engine probs/ need 2nd opinion.

[Rabbit on Roids]

ok, so my car goes through about a gallon of water a week, sounds like it has an exhaust leak, but i know it doesnt, and its been getting abnormally warm. but it still starts decent, doesnt steam, and doesnt miss like it has a blown out gasket. im pretty sure my HG is TOAST.. but i just want someone else to chime in on this and confirm it. oh yea, the heater works intermittently also. 99% for sure its the head gasket. its stock, and re used. lol.

[idgtd]

In the past my car has used a little water when the HG was starting to go. Started great, ran great, but the water would slowly disappear. Just a few bubbles in the coolant. So I would say the HG would be a good bet.

[8v-of-fury]

huh, seems you narrowed it down to one thing stock and re-used.. probably gone.. has there been any oil in the coolant at all? I only say this because the pistons generate around 400psi on a compression stroke, whereas the coolant only reaches say 20psi tops. It would be more likely of a blown HG to put oil in to the coolant then coolant in to the oil.. just another thing to check for (i dont really know as much as i let on too.. lol still a n00b)

A gallon of water a week? .. like actually.. just water.. or do you mean coolant? just checkin to see.. gotta think of everything... lol If it were water alone, then the temperature and loss of it could be because of it heating up to boiling point then the steam is exiting through the coolant overflow.. The heater working intermittently could be caused by steam in the system as well.. not letting coolant flow through..

Whats this about the exhaust leak? what does it contribute to the equation? it sounds like it has one, but you have verified it doesnt.. Can't help you there.. lmao

Jeremy

[Rabbit on Roids]

huh, seems you narrowed it down to one thing stock and re-used.. probably gone.. has there been any oil in the coolant at all? I only say this because the pistons generate around 400psi on a compression stroke, whereas the coolant only reaches say 20psi tops. It would be more likely of a blown HG to put oil in to the coolant then coolant in to the oil.. just another thing to check for (i dont really know as much as i let on too.. lol still a n00b)

A gallon of water a week? .. like actually.. just water.. or do you mean coolant? just checkin to see.. gotta think of everything... lol If it were water alone, then the temperature and loss of it could be because of it heating up to boiling point then the steam is exiting through the coolant overflow.. The heater working intermittently could be caused by steam in the system as well.. not letting coolant flow through..

Whats this about the exhaust leak? what does it contribute to the equation? it sounds like it has one, but you have verified it doesnt.. Can't help you there.. lmao

Jeremy

the fluids dont mix. my oil is still the normal black that it always is. and as for water.. yes, i have pure water in my cooling system. i feel its kinda pointless to run expensive coolant in an un proven engine, rather than waste coolant if something goes wrong. once it proves reliable tho, it gets the treatment of a system flush and some nice green anti freeze. and now im glad that im just running straight water. and ive re used stock head gaskets before, without problems. in both n/a motors and turbo motors. i ran 25 psi religiously to my first 1.5, but then i way over boosted it and cracked the deck of the block, but i was still using a normal fel pro HG.

and for the exhaust leak, it sounds like one of the head-to-manifold gaskets is leaking, as the leak is slower frequency. it sounds like the leak is coming from one cylinder, not all 4. and i know my gaskets are good, cause theres no tell tail soot from a leak. the coolant has bubbles in it when running, and it seems like the exhaust leak might be coming from the head gasket. like it might have only slightly blown into a coolant passage, but it blew good enough to be leaking exhaust out.

[arb]

Yeah, if you are using Coolant and not straight water, first I'd verify the cooling system is working correctly. If your fan does not turn on while putting along, or your radiator core is partially blocked with scale, you will also get the prolems you are having. It would be a shame to replace the HG only to still have the problem.

[8v-of-fury]

OK so you are in fact running pure water in the place of coolant.  I think that is you problem right there. The fact that you also said you had bubbles forming in your rad, means you didn't use distilled water either.  :shock:

you've been driving this way for weeks? pure water alone will boil off when the car is at operating temperatures. I understand where your coming from about wasting money on coolant. but think of all the EXTRA money that will be wasted when you warp your head because of lack of coolant.. if for some freak reason you get enough steam built up and your cap doesn't vent, your gonna blow something, and drain your coolant.. and it may be too late before you notice.  get some coolant!!

Your fluids aren't mixed that's a good sign to say HG is ok

[Rabbit on Roids]

OK so you are in fact running pure water in the place of coolant.  I think that is you problem right there. The fact that you also said you had bubbles forming in your rad, means you didn't use distilled water either.  :shock:

you've been driving this way for weeks? pure water alone will boil off when the car is at operating temperatures. I understand where your coming from about wasting money on coolant. but think of all the EXTRA money that will be wasted when you warp your head because of lack of coolant.. if for some freak reason you get enough steam built up and your cap doesn't vent, your gonna blow something, and drain your coolant.. and it may be too late before you notice.  get some coolant!!

Your fluids aren't mixed that's a good sign to say HG is ok

no no no, my HG is FU**ed.. i pulled the head off, its still fine, no cracks or warpage. i dont use distilled water. never have, prolly never will. and no, i havent been driving around with str8 water for weeks, its been quite a few months. ive never had water boil and evap. on me either. you gotta boil water alot and for a long time to boil it away. and its not like my car goes very many days between fluid checks.

[Rabbit on Roids]

If the coolant and oil are not mixing that is not an indication that the headgasket is not blown.  It is simply an indication that it isn't blown between the oil channel and a coolant channel.

http://vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=16699

I'd drain all of the coolant and install fresh.  If the problem goes away, then terrific.  If not, then drain the coolant into a clean pan and reuse it after you're done with the headgasket.  BTW, reusing a headgasket is one of the most incredible examples of false economy I've ever seen.  It is a several hour project to swap and the gasket only costs $25.  Unless you consider that your time is worth absolutely nothing, I just can't imagine doing that.

no no no... not only did i re use a head gasket, but a crank that crushed a couple rods, and a block that had a small explosion inside, and a head that has been almost blown clear off a block. and it has a different piston in it. they are all the same size, just one wasnt put in at the same time. if you knew my grandpa you would shake your head even more. hes one of those guys that thinks they can rebuild a detroit for 17 pennies and a couple pieces of chewing gum. he has a HUGE bank acct.. but yet still pinches every penny he can.