Disappearing coolant
02-24-2012, 02:11 PM
#31
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Join Date: 09-13-2010
Location: Salt Lake City
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02-25-2012, 02:40 PM
#32
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I just did the first oil change on my "new to me" engine and was shocked, shocked to find that the oil filler cap was completely dry! I guess my head gasket had been leaking for a long time, as the cap had always had at least an oily residue on it, foam only towards the end.
03-01-2012, 09:57 AM
#33
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Well it took 27 hours over the past three days but we finally finished. It was a blown head gasket. We pulled the valve cover off and it was coated with an orange goop. Got the head off and the gasket was pulling apart and all warped. We cleaned out every thing and sent the head off to a machine shop for finishing and inspection. While we had all that off we replaced the water pump and the thermostat, which had a warped and broken o-ring. Also had an exhaust leak which was due to a warn exhaust manifold gasket that we replaced.
This was my first time doing anything this invasive on a car. It was a good experience. I will try to post some pictures soon.
This was my first time doing anything this invasive on a car. It was a good experience. I will try to post some pictures soon.
03-20-2012, 01:15 AM
#35
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Well my frustration level has just about peaked, if it had peaked there would be an HHR at the bottom of a cliff right now. I am still losing coolant. My friend and I have decided that a "new" engine is the only fix because the only other thing that could be causing this is a cracked block.
03-20-2012, 05:58 PM
#37
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That's what she said! And me too, like I said it is just cheaper and safer to get a junkyard engine because you just know what else has happened. You should be able to get a used engine with less than 10K for around $750 shipped, try your local "Auto Recycler". Labor for install is about $1200. Roll your own.
03-22-2012, 01:08 AM
#38
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That's what she said! And me too, like I said it is just cheaper and safer to get a junkyard engine because you just know what else has happened. You should be able to get a used engine with less than 10K for around $750 shipped, try your local "Auto Recycler". Labor for install is about $1200. Roll your own.
04-19-2012, 02:03 PM
#39
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UPDATE: A few weeks ago I decided to try one last ditch effort to try and save the engine. Despite what others said I figured I didn't have much to lose so I put in some Stop Leak to see if it would work. So far I have had no issues. After about three weeks I popped the radiator hose cap off to check it and for the first time since this all started there was fuild in the hose and there was fuild still in the reservoir. So it seems that I have stopped the leak, at least for now.
04-19-2012, 03:58 PM
#40
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Join Date: 12-06-2009
Location: Alabama
Posts: 11,366
UPDATE: A few weeks ago I decided to try one last ditch effort to try and save the engine. Despite what others said I figured I didn't have much to lose so I put in some Stop Leak to see if it would work. So far I have had no issues. After about three weeks I popped the radiator hose cap off to check it and for the first time since this all started there was fuild in the hose and there was fuild still in the reservoir. So it seems that I have stopped the leak, at least for now.
