Head Gasket issue

[beansblacktsi]

Well the other morning I fired up the Laser and it was smoking a bit. I thought it was just from boost leak testing it prior because that sometimes will cause it. So I drove it around the block and it went away. All seemed well so I parked it. That night I fired it back up to go out and it was smoking HORRIBLY so I shut it down and got the compression tester out. Also my coolant was really low. As soon as I pulled plug three smoke/steam came out of cylinder for about a minute. Checked compression and all the cylinders were at around 130 besides number three which was at 80psi. So I dumped some oil down it and it raised compression to about 100psi.

So tonight I pulled the head and cylinder number 3 was full of coolant. As far as I can tell the head gasket looks fine.... Also on cylinder number three the exhaust ports were all wet, looked like oil/coolant. And also that same exhaust port on the manifold looked the same way. It is late and dark out so ill check the head gasket closer tomorrow but I was expecting it to be pretty obvious. Any ideas why this would just randomly happen? The car ran great the night before and was not smoking at all.

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[92AWDHX40]

80 in one cylinder maybe some bad rings, previous maintenance on the engine?

 

[g4ebguy90]

I have pulled headgaskets off a engine, that burned coolant/overheated etc. Sometimes its not always obvious.

But if you see coolant in a cyl. A headgasket is usually the problem and the remedy.

I highly doubt there is a crack or anything. I mean you just started it up so...

 

[beansblacktsi]

80 in one cylinder maybe some bad rings, previous maintenance on the engine?

How would that explain all the coolant then?

I have pulled headgaskets off a engine, that burned coolant/overheated etc. Sometimes its not always obvious.

But if you see coolant in a cyl. A headgasket is usually the problem and the remedy.

I highly doubt there is a crack or anything. I mean you just started it up so...

Thats what I am hoping for. I might just take the head and head gasket in to the machine shop and see if they can find anything wrong. Just to make sure there are no cracks in the head.

 

[BogusSVO]

Copper coat on a composite Head gasket is a no-no

Looking at the pics, I would say the coolant cam from the water port in front of #4 exhaust stud.

Due to the light trail of dye from that water port, and the way it Y into cyl #3 and #4

If you look at the head bolt holes on the gasket, you will notice the #4 stud positions have wetness, the rest do not.

Since the head was off before, who did the work?
Was the head surfaced? If so, How was it surfaced?

 

[kenuwine4g63]

Either the rings are goin bad, the head is warped, or the head gasket is bad around cylinder 3. Those are your options so to say. Buy a HG and try it again, check compression, look for smoke all the symptoms you had before you pulled the head. I was thinking a burnt valve too but kinda ruled that out. Get a HG first, if that dosnt solve it then take the head to a shop to get it checked.

Copper coat on a composite Head gasket is a no-no

And why is this?? I did mine on my old dsm, but whats the cons to doing it to a composite HG. Thanks

 

[BogusSVO]

And why is this?? I did mine on my old dsm, but whats the cons to doing it to a composite HG. Thanks

They already have a coating on them to promote sealing.

If you read (fel-pro) they directions will say install clean and dry.

I feel sure the engineers at felpto know what they are talking about.

 

[kenuwine4g63]

They already have a coating on them to promote sealing.

If you read (fel-pro) they directions will say install clean and dry.

I feel sure the engineers at felpto know what they are talking about.

As you quoted this, it makes since. Felpro HG are sticky out the pack confirming the coating...Simple. Thanks

 

[beansblacktsi]

Copper coat on a composite Head gasket is a no-no

Looking at the pics, I would say the coolant cam from the water port in front of #4 exhaust stud.

Due to the light trail of dye from that water port, and the way it Y into cyl #3 and #4

If you look at the head bolt holes on the gasket, you will notice the #4 stud positions have wetness, the rest do not.

Since the head was off before, who did the work?
Was the head surfaced? If so, How was it surfaced?

My local machine shop did the head for me and they have done at least 5 others for me. Im not sure how much the head was surfaced.

Im really hoping its the head gasket but I think I will just take the head in and have it checked out to see if its in spec and also to have it checked for cracks.
The head probably has about 1500 miles on it since surfaced and hasnt been overheated but has been at 30+psi the whole time.

 

[BogusSVO]

Before you take it in to the machine shop, read these...

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/cylinder-head-short-block/413772-how-clean-head-gasket-surface.html

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/341627-how-check-head-warp.html

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/cyl...how-measure-4g63-cylinder-head-thickness.html

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/cyl...0613-why-not-let-your-head-belt-surfaced.html

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/new...face-4g63t-cylinder-head-mls-head-gasket.html