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So I've been chasing some slow coolant leaks, and trying to figure out why my
car keeps blowing coolant out of the overflow. I finally concluded that the
system was just getting overpressure, and a combustion gas test confirms that
there are exhaust gases in my coolant. There are none of the other "typical"
symptoms, the oil is clear, no oil in the coolant, temps run normal, no white
clouds in the exhaust. The spark plugs also don't have any obvious evidence
of coolant in the cylinders, either.
I tried some "head gasket fix in a can", but so far that hasn't helped. Since
I appear to be getting little or no coolant leaking into the engine, I wasn't
sure it would work anyway (if gas is just going out of somewhere into the
coolant, rather than coolant leaking into something). I used a formulation
that didn't require I remove the anti-freeze. At this point I don't know if
it would be worth trying a different formulation or not.
So, if I do remove the heads to check it out it looks like I'll need head
gaskets, valve cover gaskets, intake/valley gasket, and exhaust manifold
gaskets. It also appears there is a gasket between the exhaust manifold and
the cat, but so far I haven't found anyone that carries that (I've not looked
super hard yet). Any other gaskets that I would need? Any brands to look for
or avoid? Rock Auto seems to have good prices, and they carry FelPro.
It also appears there is some kind of sealant on the head bolts. The ROM says
to use 3M Solvent #2 to clean the threads, or trichorethylene petrol or
paraffin. It looks like 3M still makes that solvent, but it also appears to be a
professional product, so I'm not sure if I can get it retail. What common
solvents might work? I believe that paraffin is what we call kerosene in the
US, and I know that petrol is gasoline, but I'm not sure what trichlorethylene
petrol would be.
It also calls for 3M EC 776 Lubricant-sealant on the head bolts when putting
them back in. That also appears to be a professional product (and an aviation
product, at that). And also not available retail that I could find on my
quick search. Is there another product that is suitable? Is it sealing
against the crankcase, oil passage, or coolant passages?
Is there anything else I should check or do "while I'm in there"? I want to
avoid this getting out of hand, but I also don't want to tear it down again.
I will probably have the exhaust manifolds ceramic coated, and may also have
the fuel injectors cleaned.
Any other tips, tricks or pitfalls I should be aware of? What are the chances
that is is something more serious than a bad head gasket?
car keeps blowing coolant out of the overflow. I finally concluded that the
system was just getting overpressure, and a combustion gas test confirms that
there are exhaust gases in my coolant. There are none of the other "typical"
symptoms, the oil is clear, no oil in the coolant, temps run normal, no white
clouds in the exhaust. The spark plugs also don't have any obvious evidence
of coolant in the cylinders, either.
I tried some "head gasket fix in a can", but so far that hasn't helped. Since
I appear to be getting little or no coolant leaking into the engine, I wasn't
sure it would work anyway (if gas is just going out of somewhere into the
coolant, rather than coolant leaking into something). I used a formulation
that didn't require I remove the anti-freeze. At this point I don't know if
it would be worth trying a different formulation or not.
So, if I do remove the heads to check it out it looks like I'll need head
gaskets, valve cover gaskets, intake/valley gasket, and exhaust manifold
gaskets. It also appears there is a gasket between the exhaust manifold and
the cat, but so far I haven't found anyone that carries that (I've not looked
super hard yet). Any other gaskets that I would need? Any brands to look for
or avoid? Rock Auto seems to have good prices, and they carry FelPro.
It also appears there is some kind of sealant on the head bolts. The ROM says
to use 3M Solvent #2 to clean the threads, or trichorethylene petrol or
paraffin. It looks like 3M still makes that solvent, but it also appears to be a
professional product, so I'm not sure if I can get it retail. What common
solvents might work? I believe that paraffin is what we call kerosene in the
US, and I know that petrol is gasoline, but I'm not sure what trichlorethylene
petrol would be.
It also calls for 3M EC 776 Lubricant-sealant on the head bolts when putting
them back in. That also appears to be a professional product (and an aviation
product, at that). And also not available retail that I could find on my
quick search. Is there another product that is suitable? Is it sealing
against the crankcase, oil passage, or coolant passages?
Is there anything else I should check or do "while I'm in there"? I want to
avoid this getting out of hand, but I also don't want to tear it down again.
I will probably have the exhaust manifolds ceramic coated, and may also have
the fuel injectors cleaned.
Any other tips, tricks or pitfalls I should be aware of? What are the chances
that is is something more serious than a bad head gasket?