Blown Head Gasket? AW11 4A-GZE

celica_tommo · Post by **celica_tommo** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 10:47 pm

I've had my SC AW-11 for a few weeks now... goes pretty nicely but I think it may have a blown head gasket.

Ever since I gave it an oil change I've noticed a creamy whiteish substance on the oil cap and I'm pretty sure the oil level has raised a bit and the coolant level dropped maybe 500mL from the resovior. I have also noticed a fair bit of exhaust smoke only when the engine is cold ever since i changed the oil with magnatec. The oil colour still looks fairly normal if a bit dirty considering the recent change. Coolant looks to be fairly watery/rusty... not much green or red colour in there.

So... Is this almost certainly the head gasket?... Factory ones aren't metal are they so if it is due to rust then the problem with be with the head and block sufraces?

I see that some people recommend replacing head bolts at the same time... is this necessary?

Hopefully I've caught it early enough before it's done much damage.

celica_tommo · Post by **celica_tommo** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 10:56 pm

Oil in the cap... fairly typical i think for water in the oil

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/ ... IM0637.jpg

CAMB01 · Post by **CAMB01** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 11:12 pm

The creamy oil in the cap would be due to just condensation, hot rising to the highest point it can get to, that being the oil cap and it mixing with the small amount of oil that gets thrown up there, i see it alot at work.

Most of the time water in the oil means something more than a blown head gasket, usually its a crack in the head, under the cams.

KinLoud · Post by **KinLoud** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 5:45 am

PM me if you want the factory recommended method of bleeding all the air out of an AW11 radiator/cooling system (after you fix your prob of course).
Good luck

Ken
Ham
021 408 863

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 8:41 am

if the car is idling fine, not overheating, and running fine, then I wouldn't be too concerned. If you're losing water then replace the "radiator" cap, and check the water pump for leaks. It could still be a slight leak in the headgasket, so maybe do a compression test on it to be sure

Fraud · Post by **Fraud** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 9:44 am

Another thing to check is after you give a kick in the guts, see if its blowing gas (air, carbon monoxide etc) into the overflow.

Crucible · Post by **Crucible** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 12:28 pm

Creamy oil cap is typical and common as mud, (Condensation) If the dipstick is a creamy white colour then yes you have a problem (Transfer between the deck oil gallery and waterjacket) but if it aint using Water and the dipstick colour is normal its fine.

celica_tommo · Post by **celica_tommo** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 12:48 pm

A compression test wouldn't show up anything wrong between oil and water jackets though

celica_tommo · Post by **celica_tommo** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 12:51 pm

It is using water... about 500mL i estimate over three weeks... oil colour is still normal though

Ae92typeX · Post by **Ae92typeX** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 3:40 pm

As above, if the oil on the dipstick looks fine, and the water under the 'radiator' cap looks fine I'd be more than surprised it was a head gasket.
When you say it uses 500ml, is that with it filled to the max in the overflow bottle when cold, or did you have it filled right up? (bit of a stoopid question, but if you fill it right up it will expell some)
could also do a tee-kay test if you had the gear for hg, if you are still concerned.

scotts2hot · Post by **scotts2hot** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 5:55 pm

Take your radiator cap off (when the car is cold!) Then run the car and check for a small stream of bubbles. If you've got them and milky stuff in the oil you've almost definatley got a BHG.

If you don't think it's very bad try using a product called irontite. You put it in the radiator water and it seals up the gasket and any other leaks you might have. Worked a treat on my old supra.

Crucible · Post by **Crucible** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 6:03 pm

The best thing to do for piece of mind is to wip into a local garage and get a pressure test done on the system, they can pump the system upto a little over working pressure, this will show up any coolant loss or weapage in the system (water-pump seals are the most common) it may even have a slight weaping hose...Unless you have got it Hot at some stage its pretty unlikely the head is cracked or headgasket has blown. More than likely just slight external leakage somewhere....Get the cap pressure tested also while your at it...should cost any more than 1/4 hr labour at the most!...If the oil colour is normal (Black) than your pretty safe!

B.T.W Irontite is some pretty nasty sh*t and can make a nasty mess of your cooling system ie temp sensors etc...My opinion Fix it properly!.....Just my 2 cents :wink:

deaf_rattle · Post by **deaf_rattle** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 6:31 pm

sorry bhg
pull head off and fix it

celica_tommo · Post by **celica_tommo** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 8:29 pm

deaf_rattle wrote:sorry bhg
pull head off and fix it

haha, some varying opinions as usual. I think I'll keep driving it for now and checking it every few days. And give it a compression test etc.

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 8:33 pm

deaf_rattle wrote:sorry bhg
pull head off and fix it

i disagree
there are many possibilities, I would say bhg is around a 20% chance

Fraud · Post by **Fraud** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 5:26 pm

True All_Fours true.

BUT if it is a leaky water pipe/seal DON'T keep driving it.
Find out and fix it.... Or otherwise it could quite possibly lead to a BHG.
Trust me....... Been there, done that.