Head Gasket Fail?

[SoobDood05]

Hi all, i think i have a problem but its not clear to me right now, i have never overheated this car into the red on the gauge it just got hot, ive flushed the radiator, changed the coolant temperature sensor and sender, and replaced the water pump, the over heating/running hot problem has subsided, the car runs just fine, but now the car just makes coolant dissappear,i replaced the water pump a few days ago, and ever since then it just keeps wanting to take more coolant:confused:, there is no coolant mixed in the oil on the dipstick, no smoke out of the exhaust, no coolant on passenger side carpet, but under the intake manifold on the passenger side by the EGR valve there is oil and coolant in a small puddle (something bad with coolant lines or gasket on the manifold?), thats all i can find its not much but its there:-\, i just want to know if they are bad so i dont do any further damage by driving it, i cant afford HG's right now either:mad: thanks in advance for the insight, and advice.

[idosubaru]

engine/car please

EA82 i guess?

 

the intake manifold gaskets can leak, so if it's pooling up on your manifold that might be where it is. there's a coolant passage in the intake manifold gasket so it can leak externally onto the block and it can also leak into the cylinders.

 

i do not know of a test on how to definitively make sure it's the intake manifold and not the head gasket though.

 

use Subaru intake manifold gaskets, the aftermarket ones are cheap, flimsy thin garbage.

[SoobDood05]

Oh sorry, It's a 1990 Loyale wagon EA82 TBI, i cant find coolant on the dipstick, and it only leaks out under the intake manifold, i noticed the drivers side head has started ticking alot louder since the running hot problem too, i have never tore into an EA82 so im clueless as to why this could happen:confused:, and i have no money, so if i can pinpoint the problem, Ol' red will have to sit and wait for me to save up the cash. And yes i plan on Using OEM gaskets once i can buy them, ive learned my lesson from using crappy aftermarket gaskets:rolleyes:

[idosubaru]

awesome - if it's just the intake manifold gaskets you should be in luck. replace it as soon as you can and don't drive it while starving it for coolant.

 

go really easy on the intake manifold bolts, they can seize in place and shear off, that's not unheard of so to speak. if they have resistance when removing, work them back and forth as you loosen them, squirt PB Blaster down the shaft of the bolt and give it time to cool off rather than pulling it all out at once.

 

that ticking i wouldn't worry about if finances are tight, they can essentially run a very long time like that - like probably as long as you want to keep the car.

 

and - chances are good with decent oil changes, maybe some seafoam or MMO it'll go away on it's own.

[Deener]

+1 to GrossGarys advice regarding the intake gaskets (proceed with care, I've sheared a bolt myself), but there are also a couple of little tiny coolant hoses in that area that can develop pinhole leaks that you should be aware of because when they leak, they are notoriously hard to spot. I can't recall the diameter of the hoses but take a look for them, one is located directly under the thermostat housing. Spend a couple dollars on new clamps if you change out those little hoses.

 

Good luck.

[idosubaru]

good point - there are throttle body hoses, heater core hoses back there and i believe at least one tiny hose under there as well....might want to check hoses first?

[SoobDood05]

Thanks a ton guys, i will check the coolant lines going to and around there for pinhole leaks, as i cant find where the leak is, i just know its thick and yellowish brown(coolant and oil) its hard to see under there. will check the hoses thoroughly before i do anything major. will update once i can find more information on the problem, as its cold outside and i dont have a garage:lol:

[SoobDood05]

I decided to put on a jacket and take a look, i have found that the very bottom gasket of the throttle body, right under where the coolant hose goes in,(not sure what its called) has failed, leaking stuff (coolant?) out from almost all sides onto and under the intake manifold, Maybe mixing with old dirt and oil making it yellowish brown?. However, the intake manifold Gaskets don't look so promising either.. but you cant see marks from it leaking from all sides like the one on the throttle body. any more input would be awesome. thanks guys.