Today was a BAD day!

[craracer05]

So i finally got my talon all back together and everything work properly now. So I go to leave for work this morning and start checking the oil and everything. I notice my antifreeze is low again for about the forth time (in 250 miles that i've driven it) so I fill it up. I started the car up sure enough it smokes a little bit and it smells sweet. I'm so pissed ### as of now i've put all new wheel bearings,rotors,calipers,pads,front ball joints,front cv's,royal purple in the whole drivetrain,welded my clutch pedal assembly,shifter cable bearings,new headliner, and thats just what i can remeber right now. So now that my life story is over how hard is it to just replace the head gasket in the car and maybe through a set of arps in there. I don't ahve the money for all my stroker parts so I would rather do this for now?Should I run a compression check also?

 

[kenamond]

So i finally got my talon all back together and everything work properly now. So I go to leave for work this morning and start checking the oil and everything. I notice my antifreeze is low again for about the forth time (in 250 miles that i've driven it) so I fill it up. I started the car up sure enough it smokes a little bit and it smells sweet. I'm so pissed ### as of now i've put all new wheel bearings,rotors,calipers,pads,front ball joints,front cv's,royal purple in the whole drivetrain,welded my clutch pedal assembly,shifter cable bearings,new headliner, and thats just what i can remeber right now. So now that my life story is over how hard is it to just replace the head gasket in the car and maybe through a set of arps in there. I don't ahve the money for all my stroker parts so I would rather do this for now?Should I run a compression check also?

Can't say I'm happy for you, but I'll try to be an optimist here and try to cheer you up.

You get to learn how to do the headgasket and timing belt. Any parts you can afford like cams could be done at the same time. Try to think of it as an opportunity. When you go to do the stroker kit, you'll know more about what is involved and will probably do it a lot faster the 2nd time.

Dunno if that helps much.

 

[1g_tsi_awd]

Treat it as a learning experience. It could be far worse... (i.e. skipping a tooth, belt breaking, bolts not tightened somewhere crucial, pistons off of tolerance, etc...)

Head gasket isn't that hard. If you have money, do the cams and cam gears while your at it, why not?

 

[Talesin]

I'd bother with the compression check first. I had a problem with my original head that a watering passage ended up eating through the aluminum, and was dripping coolant into the exhaust runner directly. The compression was fine and it ended up that I just needed to keep adding more coolant, and eventually replace it. I did it right away (not dealing with that crap!) but still, you could have a perfectly serviceable engine if money is tight.
Or may have to save up for a new head core + machine shop fees. Better to know before replacing parts willy-nilly.

 

[travunder]

I agree, a compression check doesn't take that long and as the old saying says don't fix it unless its broken.It could be a couple different things, just cause its smells like its burning anti freez. Also your car would run poorly if you had a bad head gasket most of the time.

 

[nates6969]

Ya head gaskets aren't so bad, once you get good at it you can do it in a few hours with the help of a buddy and as long as the surfaces are good...

but I'd definitely do a compression and a leak down test...if you dont have a fancy leak down tester and your compression tester spark plug end detaches, you can make one with that, a piece of hose and a regulator that is hooked up to your air compressor...if the headgasket is bad, you should only need to pump in 30 psi or so to find where the leaks are coming from.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but if you had a cracked center section on your turbo, it may also be pumping coolant into the turbine housing which is evaporating into the exhaust...doubtful but just another good reason to do a compression test

 

[Talesin]

Yep, could be turbo seals, since the stock MHI center spool is an oil/water unit. Usually with a partially-leaking turbo seal it only really smokes bad when you boost. If that's the culprit, a turbo rebuild usually isn't TOO expensive, and a crapload cheaper (and easier to do) than a headgasket replacement.

 

[craracer05]

I was alos thinking the same think about the turbo because the car runs really good and doesn't overheat. The car is all stock full boost is 10psi and vaccum is about 20-21.I just going to have to the compression test and see what that tells me. With the leakdown test I could leave the radiator cap off pressurize each cylinder and see if I get bubbles correct?

 

[Nors]

Yep thats correct.

 

[craracer05]

I was told that theres no way the turbo could cause me to loose antifreeze has anyone ever had that happen to them before?

 

[olmytsi]

Of course it can if it burns it...but you would see white smoke while driving.