Head Gasket??
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Tulare Ca
Head Gasket??
Ok new guy here and I am mechanically inclined but on a limited budget. have a 89 convert. stock engine (i think) with 195,000 miles. lifters seem to rattle, recently had a overheating problem. changed water pump, thermostate and spark plugs. I noticed the passenger front two plugs had water on them. changed plugs and filled with antifreeze/water mix noticed white smoke when cold then clears up. This is a daily driver and need to just fix temp. until mid summer. Any recommendations? Are there any additives to use to seal up head gasket for about 20,000 miles, thanks to any response.
Pro
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 515
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From: Nashua NH
the only additive that really works is a new head gasket. Do a compression test; if the cylinders that you noticed teh water on are lower than the rest, that's where your head gasket is compromised. Once you get the head off, you need to check for cracks in the head/block to be sure that the HG is the culprit...good luck
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,039
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From: CA
Being on a limited budget, you probably don't want to get into a total rebuild at this point. So here's what I would do,and have done with some sucess. Get a can of the best ceramic block sealer you can find. Not the powderd aluminum crap. Drain all the antifreez out, and I mean all. Remove the valve covers( that's not alot of fun either) but it's not hard. Retorque your head bolts. I have skipped this part and still had some luck, but only with iron heads.Fill with clean water only and the sealer.Follow their directions. I've done this before and it has bought quite alot of time before I had to tear into them. One toyota 4cyl I owned ran for almost a year with this method, even passed Ca. smog!
Hope this helps,good luck to you.
Hope this helps,good luck to you.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 679
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From: vero beach florida
New headgasket $40, exhaust $15 and intake $15, so for $70 odd dollars the leak is fixed and about 4-5 hrs work.
Get your headgasket from here -
http://www.cnc-motorsports.com/product.asp?ProdID=20111
Get your headgasket from here -
http://www.cnc-motorsports.com/product.asp?ProdID=20111
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,039
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From: CA
It means the majority of the coolant is going into the cylinder and being vaporized before it has a chance to get into the oil. Of course there are other ways besides a head gasket that coolant can get in there.But at 195k the best guess would be head gasket. If you wanna take the time, and spend the money for new gaskets,that is the right fix as others have said here. If you just wanna limp by for a few months, maybe longer, try the sealer and keep an eye on her.
By the way, if your not getting too much water in the oil, it must be a pretty small leak.
By the way, if your not getting too much water in the oil, it must be a pretty small leak.
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: CA
Also you said you had an issue with valve train rattle. So you could go ahead and spend the time and money for new gaskets and end up doing the whole process over again for new lifters,rods,valves,springs, basiclly a new head job. You can see where this is going. As far as the engine bearings are concerned, if you don't have water in the oil, your probably OK. But who knows what they look like from just the 200k on them.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Safety Car
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Race Director
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From: Database Error Indiana
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 892
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From: New Smyrna Beach Florida
New headgasket $40, exhaust $15 and intake $15, so for $70 odd dollars the leak is fixed and about 4-5 hrs work.
Get your headgasket from here -
http://www.cnc-motorsports.com/product.asp?ProdID=20111
Get your headgasket from here -
http://www.cnc-motorsports.com/product.asp?ProdID=20111
Only things I would add to that is to do BOTH head gaskets while you have it torn down that far. If one head gasket went, the other probably isn't far behind. Also, take heads to machine shop to check for cracks & any possible warp.
DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!!!
P.S. I have an 89 coupe with 80,000mi. and I just had my head gaskets replaced, and I'm glad I did it right. Ease of mind!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
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From: Kempner Texas
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
There's been debate about what the correct head gasket to use. I believe there were people having issues with Felpro 1010 leaking a year later.
Anyways, what headgasket do you say is the correct to use on an L98 with aluminum heads?
Anyways, what headgasket do you say is the correct to use on an L98 with aluminum heads?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 9,758
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From: Houston Texas
how does the stuff know the diff between the coolant passages and the leak? it doesn't that's how.. don't use it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 9,758
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From: Houston Texas
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 375
Likes: 18
From: Lawrenceville Georgia
The Fel-Pro #1010 is .039 compressed
#1003 is 041 compressed
This is still less than the factory of .052 compressed.
I've read somewhere that there is a "new and improved" #1010 that is black with raised silicone beads around the water jackets?
I'll be changing head gaskets on a 89 in a few weeks, so I'm trying to follow this thread for any and all opinions on gaskets
Joel
#1003 is 041 compressed
This is still less than the factory of .052 compressed.
I've read somewhere that there is a "new and improved" #1010 that is black with raised silicone beads around the water jackets?
I'll be changing head gaskets on a 89 in a few weeks, so I'm trying to follow this thread for any and all opinions on gaskets
Joel
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
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I don't know anything about it. I've just read of people having problems with that headgasket on an L98.
I never did read anywhere as to what the correct headgasket to use on an L98 with the aluminum heads. I guess if all else fails, the dealer could supply headgaskets.
I never did read anywhere as to what the correct headgasket to use on an L98 with the aluminum heads. I guess if all else fails, the dealer could supply headgaskets.