Check this Picture, Does the Headgasket Look bad?

[gieri002]

Does this Headgasket look bad? Heres the story, I bought a 95 talon tsi about 3 weeks ago, and it has been loosing coolant at a pretty rapid rate. I need to refill every 50 miles, but i've only put on about 150 total. I thought that it might be something simple like a hose, thermostat, or radiator cap since the exhaust smoke was still perfectly clear, but after no luck I decided to start ripping into the engine a bit more. Now I am no mechanic I've changed a turbo once but thats about it, so this is sort of a big deal for me. But as you can see the gasket turned silver in some places, is this normal? Also It was really wet, is that a sign that it wasn't sealed?

YES I AM GOING TO REPLACE THE HEADGASKET REGARDLESS IF IT IS BAD OR NOT.....

Thanks guys!!!

 

[talondave]

Its not a very clear pic but it looks to be a bad gasket!

 

[97dark_angel]

looks bad what color was the oil?

 

[95fwdtsi18psi]

Very bad, unless you threw some paint on it or something.

 

[gieri002]

Sorry guys its a cell phone picture, but the gasket was originally all black, that is not oil.

 

[gieri002]

This is not a composite head gasket then is it?

I think I'm going to go with the stock mitsu gasket since I don't want to pull the block to have it surfaced. Sound like a good idea with some ARP headstuds?

 

[90rslaser]

you can run an cometic mls headgasket and arp's as long as you get at least the head resurface. and the gasket will always be a little wet when takin off a head do to excess coolant and oil spilling off the head when you pull it.

 

[MetalliHawk]

This is not a composite head gasket then is it?

I think I'm going to go with the stock mitsu gasket since I don't want to pull the block to have it surfaced. Sound like a good idea with some ARP headstuds?

Does not appear to be composite. Yes I'd go with a composite gasket and ARPs (used this combo in 3 cars and never had a problem) , make sure to take a razorblade to block surface and clean all gunk off, just be careful not to make any scratches. I do recommend having the head checked out for flatness, and resurface it if it's needed. Also before you put the arps in make sure to remove any oil/coolant from the holes, failure to do so will result in improper stud torque.

 

[EagleTalon1993]

Looks like a little separation on the #1 and #4 cylinders but that could be from removal of the head. this coolant loss could cause issues down the road. When you get the head back on and everything reinstalled you might want to do a pressure test of the radiator and block this should indicate where you are loosing the coolant from, Sounds like it may be a freeze plug.

 

[gieri002]

Thanks for all the help guys! I will put in the composite head gasket with ARPs and Ill make sure to take the head to a machine shop and have it checked. As far as the blocks go, should I sand it or take one of those greed dish scratch pads to it?

 

[blackGSX2g]

Take a razor blade and some really really fine grit sandpaper to get rid of everything on the surface. As long as it's not warped, a composite gasket will 'fill in' many of the smaller inperfections better than an MLS.