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| Replace Intake vs Head Gasket; Need some help deciding which is the offender, probably both | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 31 2013, 04:43 PM (1,219 Views) | |
| alpines | Jan 31 2013, 04:43 PM Post #1 |
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I have a 95 geo metro with a 96 engine swap, so intake and distributor are still 95. Right now the car has all the classic symptoms of a head gasket replacement such as coolant in oil milky white but not oil in the coolant. It starts right up and drives normal without any hesitation except when starting cold then it seems like a little bit more hesitation than normal but after a few seconds of mid-throttle it is running strong or normally. White smoke (alot) does come out of tail pipe and I'm not completely sure but it does smell a bit like antifreeze. After warming the engine up a bit, not near as much white smoke but it is still there. I did a compression test and here are the dry numbers, didn't want to keep it running for long so that is the reason why I did not perform the wet ones too: #1 (115) #2 240 #3 150 Isn't 150 supposed to be the max number? Seems like the #1 will be due a valve maintenance soon. Well, with these numbers Does it sound like a head gasket or intake manifold gasket that is leaking? It is an internal leak and no leaks are very apparent on the outside, I also just replaced all the hoses and thermostat to be sure. When I put this engine in which is a 1996, I had to put the original 1995 intake manifold on, so I'm thinking my torque specs. did not last longer than a year or so. Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks! |
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| Hanuman | Jan 31 2013, 11:17 PM Post #2 |
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"The Almighty Grounds Cleaner"
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bad head gasket, and while your at it, check those valves....looks like a bad one maby two. that 200+ psi one is wrong thats way to high for a geo engine. anything below 150 psi is ready for replacement, iff numbers are even it will last a long time, if numbers arent even with in 10% rebuild head. |
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| t3ragtop | Jan 31 2013, 11:48 PM Post #3 |
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Turbo3 and Twincam Tweaker
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i believe that 210 psi is the upper service limit and 150 psi is the lower service limit. all numbers should be within 10%. in the case of the cylinder with abnormally high compression, you may have one cylinder's pressure bleeding into an adjacent cylinder which raises it's compression. no amount of denial will change the fact that you need a new head gasket.
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| cwatkin | Feb 1 2013, 12:54 AM Post #4 |
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No oil passes through the intake or its gasket. This sounds like a head gasket problem, head problem, or block problem. 240 is WAY high! Either compression is leaking from cyl #1 into #2 or there is some other odd problem. Maybe your tester is crap. I guess the intake gasket COULD be leaking coolant right into the cylinders and if it is enough, it might get past the rings and build up in the oil over time. Maybe the majority is going right into cyl#2 and causing those crazy compression readings. Are you seeing any steam or white smoke in the exhaust? My money is still on the head gasket but we will see. You might take a scope and put it down the spark plug holes. If one cylinder looks bright and clean while the others have the normal soot, you have probably found the issue. Cyl #2 stands out with a compression that high. Conor Conor |
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| alpines | Feb 1 2013, 01:06 PM Post #5 |
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@cwatkin: Yes, there are all the tell tale signs of head gasket replacement, white smoke, antifreeze in oil (milky white color), too much pressure on coolant hoses. @t3ragtop: It was denial, I was thinking that the car was losing antifreeze and hesitating when it was starting to overheat though it never got hot enough to shut itself down before I stopped to check and see eventually replacing coolant. It all started when it got really cold in the early mornings, about 15 degrees for three days straight so I originally thought that it must just be an extreme case of condensation until further investigation. @Hanuman: I may have another head laying around here that will fit right up, will have to check. If not then it may be a good time for me to utilize the topic on Geo Metro Forum entitled: Rebuild Heads, how to Thanks for the reassurance, will keep updates as I go along here. Already have alot of the needed bolts broken loose and getting ready to organize everything to come off. Any tips or tricks, good suggestions, etc., is much appreciated for replacing a head gasket/intake gasket. Thanks for the helps folks, it is much appreciated. |
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| Tinker1980 | Feb 1 2013, 01:38 PM Post #6 |
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One thing that has served me well with head gaskets/replacing them is make sure the block deck is CLEAN. Clean it until you're sick of cleaning it, go inside, drink a Barqs, and come back out and clean it some more. For the head, I'd not think of putting it back on until such time as you've cleaned/replaced the lifters, possibly replaced any bad valves, because I'd hate to take all that time to pull the head, just to do it again in 10,000 miles. Or immediately. YMMV. Don't forget to cut that hole out bigger, in the new head gasket. And your symptoms sound like classic head gasket failure. I had a Mitsubishi truck do the same thing once. Only difference was it would smoke more the longer it idled, and when starting it when the engine was cold, it would only run on three cylinders until it was down the road about a half a mile, then the fourth one would cut in. Pulled the head while the roommate's band was jamming in the garage, and sure enough, one cylinder was nice and clean. |
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| alpines | Feb 8 2013, 05:26 PM Post #7 |
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@Tinker1980: Yes, I cleaned and cleaned using a putty knife + a can of brake parts cleaner. Have to be very careful not to take off alum or make any gouges. It was spotless. #2 and #3 cylinders are around 175 comp, but the #1 is now only at 120. I decided not to replace valves on this engine (2nd one for this metro) because this engine has given me more hassel, doesn't like the cold, etc., that I will replace it with another used one once it goes. Paid $300 for this one at 134,000 mi. and have put over another 1k on it so far I believe. I checked the hole on new felpro and it looked fine on the '96 block for some reason so didn't have to use any drill bits to align it. go figure, and it doesn't smoke or anything. The new head gasket is now in and running fine. Also had to replace leaky radiator which I found was the cause of it all. Losing too much coolant and must've gotten just hot enough to let head gasket go this time around. Well, its done and running, now to fix the electronic cooling sensor, as the fan does not turn on at all and need to fix right away. Thanks again for all the helps! |
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