Argh, Leaking Coolant

sketchers356 · 07-18-2007, 01:34 PM

Hi,

Recently my car overheated and puked all of it's coolant onto the road. I noticed that the radiator was still cool. I had the car towed to my house and drained the oil and remaining coolant and could not find coolant mixed with oil or vice versa. I then refilled the fluids and started the car where the car quickly heated up but wasn't leaking any coolant except for a small hole in the water pump to radiator pipe. I concluded that the thermostat was not opening and proceeded to attempt to replace that. After much anguish of prying at the snap ring I got the thermostat replaced last night and upon filling the system with coolant today I noticed that there was a steady stream of water appearing from the engine block near the front left wheel well dripping down the oil sump. It is coming from the bolt visible at the end of the drip trail.

Is my headgasket blown or should I look at something else? Thanks for your help!

nynor · 07-18-2007, 01:57 PM

failed head gasket. it is probably leaking from above that nut, but looks like it is coming out of it. if it is coming out of it, you have a ton of water in the oil pan.

sketchers356 · 07-18-2007, 08:09 PM

How much work is it to fix a broken head gasket? I have never tackled something this big before.

nynor · 07-18-2007, 08:14 PM

i am currently doing my third head gasket. its not bad. we got the head off yesterday in just over 4 hours. see clarks-garage.com for a great write up. also, there is one on rennlist for the turbo that is literally step by step, assembly too. that is the one i used and it was awesome.

blown 944 · 07-19-2007, 07:22 AM

Before getting that far check that little hose that connects from the pup to the heater core rail. It can get some little pinholes that will spry in some strange directions and look suspicious of other things.

The real way you can determine if it is a head gasket is to add some pressure to each cylinder at TDC and see if you get bubbles nin the overflow or coolant out of anywhere else. I use about 120-150 psi.

sketchers356 · 07-19-2007, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by nynor
i am currently doing my third head gasket. its not bad. we got the head off yesterday in just over 4 hours. see clarks-garage.com for a great write up. also, there is one on rennlist for the turbo that is literally step by step, assembly too. that is the one i used and it was awesome.

This page? http://members.rennlist.com/tom86951/headgasket.htm

Thanks for the heads up. Looks like a really good article.

sketchers356 · 07-19-2007, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by blown 944
Before getting that far check that little hose that connects from the pup to the heater core rail. It can get some little pinholes that will spry in some strange directions and look suspicious of other things.

I'm sorry, but I am not sure which hose you are talking about. Is it listed here? http://www.pelicanparts.com/PartsLookup/HTML/944_2_USA_85_88_KATALOG/105-10-Frame4.htm

nynor · 07-19-2007, 03:13 PM

that's the page.

the hose in question has a metal part that runs along the top of the exhaust manifold.

sketchers356 · 07-20-2007, 03:27 PM

Yup it was leaking out of a loose fitting. Thanks for the help guys!

nynor · 07-20-2007, 07:56 PM

HAH! another pelicanite saved by the knowledge of another pelicanite!

strong work, blown 944!

blown 944 · 09:07 PM

Ha Nynor, you know having a few of these "old ladies" around keeps you on your toes

I'm just glad it wasn't his head gasket, and hope that it still isn't going to be a problem in the future. But if it is I'm sure there are many willing to walk him through it.

The beauty of this site ...you can learn, and then give a little back when you can.