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Blown head gasket. should I rebuild engine?
Topic Started: Feb 27 2013, 07:30 PM (1,886 Views)
BoiseMetro
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My engine overheated. I still don't know why, but as a result I have at least a blown head gasket. Symptoms: Now the car won't start. I checked the spark plugs and one was wet with coolant for sure, another was wet with either coolant or oil.

The car is a 1999 1.0Liter with manual transmission. It has 150K miles on it. Maybe I should do a complete engine rebuild while I'm replacing the head gasket? I have no documents on the maintenance of this engine prior to the Summer 2011. I could probably pull and rebuild the engine myself, but I would need to have a shop do the machine work.

I figure the mileage is getting up there. Should I do the complete rebuild?
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Coche Blanco
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I would measure/check everything first.
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Memphis metro


Remove the spark plugs and spin the engine over several times. Clean plugs and put them back in. Spray a little starting fluid in the tbi and see if you can get it started. If it starts see if it runs hot again but turn it off before it runs too hot. I have had cars overheat and fool with them long enough and got them running again. These engines are not too forgiving after running them hot but you never know. Why do you think it run hot the first time? If the car is in good shape, I suggest pulling the engine and having a quality engine rebuilder build you up a good replacement if indeed it has a blown headgasket and you cannot get it running. The price of gas like it is and unless your family is rich I suggest have it rebuilt. Keep these things running as long as you can.
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Coche Blanco
Feb 27 2013, 07:35 PM
I would measure/check everything first.
:gp



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BoiseMetro
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Coche Blanco
Feb 27 2013, 07:35 PM
I would measure/check everything first.
Yeah, I don't understand what "measure and check everything" means.

compression test: 130 110 150.
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BoiseMetro
Feb 27 2013, 09:48 PM
Coche Blanco
Feb 27 2013, 07:35 PM
I would measure/check everything first.
Yeah, I don't understand what "measure and check everything" means.

compression test: 130 110 150.
Coche Blanco was giving you the answer to your problem in a gum wrapper.

On more than one occasion, someone will say, "I'm going to order parts . . . ". My reply is to measure the engine parts prior to ordering anything. From there, it gets another page or so.

Overheating an engine is never good. Lots of things can go wrong from the head gasket leaking to the piston rings no longer having a temper that will seal in the cylinder.

There may be other issues not related to overheating that may need to be addressed during the engine repair.

Feel free to call me. PM me for my phone number. We'll get it figured out over the phone.

Glenn

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BoiseMetro
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blue rhino
Feb 27 2013, 08:28 PM
Remove the spark plugs and spin the engine over several times. Clean plugs and put them back in. Spray a little starting fluid in the tbi and see if you can get it started. If it starts see if it runs hot again but turn it off before it runs too hot. I have had cars overheat and fool with them long enough and got them running again. These engines are not too forgiving after running them hot but you never know. Why do you think it run hot the first time? If the car is in good shape, I suggest pulling the engine and having a quality engine rebuilder build you up a good replacement if indeed it has a blown headgasket and you cannot get it running. The price of gas like it is and unless your family is rich I suggest have it rebuilt. Keep these things running as long as you can.
I don't exactly know why the engine overheated. It usually runs great. But it started running funny while on the freeway and it took me a few minutes to register that the temp gauge was pegged. I turned the car off and checked the engine compartment... coolant everywhere. I just replaced the water pump last year when I changed the timing belt.

I've rebuilt small engines before, but maybe just a head job will get me a few more years before a rebuild. Then find out what caused the overheat.
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Woodie
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BoiseMetro
Feb 27 2013, 10:04 PM
maybe just a head job will get me a few more years before a rebuild.
This line of thought almost always ends in tears. Do it completely or junk the car.
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99metro
putt-putt

Overheated probably when you were losing radiator fluid. Happened to me that way when a heater hose leaked bad. Of course overheating means your thermostat is probably shot now. $5 at most auto parts places, plus that expensive rubber seal that goes around it. Hopefully the head/block area isn't warped. Generally, brief overheating shouldn't warp the head, but running it overheated until the engine won't run anymore virtually guarantees a high repair bill.

If it was my car, I'd replace the head gasket, properly torque the head bolts, new engine oil, drain the radiator fluid, replace the thermostat, fill and burp the radiator. After I got her running again, after doing leak checks, I'd do some wet and dry compression checks and go from there. Without knowing who or how the car was worked on before it's tough to do anything but make suggestions. Short version.
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BoiseMetro
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Well, I decided to rebuild the whole damn engine. The overheating what probably due to the blown head gasket. The head wasn't warped but I had it fully rebuild and machined.

My rebuild thread:

http://geometroforum.com/topic/5126890/1/
Edited by BoiseMetro, May 30 2013, 02:10 PM.
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