #1 and tested the other 3 and they all came out around 120 pounds, without me or the car getting a shower.

Taking a closer look down into #1, I can see a reflection of coolant.