How to tell?

[gradymotorco]

How can you tell whether a car has a blown Head Gasket or a blown Intake Manifold Gasket without tearing into the engine? I'm convinced the 350 in my 75 Vette has one or the other, as its blowing white smoke/steam out the pipes & the oil looks milky. I know ordinarily those are dead giveaways that its the HG's but I was wondering if there was any way of checking to see if it wasn't the intake?

Thanks!

 

[OilNerd]

If it's running like junk then it's the HG.

 

[Chris142]

A leaking intake gasket will leak coolant out of the engine and possibly drop on the ground. Might leak coolant into the oil too. No visible smoke though.

A headgasket, cracked head or warped head will dump coolant into 1 or more cylinders which makes white sweet smelling smoke.

 

[gradymotorco]

It's definitely the HG's then... It blows smoke like a mosquito fogger & doesn't run worth a flip.

 

[oilboy123]

To blow smoke it is getting in the cylinders. If just the intake gasket it would be in just the oil. Head gasket would be in the oil and smoking.

I agree with the others, time to tear the heads down. Good thing is those are pretty easy to work on and could be done with out removing the engine.

I would love to have a Vette, good luck

 

[mechtech2]

A bad intake gasket can certainly allow coolant in the crankcase or combustion chambers, depending on how and where it is faulty.
Be aware that a head or manifold may be cracked or warped, and not just a gasket.

 

[gradymotorco]

Well I've finally gotten a little time off so I'm about to go into her & see what's happening. Any suggestions or advice?