93 Talon Head Gasket gone (I think)

[killerwhale]

So there's no white smoke out of the exhaust when idling, but as soon as the revs are past about 3k it will smoke a little.

I took off the rad cap while it was running and it was bubbling a little (is that normal?)

Any sure way to tell if the head or head gasket are on the way out?

I've never attempted anything as big as replacing the head gasket and although I found this gasket kit with a cosmetic & arp studs for $180 I know the mechanics bill is going to be at least $500.. please advise.

I'll probably end up taking all weekend to do the work if necessary, but I would be extremely happy if it was some other easily & cheaply fixable problem.

Btw - checked the dipstick and there are bubbles on it but the coolant / oil are separate. Coolant is still green and oil has no coolant in it.


Thanks & sorry for the long read.

 

[BLINKY619]

maybe blown turbo... have you checked your intercooler piping?

 

[killerwhale]

maybe blown turbo... have you checked your intercooler piping?

I just took it off last weekend and cleaned it. What exactly would I be looking for?

 

[BLINKY619]

I just took it off last weekend and cleaned it. What exactly would I be looking for?

coolant, water, oil...... specially on your j pipe...!!!

 

[killerwhale]

There was a small amount of oil on the inside. No coolant though. Turbo has no play. Actually it surprised me how clean the intercooler was when I cleaned it.

Also, I am seeing small drips of water drip down to the muffler.

 

[BLINKY619]

There was a small amount of oil on the inside. No coolant though. Turbo has no play. Actually it surprised me how clean the intercooler was when I cleaned it.

Also, I am seeing small drips of water drip down to the muffler.

that normal in my opinion.... its vapor crated with the heat...!!!!! unless it smells sweet then it coolant....

 

[Calan]

...I took off the rad cap while it was running and it was bubbling a little (is that normal?)

Any sure way to tell if the head or head gasket are on the way out?.

You know...this site has a whole crapload of tech articles that some of us work pretty hard on, right up there under the Tech drop-down menu. You should check them out some time. (There's even a search button up there!)

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/336535-do-you-have-blown-head-gasket.html
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/338152-compression-leak-down-testing.html

 

[killerwhale]

You know...this site has a whole crapload of tech articles that some of us work pretty hard on, right up there under the Tech drop-down menu. You should check them out some time. (There's even a search button up there!)

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/336535-do-you-have-blown-head-gasket.html
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/338152-compression-leak-down-testing.html

I should have apologized in advance... I've read both of those threads but I think I just wanted some way out of having to replace the head gasket.

I'll do a compression test tomorrow, followed by a leak down if necessary.

 

[tjbiker031]

Yeah your turbo is going bye bye. My car did that a few months ago when my t25 died. At first it was tiny bits of smoke after accelerations and by the time i fixed it, it smoked so bad people couldn't drive behind me.

 

[rstchris]

There is always this stuff I call pure evil/ aka mechanic in a can. Used car salesmen's best friend stuff. Borrow a leakdown tester and you'll know for sure. Smell the smoke before you jump to conclutions.

 

[killerwhale]

Still haven't had a chance to do a leak down test... Can't find anybody with a tester and can't afford to make one until next pay day.