ej22, blown head gasket?

[14D]

I think a blew a head gasket yesterday and want to get some other's opinions before I scrap my car.  93 legacy wagon 2.2 5mt 272k miles.  3000 miles on new timing belt kit w/ water pump and xacstant thermostat.  Never had an issue with over heating before but it started to use 8ozs or less of coolant every oil change or so within the last year or two.  

 

Noticed it was running pretty hot when I got home last night, temp gauge was at 90% or so.  No signs of any leaks.  Added a gallon of water in the morning (no antifreeze and didn't burp it, was in a hurry). Had it overheat 10 miles into my commute (heat didn't work at all), blowing out a seam on my radiator when it nearly pegged (spiked very quickly when I started up a long hill).  I immediately turned around and coasted to a gas station.  Added aprox a gal of water and antifreeze, leak isn't too bad, make it almost all the way home before it starts spiking (heat worked intermittently).

 

Filled it with water later on and burped it once it was up to temp.  Was still getting some bubbles by the bleeder screw when I revved the engine but it didn't smell like exhaust so may have just been some air bubbles.  no bubbles from the filler cap or overflow tank.  I know there was a big air bubble when i initially filled it this morning and that probably contributed to it's overheating, but all that water had to go somewhere.  After the radiator blew it wasn't running long enough and the leak isn't big enough for it to lose over a gallon of water.  No white smoke at any time.  No water or coolant in the oil.

 

This car is beat to hell and has been on its last leg for a while but if I can get a few more miles by jb welding the radiator I probably will.  Not too much info out there on ej22 head gasket failure so any input is appreciated.  

[lmdew]

It does happen, and more likely if the engine has been overheated.

 

Fix the coolant leak and make sure the system is properly filled and burped.  

 

If you are still loosing coolant you should see it in the exhaust or bubbles in the overflow.

[johnceggleston]

a cooling system leak is more common.

 

i have just found the cause of my problem,

passenger side radiator fan doesn't work.

it got so hot it blew a hole in the rad near the top hose,

and the steam warped the top edge of the grille.

i didn't suspect the fan until the new rad didn't fix the problem.

 

but it did not blow the head gaskets!!!!!!!!!!!!

i love the ej22.

 

so yes, fill and burp properly,

and find the cooling system leak.

of course you will need a good working radiator.

but they are less than $100.

Edited October 17, 2014 by johnceggleston

[idosubaru]

t started to use 8ozs or less of coolant every oil change

 

that sounds like a coolant leak.  or it started as a coolant leak.

hard to guess anything else with all your coolant loss, blown radiator...that could be causing the overheating.  given what you've told us it would be hard to say it's a headgasket, there's nothing to suggest that yet.  

 

that engine is REALLY easy to do the headgaskets.  all the headbolts are external and super easy.  remove timing belt, intake, exhaust manifold - and then the heads bolt right off and right back on.

they are so easy. 

 

if it was worth recently doing a timing copmonent job, it may be worth replacing the headgaskets. 

 

you can resurface the heads yourself, find the thread on here, it's REALLY easy.

 

you can usually reuse the exhaust manifold gaskets - so bare minimum you'd only need two headgaskets and intake manifold gaskets - very minimal cost.

[Fairtax4me]

Put a radiator in it.

That "small" leak turns into a constant spray when the system is pressurized. The hotter it gets the more sprays out.

 

JB weld probably won't hold for long. Find a used radiator if you really don't want to spend money on a new one.

[14D]

The part that confuses me is that there was no visible leak before the radiator blew.  I checked the coolant level a few weeks prior and it was fine.  

 

I did the timing belt job before I realized the input bearing on the trans is going.  This combined with a slew of other parts needing replacement have made me decide to stop putting money into it.  

 

I'll mess with it when I get some time tomorrow, started a new job and been super busy.  Sounds like I can borrow my brothers old car till I can afford a new one, so at least I'll have a car if the soob is dead.

 

Thanks for all the input, I'll post the results after I mess with it some more.

 

 

[ThosL]

I have had estimates on doing my head gaskets of $1000 minimum, so I would exhaust all other reasonable options before going down that route; but sounds like it is on its last legs anyway.  Maybe use it only when necessary while looking for a replacement according to what you can afford.