Intake gaskets or ??? (HELP)
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 1
From: Zagreb, Croatia
Intake gaskets or ??? (HELP)
The problems started a few days ago when i noticed a little bit of
white smoke from exhaust. The smoke looked like condensation but it
was a bit thicker and it only came from left side of exhaust
( I've got true dual).
To be sure what the problem is I drove arround town to see how the engine
will act. So after a few miles I noticed next:
- engine temp was normal
- white smoke from left side exhaust
- 2 litres of cooling liquid spent :eek:
My first guess was: intake manifold gasket is gone.
But I've changed it last year and I made maybe 3500 miles since. :confused:
Anyway I took down intake manifold and it's visible that one cylinder was
taking the cooling liquid but the gaskets look good and I don't see any marks
where the cooling liquid could have gone from cooling canal to intake canal.
Here are some pics of cyilinder head and intake manifold. I'm sure that You'll
see the cooling liquid marks in intake canal.
Did anybody have a situation like this ?
[Modified by Sliding, 9:33 PM 3/13/2003]
white smoke from exhaust. The smoke looked like condensation but it
was a bit thicker and it only came from left side of exhaust
( I've got true dual).
To be sure what the problem is I drove arround town to see how the engine
will act. So after a few miles I noticed next:
- engine temp was normal
- white smoke from left side exhaust
- 2 litres of cooling liquid spent :eek:
My first guess was: intake manifold gasket is gone.
But I've changed it last year and I made maybe 3500 miles since. :confused:
Anyway I took down intake manifold and it's visible that one cylinder was
taking the cooling liquid but the gaskets look good and I don't see any marks
where the cooling liquid could have gone from cooling canal to intake canal.
Here are some pics of cyilinder head and intake manifold. I'm sure that You'll
see the cooling liquid marks in intake canal.
Did anybody have a situation like this ?
[Modified by Sliding, 9:33 PM 3/13/2003]
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 2
From: The Motor City
Re: Intake gaskets or ??? (chucks88)
I think chucks88 is right - head gasket (I'm affraid).
But, look on the bright side, you've already got the intake off - the heads are only a stone's throw away from coming off too. Besides, it's good that you've taken the top end appart 'cause it'll keep you from driving the car around and doing irreversable damage (ie. cracked head, etc...)
And if you do take the heads off (and I doubt that you have any choice now) make sure you use a good set of head gaskets. I'm in the middle of doing the job on my '89 right now and I've used what everyone here suggests - Felpro #1010. Don't be tempted to use the cheaper Felpro #7733 - that's what my car had before (the job was done prior to me buying the car) and they failed, and I had to replace my heads 'cause one cracked after the car overheated on me BIGTIME!
I know it's a PITA, but just try and look at it as a challenge. Corvette owners don't back away from challenges!
Good luck with the car.
[Modified by TheCorvetteKid, 11:44 PM 3/13/2003]
But, look on the bright side, you've already got the intake off - the heads are only a stone's throw away from coming off too. Besides, it's good that you've taken the top end appart 'cause it'll keep you from driving the car around and doing irreversable damage (ie. cracked head, etc...)
And if you do take the heads off (and I doubt that you have any choice now) make sure you use a good set of head gaskets. I'm in the middle of doing the job on my '89 right now and I've used what everyone here suggests - Felpro #1010. Don't be tempted to use the cheaper Felpro #7733 - that's what my car had before (the job was done prior to me buying the car) and they failed, and I had to replace my heads 'cause one cracked after the car overheated on me BIGTIME!
I know it's a PITA, but just try and look at it as a challenge. Corvette owners don't back away from challenges!
Good luck with the car.
[Modified by TheCorvetteKid, 11:44 PM 3/13/2003]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 959
Likes: 1
From: Plano, Texas
Re: Intake gaskets or ??? (Sliding)
Won't a compression test determine is the head gasket is the problem? Or rings, or valve guides, etc.? Perhaps the intake gasket was installed improperly. Especially if the smoke "looked like condensation". Don't go deeper than you need to, unless you really want to.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 1
From: Zagreb, Croatia
Re: Intake gaskets or ??? (StephensblackL98)
But if it was head gasket wouldn't the temperature go high while driving?
And there was no pressure in cooling system hoses!
If the head gasket is gone I think that temp should go very high and there
should be pressure in cooling system because compression would go from cylinder into cooling system.
Am I right?
And there was no pressure in cooling system hoses!
If the head gasket is gone I think that temp should go very high and there
should be pressure in cooling system because compression would go from cylinder into cooling system.
Am I right?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: Intake gaskets or ??? (Sliding)
It seems like the radiator cap would keep the pressure from building up. I picture combustion gases going into the partly low coolant, forming a big pressurized air bubble/coolant malt and forcing itself into the overflow tank, where the combustion gases escape. Based on that theory, the temps would still be higher than normal as you described.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,270
Likes: 26
From: Winchester VA
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Intake gaskets or ??? (Sliding)
I have seen many a bad intake gasket, and never once did the coolant make it's way into the combustion chamber. Take a look at the path the coolant would have to follow to get to the intake runner. At the same time, the gasket area around the runnner would have to be leaking to allow coolant in(which is bigger than air, so you have to assume a vacuum leak and lean misfire condition would exist).
That said, there are several ways to test for a blown head gasket. Most are with the engine running so we'll go from memory here...Did the exhaust have a sweet smell, take a wiff of the coolant and see if it reminds you of the white exhaust smell.
Since your only a few bolts away from having the head off, take her off. Two things here 1. A blown head gasket is usually visible on the gasket and 2.An extremely clean piston and combustion chamber are the result of the "steam bath" created when the coolant is super heated in the cylinder.
Take the head off and let us know(pics maybe) what you find.
That said, there are several ways to test for a blown head gasket. Most are with the engine running so we'll go from memory here...Did the exhaust have a sweet smell, take a wiff of the coolant and see if it reminds you of the white exhaust smell.
Since your only a few bolts away from having the head off, take her off. Two things here 1. A blown head gasket is usually visible on the gasket and 2.An extremely clean piston and combustion chamber are the result of the "steam bath" created when the coolant is super heated in the cylinder.
Take the head off and let us know(pics maybe) what you find.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: Palm City FL
Re: Intake gaskets or ??? (Sliding)
I may be way off here but...
If the head gasket was leaking, it would leak directly into the cylinder. The antifreeze is in the intake track well before the head gasket.
As it looks as if the intake gasket is showing no signs of liquid seapage, I would look further uphill on the intake track. Possibly some intake porting that busted into a water jacket, or maybe a crack in the manifold?
My $.02
If the head gasket was leaking, it would leak directly into the cylinder. The antifreeze is in the intake track well before the head gasket.
As it looks as if the intake gasket is showing no signs of liquid seapage, I would look further uphill on the intake track. Possibly some intake porting that busted into a water jacket, or maybe a crack in the manifold?
My $.02
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: Intake gaskets or ??? (Ski2Tee)
I have seen many a bad intake gasket, and never once did the coolant make it's way into the combustion chamber. Take a look at the path the coolant would have to follow to get to the intake runner.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 6,272
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From: Chino Valley AZ
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Currently Corvette-less
Re: Intake gaskets or ??? (CentralCoaster)
:iagree: If it were a head gasket ~ it wouldn't be showing in the intake port. My guess is that you have misssed the tracking clue from the coolant port to the intake port. Buy a high quality set of intake gaskets and bolt it down. Coating the surface of the gasket with RTV (Silicone Sealer) adds protection. Just make sure it is O2 sensor safe.
~ Purp :thumbs:
~ Purp :thumbs:
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,625
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From: Zagreb, Croatia
Re: Intake gaskets or ??? (PurpleC4)
One more thing.
It's not visible from the pics but some of the head ports look like they
were sucking engine oil.
I just checked engine oil level and it's at minimum ( usually engine didn't spend any oil ).
I guess ( hope ) that this is intake manifold gasket problem but it's just not visible.
Last time I used FELPRO gaskets, not sure what part nr.
Does FELPRO make different intake manifold gaskets ( maybe thicker kind )
or are all the same?
It's not visible from the pics but some of the head ports look like they
were sucking engine oil.
I just checked engine oil level and it's at minimum ( usually engine didn't spend any oil ).
I guess ( hope ) that this is intake manifold gasket problem but it's just not visible.
Last time I used FELPRO gaskets, not sure what part nr.
Does FELPRO make different intake manifold gaskets ( maybe thicker kind )
or are all the same?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: Intake gaskets or ??? (Sliding)
If you had thicker gaskets there, my guess is you would have trouble threading in the intake manifold bolts, and you'd have a harder time sealing the ends, because they'd have a larger gap.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 6,272
Likes: 2
From: Chino Valley AZ
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Currently Corvette-less
Re: Intake gaskets or ??? (CentralCoaster)
Sliding,
Most gasket manufacturers only make on grade in a particular type of gasket (with head gaskets being an exception). I would buy FelPro ~ silicone them up, and bolt it back down.
You may want to lay a straightedge across the face of the manifold and heads to look for trueness. I doubt they are warped ~ however, it has happened.
~ Purp :seeya
Most gasket manufacturers only make on grade in a particular type of gasket (with head gaskets being an exception). I would buy FelPro ~ silicone them up, and bolt it back down.
You may want to lay a straightedge across the face of the manifold and heads to look for trueness. I doubt they are warped ~ however, it has happened.
~ Purp :seeya
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 1
From: Zagreb, Croatia
Re: Intake gaskets or ??? (Sliding)
After good hard thinking And reading archived topics I've decided to take heads down.
I also checked cooling fluid level in expansion tank and it's higher than it used to be.
While i'll have heads down I'll do some bigger mods but I'll start a new topic for this.
I also checked cooling fluid level in expansion tank and it's higher than it used to be.
While i'll have heads down I'll do some bigger mods but I'll start a new topic for this.