imported_Yuki

I was on my way today to pick up my new (used) muffler from a fellow TCC forum member and on the way I noticed something was wrong with my engine.

Lets start from the top. I was late to work today as usual so I took the 407 and pushed my engine hard. 95 coupe DX.

When I got off the high way I noticed my engine felt like it was bubbling. And the temp gauge stayed high. went to medium if I went fast but that's it. And the engine shakes the whole car when I'm not on the gas. And when I'm not on the gas the lights all dim and if it was stick I'd say it wasn't idling right but it's automatic.

Anyone have an idea?

imported_Yuki

Please help me.

imported_bevboyy

Yuki, this smells like a head gasket issue. Check the oil filler cap. Look inside. Also look in your radiator If you see what looks like the colour of chocolate milk deposits (which mean oil contamination), then your head gasket is toast. If not - the water pump may need to be replaced. DO NOT DRIVE IT if either is the case. You run the chance of damaging the head.

PM imported2nv asap. Danny is the man for you.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

definitely sounds like a blown head gasket... though it's not necessarily that right away with those symptoms, I think in this case there is a STRONG indication that it may be.

imported_Cablerat

blown headgasket, lost compression.. It's probably idling well below 500rpms, hence the dimming lights too cuz your alternator is spinning much slower...

You don't have a tach so you can't tell right?

like bevboy said, check the rad for oil bubbles and the oil cap for coolant.. when you start the car in the morning, if the gasket is blown, you'll probably notice a lot more white smoke out the back, burning coolant.

imported_Yuki

I went to my mechanic today.

There was no fluid in the radiator. He refilled it and tried to check why the fan wouldn't come on but after the fluid it wouldn't heat up past 1/3 :P

The fan still doesn't go on though. I noticed that last night while driving 60km/h on the 401

Tried the pressure test. Didn't show anything. So I know it's leaking somewhere into the engine but slowly. I just didn't refill it in time. I got lazy.

But seeing as it's my birthday I had free cell minutes all day long so I've been running around getting stuff done for it and now I'm at work.

With coolant in the rad it works just fine. And since my muffler was swiss cheese and I bought a new one last night I had it changed today. Sounds great now !!!

But I'm getting my alternator tested tomorrow along with my emittions test so I can put my plates back on and take off the 10 day trip.

Sorry for ranting guys.

imported_bevboyy

Yuki - You will still have to get the head gasket done. It's leaking into your block and you will do more damage if you let it slide. it's not a hard job.

imported_Yuki

Do you want to help me do it?

or should I just go to speedy? lol

imported_nsr250

If you're gonna do it yourself , it's not a hard job but I seriously recommend sending the head to a machine shop to get it flat in case there was any warpage so then it mates onto the block evenly making sure there's no leaks. Probably cost around a hundred bucks for a machine shop to do this for you.

imported_Yuki

How long does that take?

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

the job itself or the machining the head part.

the T/B job for an average backyard mechanic with good tools, I guess it would take about 6 hours to do it right. problem is, the machining part will take about a day prolly cuz most machine shops take their time.

imported_Yuki

Well now my car is in the shop. I found my fouth cylinder wasn't firing right. Did a pressure test on it and the hose came out full of coolant.

So now it's getting checked out. But it looks like I might just buy a new engine after all of this.

imported_bevboyy

You could do that. Stock motors are not too pricey. Get a compression tester and check the compression in each cylinder. Someone may claim the motor ran mint and had only xxxx kms on it, but was it thrashed or poorly maintained? And with anything used, you should - replace the timing belt and water pump, just as a precaution..

imported_Yuki

Turned out to be just the head gasket. Got it done for $350.

Got my windshield done for $200 too.

And my new muffler sounds soo nice.

Pimpin-EL

350????tas a swt deal man....When my headgasket blew....all the shops quoted me 500-700

imported_Yuki

It was just for the gasket though. I told them even if the heads need sharpening or the values were messed. Head gasket only!

imported_bevboyy

So the head did not need machining? You are one lucky guy..

imported_Yuki

Tell me about it. He said there was no damage to anything. Just some oil and coolant in one of the cylinders. Nothing a flush didn't fix.