Head gasket failure

[secondchance]

Yesterday as I drove home from work I noticed my Low Coolant light was coming on and off. So after parking I filled the over-flow tank and went to bed. This morning when I started the car the low coolant light came on again. I checked the over-flow reservoir which was ok then opened the expansion tank - about 2/3 gallon low. I filled the tank with distilled water and started the motor. As I drove out of the parking I noticed white vapor coming out of the car - steam.
It seems I have a blown head gasket. I called a shop I dealt with for 3 years for servicing my BMW (the owner has a 90 ZR-1 and services Ferraries, Astons, Porches, etc...) and asked for an estimate.
Now that the heads will be coming off, any suggestions of services I should have done during this work? A proper cam timing, R & R cam guides, valve job, etc...?
Also, what has me puzzled is that the car never overheated. Do head gaskets fail due to age and mileage? Would you suspect use of non-GM speced coolant? I have been running Preston Extended Service coolant. Any thoughts?

[GOLDCYLON]

Id suggest Marc Haibecks Cometic replacements

http://www.zr1specialist.com/HAT%20Web/products/mls%20head%20gasket.htm

[FU]

Make sure that it's the head gasket's that are shot.
Pressure check , from the radiator should confirm that.

[Kevin]

it's very rare for the head gaskets to go

[Jagdpanzer]

Yun,
If its that bad the spark plugs will confirm it

[LGAFF]

Be sure its not coolant being pulled in from an IH gasket failure!

By the way, there is a Callaway TT owner that owns a company called blockcheck....you pour in a product and it reacts to Combustion Gas in the coolant changing its color....might be worth a double check

[secondchance]

Be sure its not coolant being pulled in from an IH gasket failure!


I was hoping for the same although this possibility is slim.
I recall steam coming out of the tail pipe was more pronounced at the driverside. My guess is chances of head gasket failing on both banks are slim. Most likely failure is on the driverside and the "H" pipe is sending the steam to the other exhaust as well.
So, I think I will pull the spark plugs and hopefully confirm the bank/cylinder # of failure.
Is it necessary to replace both banks? My mechanics thinks he can do this service with the motor in the car. If that is the case, is it necessary to service both heads?
Lastly, is this a good time to replace the front main seal?

[WARP TEN]

I was hoping for the same although this possibility is slim.
I recall steam coming out of the tail pipe was more pronounced at the driverside. My guess is chances of head gasket failing on both banks are slim. Most likely failure is on the driverside and the "H" pipe is sending the steam to the other exhaust as well.
So, I think I will pull the spark plugs and hopefully confirm the bank/cylinder # of failure.
Is it necessary to replace both banks? My mechanics thinks he can do this service with the motor in the car. If that is the case, is it necessary to service both heads?
Lastly, is this a good time to replace the front main seal?

Before you have someone tear into your engine I would strongly recommend you speak with Marc Haibeck (ZR1Specialist.com) or alternatively Corey Henderson or someone kowledgeable in the Wazoo gang near you. --Bob

[LGAFF]

I think its other than a head gasket, we have seen the IH cause the same issue...

[secondchance]

I think its other than a head gasket, we have seen the IH cause the same issue...

I really hope you are right. Once I get an estimate and my mechanic is back from his long weekend, I am going to have the car towed and have him start disassembly from the top. Since I live in a condo this is the only approach available to me.
I am going to pull all spark plugs out of curiosity and see if I find any wet plugs.

[secondchance]

Lee,

Is there a way to tell whether it's IH gasket or not vs. head gasket other then physical removal of IH and visual inspection of the gasket?

[Jagdpanzer]

Leakdown test will confirm if its a blown head gasket

[batchman]

I think it's safe to say this is not a head gasket. Think about it - with the engine running and a breach from combustion to cooling system, which way will a leak flow? Combustion pressure is much higher than cooling system pressure.

Cheers,
- Jeff

[Paul Workman]

I think its other than a head gasket, we have seen the IH cause the same issue...

I agree.

I betcha one of the IH gaskets is more likely the issue (fingers crossed for you). The gasket is very thin between the coolant and 4 of the cylinders.

Note the coolant port between the 2-4 runners (in this case).

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x220/6PPC_bucket/tech%20files/IH4Large.jpg (http://s185.photobucket.com/user/6PPC_bucket/media/tech%20files/IH4Large.jpg.html)

If you find either plugs 2 or 4, or plugs 1 or 3 "steam cleaned"...I'd say you have a 90% chance of just an IH gasket. That being the case, you can pressurize the system at the surge tank, and observe the pressure drop a bit, and then release the pressure and pull the plenum.

Here's what I and others have discovered when steam appears in the exhaust. Note the left side primary runner of the #3 cylinder and you can just make out the black color of the gasket, just squirting out into the runner on the left edge of the runner: and, the coolant is unmistakable too.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x220/6PPC_bucket/tech%20files/ZR-1007.jpg (http://s185.photobucket.com/user/6PPC_bucket/media/tech%20files/ZR-1007.jpg.html)

This being the case, Jerry's Gaskets is the solution to that.

If however you have a steam cleaned plugs other than 1-3 or 2-4, then things are a bit more grave... Let's get this far before some pushrod mechanic tears into your LT5 :censored:

P.

[secondchance]

An update,

I just went down to the car, checked the expansion tank - no change in coolant level. Of course, I ran the car for about 3 minutes this morning so no surprise.

I checked oil dip stick and no evidence of water. Just normal engine oil. I started the car and no evidence of steam for about a minute then I see steam coming out of the driver side exhaust. Another 15 seconds or so, steam out of passenger side but not as much - issue is with the driver side bank.

Does lack of coolant in oil help in diagnosing?

[LGAFF]

Yes, it means there is a good chance its the gasket on the IH! Send me a check for 1/2 the money you are going to save:cheers:

[LGAFF]

And stop running the car, water does not combust, you could end up bending a valve, pull the intake, change the gaskets and check it! :icon_thum

[Scrrem]

Yun,
I have a coolant system pressure tester if you want to borrow it.
Rich

[secondchance]

I know Lee... shouldn't start the car. But I had to check the exhaust and the curiosity is overwhelming.
I pulled all plugs (except 8 - yes, I am lazy) and #1 plug by far is the cleanest. Interestingly, stark contrast is in the thread. Would steam travel through the thread?

[Paul Workman]

And stop running the car, water does not combust, you could end up bending a valve, pull the intake, change the gaskets and check it! :icon_thum

Bending a valve. Um yeah, I spoze. However, I can attest to the fact that might not be a huge concern either. As much as a quart or two of coolant suddenly running through a hole near the coolant side of that primary runner - due to the porting being a little off center - during a 1/4 drag race - did a hell of a cleaning job on my top end, and none the worse for the wear, apparently! (compression checked fine after the repair to the runner. Wheew!):eek:

(And, I concur. Pull the plenum already!)

[scottfab]

I know Lee... shouldn't start the car. But I had to check the exhaust and the curiosity is overwhelming.
I pulled all plugs (except 8 - yes, I am lazy) and #1 plug by far is the cleanest. Interestingly, stark contrast is in the thread. Would steam travel through the thread?

Sure sounds like a coolant leak on the intake near #1 since you're not overheating.