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05-22-2013
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#1 |
 Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: McLean, VA
Posts: 3,731
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Head gasket failure
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? |
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05-22-2013
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#2 |
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Peoria, AZ
Posts: 9,119
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Re: Head gasket failure
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GOLDCYLON - 91 ZR-1 #2014 GOLDCYLON - 90 ZR-1 #2794, 4L60e (Formerly Schrade's) GOLDCYLON - 11 CTS-V Arizona State Director  91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat 90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat 11 RED/GREY CTS-V |
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05-22-2013
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#3 |
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Found Member
Posts: 4,327
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Re: Head gasket failure
Make sure that it's the head gasket's that are shot.
Pressure check , from the radiator should confirm that. |
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05-22-2013
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#4 |
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: pittsburgh
Posts: 4,624
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Re: Head gasket failure
it's very rare for the head gaskets to go
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It's not the car, it's the people - Doug Johnson 90 r/r "KEYS ON" nick named "T.L.B" |
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05-22-2013
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#5 |
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 2,651
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Re: Head gasket failure
Yun,
If its that bad the spark plugs will confirm it
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Phil Wasinger 1994 Torch Red ZR-1 WAZOO Member George Braml Intake |
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05-22-2013
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#6 |
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Crystal Lake, IL
Posts: 7,180
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Re: Head gasket failure
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
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LGAFF 90 #966-150K miles-sold 92 #234-sold 1987 Callaway TT #17 1991 ZR-1 #1359 |
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05-22-2013
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#7 | |
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: McLean, VA
Posts: 3,731
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Re: Head gasket failure
Quote:
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? |
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05-22-2013
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#8 | |
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Lake Bluff, IL
Posts: 2,150
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Re: Head gasket failure
Quote:
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2016 Long Beach Red Z06 #10281 "POPS Z" 1995 Polo Green #409 "WARP TEN"--Haibeck 350/510 package, 4.10s, Hurst, Stock Exhaust with QTP Cutouts --Sold but still running strong 1993 Quasar Blue #161 "HIL KING" --Sold but still running strong, now with more than 120,000 miles 1967 Marlboro Maroon/Saddle Corvette Coupe 300 hp/4-spd --Sold a long time ago ZR-1 Net Registry Founding Member #95 NCM Lifetime Member Favorite Quote--Attributed to Mickey Thompson: "Too Much Horsepower is Almost Enough" |
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05-22-2013
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#9 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Crystal Lake, IL
Posts: 7,180
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Re: Head gasket failure
I think its other than a head gasket, we have seen the IH cause the same issue...
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LGAFF 90 #966-150K miles-sold 92 #234-sold 1987 Callaway TT #17 1991 ZR-1 #1359 |
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05-22-2013
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#10 | |
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: McLean, VA
Posts: 3,731
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Re: Head gasket failure
Quote:
I am going to pull all spark plugs out of curiosity and see if I find any wet plugs. |
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