leaky head gasket, or something else?

Meat Supply · 02-03-2009, 06:18 PM

so here's the deal OT. my car has been going through coolant at a rate of about a gallon a week. i'm quite sure it's not leaking so it think i have a leaky HG. that and my coolant res. has yucky brown gunk in it. would a compression test on the cylinders confirm this, maybe? what about a compression test on the cooling system? do they do that?

i'm willing to attempt this fix myself, i'm a pretty good mechanic so far.

oh yeah, this is on my 97 crapalier z24. 2.4L 176K miles..... (insert cav jokes here

)

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Thaddy · 02-03-2009, 06:21 PM

Uninstall the stock coolant gnomes that Chevy installs from the factory. Problem solved.

sperry · 02-03-2009, 06:24 PM

I'm gonna guess that the oil in the coolant, and the missing coolant confirm the leaky head gasket.

Just do the head gaskets. It shouldn't be that hard. It's not like you have to take the motor out of the car on a Cavalier, and there's just one head gasket.

tcs007 · 02-03-2009, 06:25 PM

What's your oil look like? Chocolate milk? Yep, you've got a blown headgasket.

Qcanfixit · 02-03-2009, 06:27 PM

what you need is the quick and easy way to fix, fill and seal that gasket fast, and make it last!

Meat Supply · 02-03-2009, 06:33 PM

^^snuggy or shamwow

wait, super putty right

i've tried a couple products. no luck

well, i was afraid of these things...... no sperry, it's a dohc so it's 2 i think? or would it be one where the heads come together? it'll be kind-of a pain cuz i'm gonna need another vehicle for a week while i do it. pretty much have to take the side of the motor off, timing cover, chain, etc.....so i can pull the heads up. still, i'm surprised it made it this long anyway.

infox · 02-03-2009, 06:40 PM

just jbweld the head to the block

mannac · 02-03-2009, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skateboy16

^^snuggy or shamwow

wait, super putty right

i've tried a couple products. no luck

well, i was afraid of these things...... no sperry, it's a dohc so it's 2 i think? or would it be one where the heads come together? it'll be kind-of a pain cuz i'm gonna need another vehicle for a week while i do it. pretty much have to take the side of the motor off, timing cover, chain, etc.....so i can pull the heads up. still, i'm surprised it made it this long anyway.

Should just be one assuming it's in an Inline layout.

Meat Supply · 02-03-2009, 07:25 PM

haha. i was just thinking with the way the motor looked, but it is one

VpointVick · 02-03-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sperry

I'm gonna guess that the oil in the coolant, and the missing coolant confirm the leaky head gasket.

Just do the head gaskets. It shouldn't be that hard. It's not like you have to take the motor out of the car on a Cavalier, and there's just one head gasket.

This.

Also this on the one head gasket. DOHC doesn't mean two heads necessarily.

outbacksport · 02-03-2009, 07:57 PM

it will compress stuff just fine, you need a leak down test performed.

02-03-2009, 06:18 PM	#1
Meat Supply Scooby Specialist Member#: 137902 Join Date: Jan 2007 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: traverse city, Mi skeletor Vehicle: ---- washed away a dream of you	leaky head gasket, or something else? so here's the deal OT. my car has been going through coolant at a rate of about a gallon a week. i'm quite sure it's not leaking so it think i have a leaky HG. that and my coolant res. has yucky brown gunk in it. would a compression test on the cylinders confirm this, maybe? what about a compression test on the cooling system? do they do that? i'm willing to attempt this fix myself, i'm a pretty good mechanic so far. oh yeah, this is on my 97 crapalier z24. 2.4L 176K miles..... (insert cav jokes here ) ibthisisasubaruforum * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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02-03-2009, 06:21 PM	#2
Thaddy Scooby Specialist Member#: 128109 Join Date: Oct 2006 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Pittsburgh Vehicle: 2011 E82 135i Alpine White	Uninstall the stock coolant gnomes that Chevy installs from the factory. Problem solved.

02-03-2009, 06:24 PM	#3
sperry Scooby Specialist Member#: 8636 Join Date: Jul 2001 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Reno, NV Vehicle: WRX, OBXT, NA Miata, F250SD, no more SVX :(	I'm gonna guess that the oil in the coolant, and the missing coolant confirm the leaky head gasket. Just do the head gaskets. It shouldn't be that hard. It's not like you have to take the motor out of the car on a Cavalier, and there's just one head gasket.

02-03-2009, 06:25 PM	#4
tcs007 Scooby Specialist Member#: 4103 Join Date: Feb 2001 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Madtown Vehicle: 2003 WRX Wagon Reddish	What's your oil look like? Chocolate milk? Yep, you've got a blown headgasket.

02-03-2009, 06:27 PM	#5
Qcanfixit Scooby Specialist Member#: 135762 Join Date: Dec 2006 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: alternate reality Vehicle: 4002 Corrida transparent	what you need is the quick and easy way to fix, fill and seal that gasket fast, and make it last!

02-03-2009, 06:33 PM	#6
Meat Supply Scooby Specialist Member#: 137902 Join Date: Jan 2007 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: traverse city, Mi skeletor Vehicle: ---- washed away a dream of you	^^snuggy or shamwow wait, super putty right i've tried a couple products. no luck well, i was afraid of these things...... no sperry, it's a dohc so it's 2 i think? or would it be one where the heads come together? it'll be kind-of a pain cuz i'm gonna need another vehicle for a week while i do it. pretty much have to take the side of the motor off, timing cover, chain, etc.....so i can pull the heads up. still, i'm surprised it made it this long anyway.

02-03-2009, 06:40 PM	#7
infox Scooby Newbie Member#: 140413 Join Date: Feb 2007 Chapter/Region: NWIC	just jbweld the head to the block

02-03-2009, 07:25 PM	#9
Meat Supply Scooby Specialist Member#: 137902 Join Date: Jan 2007 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: traverse city, Mi skeletor Vehicle: ---- washed away a dream of you	haha. i was just thinking with the way the motor looked, but it is one

02-03-2009, 07:57 PM	#11
outbacksport Scooby Newbie Member#: 23114 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: A Galaxy far far away... Vehicle: 2005 Cadillac CTS-V Black	it will compress stuff just fine, you need a leak down test performed.