summary... owned my sup for 14 years. i know the tell tale signs of popped head gasket.:icon_evil
just took my supra out of storage this summer after its been parked for almost 8 years, only driven occasionally in those 8 years (like 40 miles a summer)
, did a auto to 5 speed swap, clutch masters stage 4, fidanza wheel, arp bolts, rebuilt r154, c's short shifter, new precision 62/65 billet with turbonetics divided housing, sp racing quick spool valve, all new fabricated downpipe and custom mid pipe, aem wide band, new warlboro fuel pump, big end fuel psi reg with gauge, reflowed the RC engineering 550 injectors to be safe, car has JE pistons,ARP main/rod bolts, ARP head studs, metal headgasket. old/outdated hks piggyback vpc/gcc/fcon/fcd etc...
started tying up all loose ends on car that ive never addressed. floormats/front bumper lower trim, new speedo cable, new brakes, stainless lines, replaced rear metal brake line that runs from front to back.
car made 440 at the wheels at a modest 18 psi. car falling on its face on the big end with stock cams
been running 1/2 and 1/2. 100 octane/93 octane and cars been running great.
the weather has just turned cold here in chicago and my heat wasn't working. troubleshot it down to the heater control valve wasn't opening, so i temporarily hooked vac straight to it so i would have heat. i did this on fri. drove the car for approx. 20 miles with no problems.
yesterday i was driving into work on the hi way and did a pull in 3rd gear a little bit/nothing crazy. immediately after my temp gauge shot up.:nono:
chilled out/blasted heat/temp came down/ . i immediately looked in rear view when i noticed the temp spike expecting to see smoke but there was none.
got to shop let car cool, checked coolant and was super low. guessing almost 1/4 gallon?
absolutly no smoking so the car isnt burning it
now that heater control valve is open, that account for drastic coolant level change?
topped off coolant, drove car home (15) miles/hi way/open throttle at times, everything seemed fine.
parked car at home for 2 hours, and hopped back in for a ride, drove not even 1 mile and temp gauge almost pegged, pulled over shut off engine, popped hood, everything looked/smelled normal. WTF. let electric fans run for a bit, fired engine back up, temp gauge back to normal. drove for about 3 miles and parked it back at home.
same oem style radiator since ive owned the car since 1996
replaced water pump once since ive owned (guessing 50k on this pump)
just replaced thermostat to oem toyota
so...either I have alot of air in the system (possible,but ran up to temp with cap off yesterday when topping off)
faulty temp gauge/sending unit (unlikely)
bad water pump? (wishful thinking/possible)
radiator? (wishful thinking,but i guess very possible)
head gasket starting to go south? :: angry ::
inspected all hoses, replaced lower hose, and small hoses off back of thermo housing.
any ideas?
god i hate that feeling of desperation/jaw dropping when you watch your engine temp gauge sky rocket!
just took my supra out of storage this summer after its been parked for almost 8 years, only driven occasionally in those 8 years (like 40 miles a summer)
, did a auto to 5 speed swap, clutch masters stage 4, fidanza wheel, arp bolts, rebuilt r154, c's short shifter, new precision 62/65 billet with turbonetics divided housing, sp racing quick spool valve, all new fabricated downpipe and custom mid pipe, aem wide band, new warlboro fuel pump, big end fuel psi reg with gauge, reflowed the RC engineering 550 injectors to be safe, car has JE pistons,ARP main/rod bolts, ARP head studs, metal headgasket. old/outdated hks piggyback vpc/gcc/fcon/fcd etc...
started tying up all loose ends on car that ive never addressed. floormats/front bumper lower trim, new speedo cable, new brakes, stainless lines, replaced rear metal brake line that runs from front to back.
car made 440 at the wheels at a modest 18 psi. car falling on its face on the big end with stock cams
been running 1/2 and 1/2. 100 octane/93 octane and cars been running great.
the weather has just turned cold here in chicago and my heat wasn't working. troubleshot it down to the heater control valve wasn't opening, so i temporarily hooked vac straight to it so i would have heat. i did this on fri. drove the car for approx. 20 miles with no problems.
yesterday i was driving into work on the hi way and did a pull in 3rd gear a little bit/nothing crazy. immediately after my temp gauge shot up.:nono:
chilled out/blasted heat/temp came down/ . i immediately looked in rear view when i noticed the temp spike expecting to see smoke but there was none.
got to shop let car cool, checked coolant and was super low. guessing almost 1/4 gallon?
absolutly no smoking so the car isnt burning it
now that heater control valve is open, that account for drastic coolant level change?
topped off coolant, drove car home (15) miles/hi way/open throttle at times, everything seemed fine.
parked car at home for 2 hours, and hopped back in for a ride, drove not even 1 mile and temp gauge almost pegged, pulled over shut off engine, popped hood, everything looked/smelled normal. WTF. let electric fans run for a bit, fired engine back up, temp gauge back to normal. drove for about 3 miles and parked it back at home.
same oem style radiator since ive owned the car since 1996
replaced water pump once since ive owned (guessing 50k on this pump)
just replaced thermostat to oem toyota
so...either I have alot of air in the system (possible,but ran up to temp with cap off yesterday when topping off)
faulty temp gauge/sending unit (unlikely)
bad water pump? (wishful thinking/possible)
radiator? (wishful thinking,but i guess very possible)
head gasket starting to go south? :: angry ::
inspected all hoses, replaced lower hose, and small hoses off back of thermo housing.
any ideas?
god i hate that feeling of desperation/jaw dropping when you watch your engine temp gauge sky rocket!
