Head Gasket Or Am I Stupid?! Stumped.

[Goodguy162000]

Here are my symptoms... Last week I replaced a valve cover because it was warped where the oil cap sits. I assume it got F-in hot under my hood. I do only have one fan due to IC piping. I go through coolant fast. My entire resevoir will empty in one week. The problem seems to start after I've driven for 20 mins or longer and go to restart it. The car bogs down and my AEM wideband tells me it's running rich. I can't make it go anywhere. I just changed the plugs last week. I run NGK's and they look fine. Here are my ideas...
1. Head Gasket
2. Spark wires (Currently I have Magnecor's with about 3000 miles)
3. O2 sensor
4. Piston Ring (I doubt it though)

I can't see any white smoke when I'm driving... nor can my Girlfriend when she's following. I tried idling the car and watching the coolant for bubbles and I see only 1-2 every min. I assume that's normal. The head only has 1500 miles by the way.

Please for the love of God somebody help me

 

[timloomis]

sounds like a head gasket.coolant doesnt just dissapear like that.you gaining oil on your dipstick/oil look like pudding?

 

[HRNYHG]

Definitly check your oil. Also do a pressure test on your cooling system.

 

[tsiAWD91x]

well.. assuming you filled your entire system with coolant and the oil isnt white or blochi (turning on the heater and let the colant cycle as the thermostat opens and making sure all air pockets are out with radiator cap off untill smooth flow of coolant flows fast) it could be the headgasket if you overheated it could of warped or messed it up causing a small leak..also before u do anything make sure u arnt leaking an coolant from anywhere else on the car (maybe when your driving u arnt noticing it) (check the bottom of the coolant tank there is a sensor with a rubber sealer sometimes it leaks) and also if everything checks fill everything to full and let it run for awhile and take note to whats goin on everyonce and awhile look for white foam in the water neck housing(only open the cap when the car is running u could get a gyser in your face and also open it slow with a towel to make sure no pressure is behind it)
_________________________
2g mani (ported);14b ported; SS turbo oil feed line; 3" turbo back evoloution proformance; stainless UIP, K&N filter; fully hacked MAF; 2g throttle body elbow; apex'i SFCII ; Blitz duel turbo timer; HKS electronic boost controler; (oil pressure, boost , EGT autometer) 8.5mm Mag wires; NGK-R plugs;

(power coated: valve cover,water pipe,intake manni,water neck,dipstick,fuel rail,turbo waterlines,oil pan)

milled and ported head (1g) & port matched runners; SS 1mm oversized valves coated nitride; 3 angle valve job; COMP cams 258/259; new valve springs(double) and retainers; mod big hole lifters; milled galant 381 of 2000 block no ballace shafts;cometic HP head gasket;ARP head studs; 2g pistons on 1g rods (shot peended) fully ballanced pistons rods flywheel pressure plate; clevite 44 bearings; Arp rod studs; brand new mitsu crank (standard) nitride coat on the jounals

 

[Goodguy162000]

Okay, if I am looking at a headgasket, what entirely am I looking at? For example, if that damn gasket needs to be replaced, what else should I do at the same time. Also, how hard is it? Anybody know approx. what a mechanic might charge if I decide it's over my head? Also, what are the chances it's something like an o2 sensor. I'm running this AEM standalone and unfortunately, it tells me little about problems.

 

[gsxtacy]

When my head gasket went bad, Tempature instantly went up dependant on load/boost.

The heater would work intermitently, warm one minute cool the next.

And every time I cranked the car, after it sitting for a while (30 minutes or more), the plugs would be fouled or not firing right.

Pull your plugs and look at them closely, if there is any crystalization, its pretty obvious that there's water in your cylinder.

A good list of things to replace depend on where your at mileage and maintanence wise.

I replaced:

Timing Belt
Tensioner Pulley
Idler Pully
Hydraulic Tensioner
BS belt

Cometic Head Gasket
ARP head studs
Valve Cover Gasket
Exhaust manifold gasket
Plugs
Wires
Fuel Filter
Turbo to Manifold Gasket
Oil & Filter
Coolant

I spent a little over $600 for the parts, and saved on labor and did it myself.

A 4G63 equipped car pays around 6-8 Hrs to R&R a head gasket. Make sure you take it somewhere that will do the job right, (setting the timing belt with THE TOOL) so you don't have other problems arise after you get the car back.

Good luck,

gsxtacy

 

[Goodguy162000]

Thank you. That's very helpful. So I hear alot about these Cometic headgaskets... what's so special about these and are they worth the $70 more? And can somebody tell me please what would happen if an o2 sensor did go bad? What are the symptoms?

 

[Goodguy162000]

Okay. I just got done taking it around the block and I thought I'd share a little more information... It gets HELLA HOT under the hood. I drove the car for five minutes and no more. I didn't use the turbo even once and I didn't get going above 35 miles per hour either. I thought I'd check the oil when I got home and the dipstick about burnt my fingers off. The oil cap was so hot it was burning me through a towel I was using to take it off. Even my intake pipe was almost hot enough to burn me seriously. I don't have a heat shield but I know alot of people don't either. I hope this helps.

 

[Bostedquest]

Thank you. That's very helpful. So I hear alot about these Cometic headgaskets... what's so special about these and are they worth the $70 more? And can somebody tell me please what would happen if an o2 sensor did go bad? What are the symptoms?

Uh, the cometics are only 99-105, the same price for a crappy Felpro...
The Cometic MLS' rarely fail, usually only under extreme conditions, most the time they can be reused, but no more than 2-3 times to be safe though. Also be sure to use some spray on gasket sealer the 2nd time.

I paid 109 including shipping for mine I think, maybe 104...

Yeah after your last reply.. I would bet HG.
Granted I have been taking my care apart and putting it back togeather for over a month now constantly, and it took me maybe 1 1/2 hours to get the head off... I just pulled the exhuast, and left the intake on.
SoI would dedicate a full weekend if it is your first time. Also print out and follow the directions on Vfaq to the letter.

 

[Goodguy162000]

Bummer... I hate my DSM I think. My car and I have a love/hate relationship. I hate to fix her and she loves to break.

 

[Littlebeeper]

Not that it matters much but the cheap Fel-Pro headgaskets are actually like a little less than $30. It works pretty good on stock engine. Not that any of you actually run these things stock but hey it is an option for a stocker that won't see much abuse <<<< yea right, not abuse a DSM