Blown head gasket - further damage??

[snoboy]

Say "hypothetically" that I was many miles from home, and I suspected a blown head gasket in an EA82...

 

If I kept the temp in the mid range, and made regular stops to refill coolant, how much damage could I expect to do to my head/block?

 

If I lost that cylinder all together am I likely going to be able to keep running on 3?

[4x4_Welder]

Depends on if it actually is just a blown headgasket. If the gasket just went, and the car wasn't overheated, then you may be able to pull it off. If it was severely overheated until the head gasket blew, then the heads are probably toast, and the damage is done at that end. FWIW, if it's burning coolant and not misfiring, chances are it just has a cracked head or heads, and is dumping coolant into the exhaust side.

As far as the lower end, bearings don't like coolant, and tend to pound themselves to death if coolant gets in there.

If you must drive it home, plan on a new engine.

[daeron]

it really depends on how the gasket is blown. If you are getting coolant into your oil crank case, then driving it is BAD BAD. If you are say, bubbling cylinder compression into your radiator, and you arent getting ANY coolant contamination into your oil, then you may well be OK.

 

I ran with a blown headgasket for about 10,000 miles.. BUT I was 110% POSITIVE that it wasnt getting ANY water into my oil. That being said, I am having problems with my car now, but I do NOT think they are at all related to the headgasket issue.... but the only way for me to KNOW my bottom end is OK would be for me to tear it apart and inspect the crank bearings...

 

I knew my headgasket was blown because I knew my radiator was good, water pump, all hoses... but I was bubbling into my overflow after the car had been running for say, thirty seconds, and bubbling CONSTANTLY. I was adding about 1-2 quarts of water per day, and as long as I kept the radiator full I was fine.

 

Of course, an overheat can warp the heads, too, which would mean that you just plain old couldnt run the thing..

 

Are you using antifreeze in your radiator?? if so, drain the oil into an open pan and see if you can see any antifreeze in the oil. If you see ANYTHING in there, then I would NOT run the engine anymore until you get it fixed...

 

IF you have the tools to do it, the headgaskets CAN be done with the engine in the car. The most vital tool is a ratcheting 12mm box wrench for the valve covers.. particularly the back bolt on the D/S one.... They are available in a set from harbbor freight for like, 15 bucks. It took me one full but easy-going day to disassemble, a day or two between to clean stuff and get the heads checked and milled, and another easy-going day of re assembly and it fired up on the first shot. just make sure to label all hoses and wires.. use fel pro perma torque HGs.. get the cam case O ring from http://www.thepartsbin.com and use dealer intake manifold gaskets.

[snoboy]

I knew my headgasket was blown because I knew my radiator was good, water pump, all hoses... but I was bubbling into my overflow after the car had been running for say, thirty seconds, and bubbling CONSTANTLY. I was adding about 1-2 quarts of water per day, and as long as I kept the radiator full I was fine.

 

Are you using antifreeze in your radiator?? if so, drain the oil into an open pan and see if you can see any antifreeze in the oil. If you see ANYTHING in there, then I would NOT run the engine anymore until you get it fixed...

 

Sounds like my situation.

 

Oil looks good on the stick, but I assume antifreeze will float on top if I drain it?

 

Thanks for all the great advice everyone.

[ZRX Doug]

Nope. Antifreeze (and water) will sink to the bottom of a drain pan. (Oil floats.Think Exxon Valdez)

Coolant will be the first thing to come out when you drain the oilpan, and it'll show up on your dipstick as a milky whitish goo..sorta like someone poured a half gallon of vanilla ice cream in there.

 

FWIW, if you suspect you have a blown head gasket and you MUST drive anyway, there's an old trick that will minimize the risk of coolant in the oil..just turn the radiator cap to the first notch so it won't hold pressure, or remove it completely. This will stop pressure from building in the cooling system, which in turn will help to slow or stop a coolant leak into the crankcase. Just remember to keep an eye on your temp guage, as non-pressurized liquids boil a LOT sooner than pressurized ones. It can get messy underhood with the cap loose/gone, so wrap a rag around the filler neck to contain the spray..

[MilesFox]

top off with straight water. you ndont need to spend 8 bucks to dump lake eerie down the radiator every time you stop.

 

and if you are getting coolant in the oil straigh water isnt as bad since coolant will eat bearings.

 

if the radiator is bubbleing let the cap loose

 

dont get too hot or wait to long to refill because a hot motor is impossible to fill.

 

 

run the heat full blast and when theheat goes cold its time to top off, before the motor gets hot

[zyewdall]

I ran for 5,000 miles with an EA82 engine that used (towards the end) a gallon of coolant every 20 miles. No coolant in the oil, or vice versa, and no pressure in the coolant system..... soooo it might have really been a intake manifold gasket leak. I do know I seriously overheated it at least twice before this happened though. But at any rate, I put new head gaskets in, and it was fine again. Never had any running problems (other than the worn out carb that was the same before, during, and after)

[zyewdall]

top off with straight water. you ndont need to spend 8 bucks to dump lake eerie down the radiator every time you stop.

 

and if you are getting coolant in the oil straigh water isnt as bad since coolant will eat bearings.

 

if the radiator is bubbleing let the cap loose

 

dont get too hot or wait to long to refill because a hot motor is impossible to fill.

 

 

run the heat full blast and when theheat goes cold its time to top off, before the motor gets hot

 

I second all of his suggestions.

[MilesFox]

i've towed cars with blown headgaskets

 

you could try the block seal stuff if you follow the directions closely and use clean water. after a while the water pump wont like it, though

[snoboy]

Well, I got home from Colorado to BC. All the suggestions were put into play, and it went quite well really. Thank you all very much for your help.

 

Next week I'll start pulling it all apart and see what has happened in there.