Corvette overheating / head gasket?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
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From: Miramar Florida
Corvette overheating / head gasket?
While driving yesterday I decided to get on the accelerator harder than usual when my light turned green. I looked in my rearview mirror and saw a cloud of white smoke. I immediatley came off the gas pedal and drove on at a moderate speed. The smoke stopped shortly after I came off the gas and I drove it on home. When I stopped, the car seemed to be overheating, I could hear boiling in the radiator. After the engine cooled I checked the water and it was down slightly, I started the engine and got no smoke, I tried revving the engine but still no smoke. I checked the oil to see if there was antifreeze contamination but there was none. Do you think the head gasket is blown?
Last edited by Bredd1; May 22, 2011 at 09:43 PM. Reason: Misspelling
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
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From: Dublin CA
Pull spark plugs 7 & 8 to see if they are exceptionally clean. If one plug is very clean , chances are that the gasket is leaking coolant into this cylinder. The head gasket on these cylinders have a very small water passage that is only about 1/16" away from the cylinder wall. If the gasket goes, this is one of the most likely places.
You can take the car to a shop that can test for exhaust gases in the radiator coolant which will confirm a leak.
Good luck.
You can take the car to a shop that can test for exhaust gases in the radiator coolant which will confirm a leak.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 213
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From: Miramar Florida
Thanks for the reply.
This is an L98 engine. I really couldn't tell any loss of power from the engine. When I started it today it started right up as it normally has, still no smoke. With the symptoms I discribed in the first post do you think I need a full engine rebuild or can I get by with just doing the top end?
This is an L98 engine. I really couldn't tell any loss of power from the engine. When I started it today it started right up as it normally has, still no smoke. With the symptoms I discribed in the first post do you think I need a full engine rebuild or can I get by with just doing the top end?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
Since you did not indicate the engine overheated, I think you would be able to just replace the head gaskets.
I had my gasket blow 2/3rds of the way to LA. I then nursed it the 800 miles back. Stopping every 1.5 hours at first to replace the water. Eventually having to stop every half hour. The AFR heads were still flat after all this. I had 223,000 miles on the engine and decided to change it out for the ZZ4 short block.
First confirm that it is the head gaskets. You can have your heads checked at a machine shop. But I think you will be okay to just replace the gaskets.
Good Luck again.....
I had my gasket blow 2/3rds of the way to LA. I then nursed it the 800 miles back. Stopping every 1.5 hours at first to replace the water. Eventually having to stop every half hour. The AFR heads were still flat after all this. I had 223,000 miles on the engine and decided to change it out for the ZZ4 short block.
First confirm that it is the head gaskets. You can have your heads checked at a machine shop. But I think you will be okay to just replace the gaskets.
Good Luck again.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
It may overheat. But did it hit 260+ degrees? If you start it up and have little or no coolant, it will overheat quickly. Don't run it unless you have to. If you have a shop near to you, take it to them and have them test for exhaust gas in the coolant. It is a simple test done quickly. That will give you a yes or no.
My guess is that the gasket is blown. You can change the gasket yourself. If the test indicates a blown gasket, tear it down. Give the heads to a shop and have them checked. They may be okay and need no work at all.
My guess is that the gasket is blown. You can change the gasket yourself. If the test indicates a blown gasket, tear it down. Give the heads to a shop and have them checked. They may be okay and need no work at all.
