90 gsx, can i drive it 15 miles home?

[Rubberman2003]

I have a 1990 GSX. 136K on it , i just replaced the timing belt and tensioner (just to be safe)

I was driving to work this morning and i look down and my temp gauge was Really high. So i pull over immediately and the smoke comes from under the hood. The coolant was boiling in the overflow (at least it sounded like it)

I have my g/f come get me, i made sure it was topped off with oil, and it did take some coolant. I just wanted to get it out of this persons driveway. I start it up, its idling crappy, then i get it on the road and it blowing the white smoke, smells like coolant. (obviously being white) i drive it 1/4 mile down the road so i can pull it off. By the time she got me my temp. was down so it didn't get hot in that short drive. After work i stopped and started it, it will run, still kinda rough at idle, and if i give it gas it will blow the white smoke. I have it about 15 miles from the house. I was just wondering if i should try to drive it home (if its going to overheat it will do it in prolly 2-3 miles. Or should i just pay and have it towed.

It sounds to me either a head/block/Head gasket, or turbo seals.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks

 

[Rubberman2003]

i was also thinking, if its the head or head gasket, im going to have everything apart. I want this car to be really fast, i have a manual boost controller and a 3" turbo back right now and its decent i think. But while ive got it apart i was thinking diffrent valves,cams, MAYBE a diffrent turbo, could you make any suggestions as to a set up and what it might run in the 1/4 miles. THanks again

 

[huafist]

Head Gasket is blown. Just to be on the safe side, take the head to the machine shop and have it checked for straightness.

 

[Talesin]

Sounds like a head gasket or warped head. Just had this happen to me, had to get a full rebuild, though mine was caused by a heater hose going out and dropping all the coolant.

Take off the radiator fill cap, and start it. We figured out it was a warped head by the four-foot geyser of water that shot out any time I tried to start it, as the exhaust was going right into the coolant. Might be happening with you, but the water may be being diverted into your overflow tank when the cap spring is compressed by the over-pressure in the coolant system.

And on a side note, if it's overheating to the point where the head would be warped, you may as well re-do the bottom end as well... it's very possible that the heat may screw your crank and rod bearings, which would suck... get the new head on, and have the bottom end drop out a month later. :b


You MAY be able to drive it home... but I'd recommend just getting it towed. Don't make the damage any worse, if you can help it. :b

 

[Rubberman2003]

Will all the available places to get parts, ebay, ect ect...How much do you think it would run me to fix it, if it needs a head? Also if if was your car and you were keeping it for a while would you throw some cams, maybe a bigger turbo at it?

 

[DGajre777]

I doubt that you need a new head, unless yours is cracked. If the head is warped you can machine it. If I were you I'd worry about getting the problems worked out first before thinking about getting a turbo or cams.