Possible blown headgasket

[ZDA1728]

Loosing coolant without leaking, my boost dropping from peak psi, and *sometimes* a lot of white smoke at idle has lead me to thinking I have a blown headgasket. At first it started gradually and the smoke and overheating got worse. Is there anyway a headgasket could be a little blown and get worse over time and burn even more coolant? And I'm pretty sure a blown headgasket is a boost leak but just wanted to make sure. Anyone know? Thanks guys.

 

[northernawd]

compression test and leakdown test to confirm it.

 

[BogusSVO]

Yes if it is a small blown gasket it can get worse as the gasket seal gets worse with time, heat and pressure

 

[northernawd]

i had the same problem on my daily, i neglected it long enough that the head warped.

 

[ZDA1728]

Thanks guys. I'm gonna leakdown/compression test it to make sure before I pull anything. And I hope I don't have a warped head

Why would I have white smoke sometimes and not all the time though?

 

[BogusSVO]

A warped head is not that big of an issue, unless it is extremely warped. A decent surface will fix it in most cases.

 

[Ronjr]

Open the radiator cap while doing the leak-down test, you may see small bubbles in the coolant. It could also help identify where the leak is.

 

[Trilogy Turbos]

Leak test. Check the color of the spark plugs.
Regards,

TRILOGY TURBOS

 

[keston95GS-T]

It sounds like the head gasket. Get a compression test to make sure. It will get worse overtime . I had that problem and I tried everything else with no avail. I was about to get a compression test or leak down test but my car got flooded in hurricane Sandy before I had the chance.

 

[jdezmit]

Check plugs, easy giveaway for burning coolant.

 

[BlackKnight2013]

a compression check and leak down check will be your best friend for figuring out if you have a blown head gasket. running the engine with a blown head gasket for too long and oil and coolant will start to mix. when that happens on cold first start up of the day the bearings will see only coolant and that will destroy your rod bearings and mains.

 

[ZDA1728]

What should I look for in the plugs?

 

[BlackKnight2013]

What should I look for in the plugs?

when looking for fouled plugs you look for a thin layer of liquid such as oil coolant and fuel. if the plugs are fould with fuel you will smell gas on them

coolant will smell like a bitter sweet smell

 

[nickxf250]

I had an old Isuzu trooper that had a minor head gasket leak. Didn't take me long to turn it into an old Isuzu trooper with a warped head. Needless to say, anymore when I suspect a head gasket problem, I just park it until I fix it.