98 Caravan 3.8 AWD bubbling from overflow

Status
Not open for further replies.
The cylinder was tested, made a mistake and finally found TDC. After that, no intake leak. I think you missed that post.

I eventually went on to skip the leakdown test since the harbor freight leakdown tester had mixed reviews and was pretty inconsistent as well. The harbor freight tool is regulated to put out only 15 psi no matter what you put in.

What I did in the end was just feed each cylinder compressed air at TDC. I fed each cylinder 100 psi since my compressor can't deliver much more.

The engine was cold when the tests were performed.

To get to the spark plugs on this vehicle, the hood, wiper cowl, wipers, and intake plenum need to be taken off just to reach the plugs.

Everything that I have read when googling around shows that a leakdown test when cold is fine and 100 psi fed to each cylinder is fine. I do understand what you mean about the compression ratios and the equivalent in PSI when running (not sure of the CR but can tell you that the front cylinders were about 165 with the engine cold and not even pressing the gas so you have a point).

Not arguing with you all...trying to learn. When I get the intake manifold on and the myriad of harnesses and vacuum lines, I am going to start the engine again and verify bubbling. After that I am going to pull the serpentine belt off of the water pump and run it for a few minutes to see if that is causing the bubbling.

If that doesn't work...well as before it is junk time real soon...but would be happy to try the head gasket test if the pump idea doesn't work.

Originally Posted By: yonyon
No, the leakdown test as performaed isn't conclusive if only for the reason that one cylinder wasn't tested at all. That cylinder is the one that had an open intake valve and allowed air to blow out through the in door.

Now, how about the pressures involved? Are they appropriate? I don't know offhand the compression ratio of your engine, but I think gasoline engines tend to use compression ratios in the neighborhood of 8.0:1 to 11:1. That means that cylinder pressure during cranking can be as high as 11 bar which is roughly 160 psi. If 160 psi is possible before the engine even starts, then once it fires up and has combustion going on the pressures could be just a tit-bit higher. How much air pressure did you feed in during your leakdown test? Did you perform the test with the engine at full operating temperature?
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: dx92beater

Interesting on the water pump! Another thought was that the felpro intake manifold required RTV whereas the factory one did not. Felpro's directions were very much off during the headgasket process, so I decided to ignore their RTV instructions too.


Would you elaborate on why the Fel Pro kit instructions were wrong for the head gaskets?


Originally Posted By: dx92beater
I have read that they are not all that reliable and that you have to do crazy things like pop the radiator cap when it is running.


No "Crazy things" at all... Just remove the cap before you start it, then let it come to temp and preform the test.

A note: The combustion gas test is not always definitive. If you get a positive result, then you're likely getting combustion gases in the coolant, but a negative test doesn't necessarily mean you're home free.
 
The Felpro head gasket kit included exhaust manifold gaskets which were not required or even used on my vehicle. Since they were wrong once, I had to take a guess that they were wrong again. As far as the head gasket goes, there were no differences in procedures. The only difference was whether or not RTV needed to be applied to the gasket or if it was safe to apply dry. The factory intake manifold gasket did not require RTV so I made a decision (right or wrong) based on the logic that they were wrong once. Sounds like the test is nice and simple....that is how I like it. I have enough hassles on my hand.

Originally Posted By: The_Eric
Originally Posted By: dx92beater

Interesting on the water pump! Another thought was that the felpro intake manifold required RTV whereas the factory one did not. Felpro's directions were very much off during the headgasket process, so I decided to ignore their RTV instructions too.


Would you elaborate on why the Fel Pro kit instructions were wrong for the head gaskets?


Originally Posted By: dx92beater
I have read that they are not all that reliable and that you have to do crazy things like pop the radiator cap when it is running.


No "Crazy things" at all... Just remove the cap before you start it, then let it come to temp and preform the test.

A note: The combustion gas test is not always definitive. If you get a positive result, then you're likely getting combustion gases in the coolant, but a negative test doesn't necessarily mean you're home free.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: dx92beater
The Felpro head gasket kit included exhaust manifold gaskets which were not required or even used on my vehicle. Since they were wrong once, I had to take a guess that they were wrong again. As far as the head gasket goes, there were no differences in procedures. The only difference was whether or not RTV needed to be applied to the gasket or if it was safe to apply dry. The factory intake manifold gasket did not require RTV so I made a decision (right or wrong) based on the logic that they were wrong once. Sounds like the test is nice and simple....that is how I like it. I have enough hassles on my hand.

Originally Posted By: The_Eric
Originally Posted By: dx92beater

Interesting on the water pump! Another thought was that the felpro intake manifold required RTV whereas the factory one did not. Felpro's directions were very much off during the headgasket process, so I decided to ignore their RTV instructions too.


Would you elaborate on why the Fel Pro kit instructions were wrong for the head gaskets?


Originally Posted By: dx92beater
I have read that they are not all that reliable and that you have to do crazy things like pop the radiator cap when it is running.


No "Crazy things" at all... Just remove the cap before you start it, then let it come to temp and preform the test.

A note: The combustion gas test is not always definitive. If you get a positive result, then you're likely getting combustion gases in the coolant, but a negative test doesn't necessarily mean you're home free.


They send gaskets with every head set. The reason they do is to account for imperfections in the surface finish or to help compensate for warping. Just because the OEM didn't pt gaskets on from the factory doesn't mean it won't leak after re-assembly.

Also, every 3.8 that I've have apart has had a dab of RTV in the corners. Not applying any won't really hurt anything, but may allow oil to weep out in the future.
 
Thanks The_Eric

Appreciate your time and everyone elses here for sure. Great that you have touched the 3.8 before! Makes sense on the exhaust manifold gaskets. I got lucky enough to not have it leak but now I know that what they are there for.

I did actually get the dabs of RTV down where you mentioned just not on the intake manifold gasket passages. I think the factory gasket already has the sealant built in to it.



Originally Posted By: The_Eric
Originally Posted By: dx92beater
The Felpro head gasket kit included exhaust manifold gaskets which were not required or even used on my vehicle. Since they were wrong once, I had to take a guess that they were wrong again. As far as the head gasket goes, there were no differences in procedures. The only difference was whether or not RTV needed to be applied to the gasket or if it was safe to apply dry. The factory intake manifold gasket did not require RTV so I made a decision (right or wrong) based on the logic that they were wrong once. Sounds like the test is nice and simple....that is how I like it. I have enough hassles on my hand.

Originally Posted By: The_Eric
Originally Posted By: dx92beater

Interesting on the water pump! Another thought was that the felpro intake manifold required RTV whereas the factory one did not. Felpro's directions were very much off during the headgasket process, so I decided to ignore their RTV instructions too.


Would you elaborate on why the Fel Pro kit instructions were wrong for the head gaskets?


Originally Posted By: dx92beater
I have read that they are not all that reliable and that you have to do crazy things like pop the radiator cap when it is running.


No "Crazy things" at all... Just remove the cap before you start it, then let it come to temp and preform the test.

A note: The combustion gas test is not always definitive. If you get a positive result, then you're likely getting combustion gases in the coolant, but a negative test doesn't necessarily mean you're home free.


They send gaskets with every head set. The reason they do is to account for imperfections in the surface finish or to help compensate for warping. Just because the OEM didn't pt gaskets on from the factory doesn't mean it won't leak after re-assembly.

Also, every 3.8 that I've have apart has had a dab of RTV in the corners. Not applying any won't really hurt anything, but may allow oil to weep out in the future.
 
Last edited:
Turned out to be one of 2 things:

1) Water Pump Bypass hose

2) Not putting RTV on the Felpro gasket (both sides need it if not using an OEM gasket).

Problem no longer exists.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom