Great. So today I discovered something that made me groan, because it all makes sense.. It started with the exhaust leak type noise. THought it was, now I think otherwise. Well, underhood anymore it is way hotter than before, I can't even touch the filler cap without burning my hand. There is "smoke" coming from somewhere around the engine. It is more of a steam/smoke than smoke smoke. When sitting at a stop, I'm starting to get more exhaust type smell in the car. Not like before, this is a different smell. It's not the VC gasket, that was already fixed. Then lately what I thought was the low washer light came on. It's the low coolant light. Wonderful. Especially since the 2.2L is known for headgaskets. Does that sound like what it might be to you? Also the shop teacher told me that it is very possible that a head gasket leak could cause the P0420 code. Fan friggin tastic. Anyone think that is what it is?
I think bad headgasket.
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sounds like it.. Does the exhaust smell "sweet"?
White smoke from the exhaust?
White smoke from the exhaust?
I haven't smelled the exhaust, but the interior smell when idling is different. No white smoke from exhaust though.
The coolant has to be going somewhere.
And even thought he intake gasket is new, it may be faulty or improperly put on. If there are coolant passages in it, it may be leaking internally or externally.
A quick check is to look at the spark plugs and maybe inside the cylinders - a clean one usually indicates the bad cylinder.
A leak down test or a coolant pressure cap test may show what is bad, but results are iffy unless the leak is bad.
There is a new tester that goes on the radiator carp, and senses gas from combustion.
And even thought he intake gasket is new, it may be faulty or improperly put on. If there are coolant passages in it, it may be leaking internally or externally.
A quick check is to look at the spark plugs and maybe inside the cylinders - a clean one usually indicates the bad cylinder.
A leak down test or a coolant pressure cap test may show what is bad, but results are iffy unless the leak is bad.
There is a new tester that goes on the radiator carp, and senses gas from combustion.
do a leakdown test and look for bubbles in the coolant while the cyls are pressurized.
I'll try to pull the spark plugs today. Hey... would coolant cause a yellowish coating on the spark plugs? Because the NGK plugs I pulled out had a yellowish dusty type coating on them... Was curious, but I attributed it to the couple tankfulls of Techron and MMO.
I'll try to find a leakdown tester kit, but I have no radiator cap, the coolant resovoir cap doubles as the rad cap. By the way, shouldn't be too hard to do it on this engine from what I've heard, it's not too bad, since it's OHV, not the DOHC engine. Maybe it could help explain my subpar fuel economy too, lol.
I'll try to find a leakdown tester kit, but I have no radiator cap, the coolant resovoir cap doubles as the rad cap. By the way, shouldn't be too hard to do it on this engine from what I've heard, it's not too bad, since it's OHV, not the DOHC engine. Maybe it could help explain my subpar fuel economy too, lol.
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Oh and come paycheck friday, that PP sitting in the test kit is going out.
My HG leaked Integra gives my plugs green coating and make them super hard to remove from the head (twisted my plug wrench kind of hard).
If you use a golden coolant like the preston all make, it is possible to get golden coating on the plugs if the HG leaks.
If you use a golden coolant like the preston all make, it is possible to get golden coating on the plugs if the HG leaks.
It's dexcool, kinda orangish color.
Most radiator shops have a device that sits atop your open radiator opening (where the cap goes) with the engine running. It is filled with a clear chemical and as the expanding coolant gasses bubble through it, the chemical will turn blue if there are combustion byproducts in the vapors.
This is how I diagnosed (among other things, like the overflow bottle overflowing without an overheat) a bad headgasket in my early bronco project.
The radiator shop didn't charge me a penny for this, though I imagine I would have paid $20 to get it done. Worth calling around and seeing if anyone will do this for you reasonably cheaply.
This is how I diagnosed (among other things, like the overflow bottle overflowing without an overheat) a bad headgasket in my early bronco project.
The radiator shop didn't charge me a penny for this, though I imagine I would have paid $20 to get it done. Worth calling around and seeing if anyone will do this for you reasonably cheaply.
If it is the HG it might be a good time to get the head machined and valves ground.Easy engine to do and wont cost much with you doing the labor.
Originally Posted By: Trav
If it is the HG it might be a good time to get the head machined and valves ground.Easy engine to do and wont cost much with you doing the labor.
How would I go about getting the head machined and valves ground?
If it is the HG it might be a good time to get the head machined and valves ground.Easy engine to do and wont cost much with you doing the labor.
How would I go about getting the head machined and valves ground?
i blame the dex-cool, that stuff eats up gaskets.
IIRC this engine uses an aluminium head,these should be at least check for flatness but they usually take a few thousands off this not only makes it flat but insures a perfect surface for sealing.Grinding the valves and changing the seals (included with a head set) is a good thing to consider when the head is being machined anyway.Any local automotive machine shop should be able to do this in a short time,cost is relatively low.
While the head is off let the pistons soak in MMO until your ready to put it back together.Just take your time and it will be fine,good experience on an easy engine.
Make sure its really the head gasket before you go tearing into it.
While the head is off let the pistons soak in MMO until your ready to put it back together.Just take your time and it will be fine,good experience on an easy engine.
Make sure its really the head gasket before you go tearing into it.
Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: Trav
If it is the HG it might be a good time to get the head machined and valves ground.Easy engine to do and wont cost much with you doing the labor.
How would I go about getting the head machined and valves ground?
You take it to your local automotive machine shop.
Originally Posted By: Trav
If it is the HG it might be a good time to get the head machined and valves ground.Easy engine to do and wont cost much with you doing the labor.
How would I go about getting the head machined and valves ground?
You take it to your local automotive machine shop.
Originally Posted By: mopar_monkey
i blame the dex-cool, that stuff eats up gaskets.
Posts like this help nothing. There's nothing wrong with Dexcool if used exclusively and replaced more frequently than the specified interval.
i blame the dex-cool, that stuff eats up gaskets.
Posts like this help nothing. There's nothing wrong with Dexcool if used exclusively and replaced more frequently than the specified interval.
accually i work with a tech that was a gm tech for many years,he claimed that they were replacing intake gaskets like crazy on the 3.4 and 3.8, they started replacing the dex cool with green coolant and had very few issues from then on, also dex-cool becomes very acidic and starts to eat up aluminum, his (very strong suggestion) is if you have dex cool in it GET IT OUT.
Annoyingly, it's put away in the garage till it's fixed, probably next weekend.
should I get this set? Or just the head gasket itself?
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Head-Gasket-Set-Felpro_5990661-P_101_R%7CGRPGASKAMS_964241582___
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Head-Gasket-Felpro_5722780-P_100_R%7CGRPGASKAMS_964251354___
should I get this set? Or just the head gasket itself?
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Head-Gasket-Set-Felpro_5990661-P_101_R%7CGRPGASKAMS_964241582___
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Head-Gasket-Felpro_5722780-P_100_R%7CGRPGASKAMS_964251354___
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