I think it is the Headgasket, but i want a second opinion

[moliver]

Ok, last week. I was driving to work. I feel a slight hesitation in the car. It goes away, i continue on into work. I make it, turn the car off, go to work. When i am leaving, the car barely starts. (rough idol), i crank it a few more times, and it does the same thing. Finally it wont even start all together.

Today, i change the spark plugs, (the had a VERY little bit of oil on them) the car starts and has the rough idol again. I keep it running by applying gas. Then the idol smooths out. During this process and afterwards, white smoke is coming from the tailpipe, and from around the exhaust manifold area. I am thinking i got a blown headgasket. Now, there is no water in the oil. I looked at the dipstick, and there is no sign of a leak. So what do you guys think?

 

[GSX_RCR]

I don't think it's a headgasket (yet). First of all, how many miles are the car? Have you replaced the caps in the ecu? And how many miles on the turbo?

Could be a simple vacuum leak somewhere from a rotted vacuum line, or a blown turbo altogether. You'll have to break it down individually and rule out the problem parts. I would start with the simplest areas (vacuum lines, BISS screw, etc), then move on to the intake portion of the motor (MAF, turbo, IC piping, TB, etc).

 

[majik2k5]

If it's smoking white smoke, and there's no sign of water in the oil, I'm gonna go with a blown turbo on this one.

 

[turboTSi1320]

Take off the rad cap. Crank the car, If coolent guses out everywhere its a headgasket. A boost leak wouldent cause it to smoke, or ECU.

 

[blcknspo0ln]

the easiest way is by doing a compression test. If you're compression is below par, it could possibly be your HG.

how is your coolant temperature? when you are on boost (and only on boost), have you noticed taht your temperature will go up, but then go back to normal upon driving normally again?

if that's true, it is a symptom of an impending HG failure

 

[MITZA]

I don't think it's a headgasket (yet). First of all, how many miles are the car? Have you replaced the caps in the ecu? And how many miles on the turbo?

Could be a simple vacuum leak somewhere from a rotted vacuum line, or a blown turbo altogether. You'll have to break it down individually and rule out the problem parts. I would start with the simplest areas (vacuum lines, BISS screw, etc), then move on to the intake portion of the motor (MAF, turbo, IC piping, TB, etc).

Right on the money, one of my serveral DSM's the turbo also failed ironically it was a laser about 175K miles and there was coolant Blow by in it. It was so bad It looked like a steam locomotive coming down the road. Mine though had some bad turbo signs. Whinning on revs, low boost,and the impeller wheel was ground up. Check with the turbo and the Rad cap its a great item to start with. Hope all works out.

 

[Sohc_mshue]

if its white smoke then you know its coolant. I am leaning more towards a messed up turbo.

 

[moliver]

Ok, sorry forgot to mention

1996 GST 130k miles


For some reason, i dont think it is the turbo. Considering the car was not smoking when i turned it off. Any other possibilites?

 

[MITZA]

Ok, sorry forgot to mention

1996 GST 130k miles


For some reason, i dont think it is the turbo. Considering the car was not smoking when i turned it off. Any other possibilites?

Well theres many possibilities when the car is off if a headgasket has a slight leak it can drip into the Combustion chambers. Pull a spark plug check it for any wierd signs. The head can be slightly waped too I don't know the history on the car so its iffy. But white smoke out the tailpipe when warm is not normal. Have your left the Rad cap off while running and see if its bubbling? as per the prior post (remove cap when motor cold)

 

[MITZA]

You can also pressurize the system with a air compressor and a open ended fitting on the coolant over flow hose into the thermostat housing. Pressurize slowly see if u can hear any bubbling. But one of your symptoms if white smoke out of the exhaust manifold thats telling me theres is antifreeze getting burned in the combustion chamber. My money is now on the Headgasket. Which if thats the case I would have the Head checked for warping.Best of luck

 

[moliver]

The car never ran warm, so i dont think it is warped. Ill have it checked though.

Thanks

 

[moliver]

I did the rad cap test. It didnt gush at all. The car didnt smoke at all until the car got warmed up, then it smoked a some. Not as bad as yesterday though. Still no signs of leaking.

 

[moliver]

well now the infamous ticking of the 2g has started now. It still smokes a little bid when you give it some gas. I did a small pull, and turbo spooled fine with no whining. So that kinda rules out the turbo.

I changed the oil and put some lucas oil stablizer in. See if that fixs it. Anyone else got a suggestion?

 

[MITZA]

Originally Posted by Old Mitsu Tech
If the fans aren't coming on, I think I'd look at that too. They will cause overheat in stop and go, stop and such. Overheat going down the road will not be fans. Unless some chuckle head hooked them up backward. I've seen that once. Losing fluid and getting hot could be the radiator leaking and or stopped up. The thermostat causing overheat. Or the head gasket or head.

If all else fails, do a hydrocarbon test on the radiator. You should be able to get these through a parts house or if they can't get it, Snap on sells them. It's a valuable instrument in detecting a blown head gasket or cracked or warped head. If no hydrocarbons are present then you can pretty much rule those things out.

Good Luck


Wow, I totally forgot about that test I called NAPA and they stock them. Most cities have them. Best of luck


Read this a couple of us were discussing this on anothers post with a similiar issue, this is a cheap test for bad headgaskets. Let me know

 

[sleepy98gsx]

i have a 98 gsx with about 110k on it and i've never really had problems except the stock t-25 went, but who didn't expect that to happen sooner or later, but just a week or so ago i noticed white smoke coming out of the exhuast. i'm still not sure what it could be, it has a Big 16G with absolutely nothing wrong with it and it still runs pretty strong. it needs tuned pretty bad and some local car guys said it could just be that it needs tuned that bad, but i'm not buyin it because it smokes pretty bad all of a sudden. But now here's the weird part...sometimes, it just won't do it, it's an on and off thing, so i'm just as lost as you are..

 

[boostinaintez]

do a simple leak down test. My guess its probably the head gasket leaking into a cylinder.