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Tech Area => General Buick Tech => Topic started by: shmed on August 12 2014, 04:14:20 PM

Title: headgasket leak ?
Post by: shmed on August 12 2014, 04:14:20 PM
well  today the  boy fired up the T  with the 4.1   let it run to warm up an outta nowhere coolant is blowing out the overflow container.
i assume the headgaskets 
is there a way i can tell for sure before i tear it apart?
the oil is fine though
thanks

Title: Re: headgasket leak ?
Post by: Scoobum on August 12 2014, 04:29:32 PM
Mine did that after each run. Cracked cylinder. Kept emptying Razors overflow bottle...and topping the rad off...until it came apart at the seams.
Title: Re: headgasket leak ?
Post by: shmed on August 12 2014, 04:58:17 PM
well  im hopinh to figure out whats up before i tear into it again.
i read somewhere about applying aire pressure in the spark plug hole but i cant recall what meant what
Title: Re: headgasket leak ?
Post by: Scoobum on August 12 2014, 05:57:58 PM
well  im hopinh to figure out whats up before i tear into it again.
i read somewhere about applying aire pressure in the spark plug hole but i cant recall what meant what


I'd assume you'd hear air escaping.
Title: headgasket leak ?
Post by: larrym on August 12 2014, 06:17:13 PM
You can get a test kit that hooks up to the rad will show exhaust gas the fluid changes color.
Title: headgasket leak ?
Post by: larrym on August 12 2014, 06:31:58 PM
Or hook a pressure tester up to the rad fire it up and see if it smokes
Title: Re: headgasket leak ?
Post by: TexasT on August 12 2014, 07:41:11 PM
well  im hopinh to figure out whats up before i tear into it again.
i read somewhere about applying aire pressure in the spark plug hole but i cant recall what meant what

Leakdown test. Tells of cylinder seal. Then some oil and another test to see if it is rings. You can look in the rad and listen to exhaust/intake while testing to see if air is escaping into these places.
Title: Re: headgasket leak ?
Post by: earlbrown on August 13 2014, 12:56:30 AM
Pull the plugs and see if one of them is steam cleaned.  (or tastes like coolant)
Title: Re: headgasket leak ?
Post by: shmed on August 13 2014, 04:57:33 PM
hi guys  well   i pulled the plugs   3 looked black wet   didnt do the taste test tho sry earl
what i did pulled all the plugs   unbolted the rocker arms but  100 psi air into the system   via the spark plug hole
didnt hear a damm thing nothing in the rad or the intake (throttle body held open)
car doesnt smoke  oil clean like i just put it in.
found the thrmostat was stuck shut?     
Title: Re: headgasket leak ?
Post by: earlbrown on August 13 2014, 08:12:20 PM
Black wet could be oil or raw fuel or water.


shoulda licked 'em.  :)
Title: Re: headgasket leak ?
Post by: earlbrown on August 13 2014, 08:14:01 PM
At least it sounds like your stuck thermostat didn't blow the gaskets into the cooling system  (unless it takes actual cylinder pressure instead of just 100PSI to pressurize the water jacket.

I'd run a little while with not thermostat and see what the coolant does.



You know, as long as your plugs don't taste like antifreeze  :D
Title: Re: headgasket leak ?
Post by: shmed on August 13 2014, 09:16:38 PM
thanks earl
tried again no smoke or anything
lots of bubbles in the overflow again
hope its not a cracked cyclinder     read 4.1    are good for that

Title: Re: headgasket leak ?
Post by: Steve Wood on August 13 2014, 09:45:22 PM
Test the coolant for exhaust games as someone suggested.  You don't get bubbles in the coolant without a source
Title: headgasket leak ?
Post by: larrym on August 13 2014, 11:16:54 PM
I had a similar experience I didn't blow the gasket I lifted the head at number 1 fire ring was intact but I was blowing bubbles in the coolant tank. Need to do the exhaust gas test to confirm once I pulled the head I had 1 super clean piston.
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