BHG Confusion...

[slopra]

I don't know if I'm in denial or not but I don't think I have a BHG but I have a lot of symptoms of one. I have the famous gurgling behind the dash when I start my car. That was the first thing. Now I'm leaking coolant. After I've driven my car after I stop it's smoking everywhere and I look under my hood and I can see coolant bubbling and seeping through the top of the radiator and can hear it bubbling under the cap. Those are the symptoms that would usually lead me to believe I have a BHG.
But, I never overheat. My temperature gauge sits right under the halfway mark where it always does. I have noticed a performance decrease though. Now that I notice these symptoms though I have not got on it or even gone above 3500 rpms.
Please help. I would appreciate anybodys opinion.

 

[gofastgeorge]

No confusion, it's toast.......
And if you keep driving it, you are just going to hurt more parts.

I'm here in SA, so if you want a shoulder to cry on, feel free to contact me.
After owning 7Ms for 17+ years, I feal your pain :1zhelp:

 

[suprafreak65]

this post actually did help me alot. i had no idea what was going on with my car and i have all of the same symptoms. i feel your pain too man

 

[Bomberillo]

:: wah :::: wah ::

 

[supra_man87]

pull the spark plugs and see if you can see the top of a piston. if they are clean, you have a BHG.

when mine when last year, it didnt overheat either. idk whats up with some n/a mk3's sometimes. a dumbass guy i know thought itd be funny to run without a fan. temp gauge never went above half.

if youre still in denial, you can try and urp the system and try and get all the bubbles out, but i just think they'll be back, due to exhaust gases.

from what i hear, it only overheats in extreme cases where you completely neglect the car. if i were you, you can get a compression test, leakdown test, or test how acidic your coolant is. but in from my experience, you do have a BHG. sorry buddy.

also, dont fully trust your temp gauge, they are inaccurate.

 

[slopra]

ill try looking at the pistons and doing a compression test.
but i took it to a master technician at the honda dealership that i work at and he put it up on the lift and he is pretty sure i just need a new radiator

 

[kotu100]

ill try looking at the pistons and doing a compression test.
but i took it to a master technician at the honda dealership that i work at and he put it up on the lift and he is pretty sure i just need a new radiator

its a toyota NOT a honda
did this "master tech" perform any tests? or just looked at it and came to that conclusion?

 

[slopra]

this "master tech" has worked at toyota, mazda, and now honda. worked as a tech his whole life, is 45 years old
he filled my radiator back up to the top and turned on the car and no bubbles come up through it, my oil has no water in it but i do have a leak...somewhere...cant find it.
and just to be sure i am still going to pull the plugs and check the pistons, see if theres any coolant on the plugs and do a compression test.
as of right now i still believe i dont have a BHG lol

 

[Bomberillo]

::fundy::

 

[hvyman]

a coolant leak will give you the symptoms you have. the gurgling is from air in the system.

although you could have a bhg and its just pressure the cooling system too much and something gave way.

i would do a block test to make sure.

 

[slopra]

a coolant leak will give you the symptoms you have. the gurgling is from air in the system.

although you could have a bhg and its just pressure the cooling system too much and something gave way.

i would do a block test to make sure.

true

 

[suprafreak65]

i did the same thing. i have a new radiator but it still acts up..so im guessin im shit outta luck and i need a new head gasket

 

[suprarx7nut]

This is VERY EASY to diagnose.

You need to get a "Block test kit" or "Exhaust gas detection kit". They are kits that test for exhaust gases in the coolant. If you try that and it triggers the test liquid, you have a very simple, clear, cut and dry answer.

Sounds like you have a BHG, but it could very well be a simple leak. A block test kit will tell you for sure.

 

[slopra]

how much would a block test kit run? my paycheck which i get this friday is all i have to spend which is about 300 dollars. so i kinda need to make sure im getting what i need and only what i need

 

[suprarx7nut]

how much would a block test kit run? my paycheck which i get this friday is all i have to spend which is about 300 dollars. so i kinda need to make sure im getting what i need and only what i need

~$50. I think mine was $45 from carquest. Comes with everything you need.

When you get it the test is simple:

-Open radiator cap, siphon off some fluid so the radiator is not full to the brim. You may want to remove enough coolant so the core is nearly exposed.

-Start motor

-Place kit on radiator neck for however long they say to

-Now pull vacuum on the other end of the kit. You need to pull air through the liquid. So either get a bike pump, or connect it to a vacuum source.

-If liquid changes color drastically, you have exhaust gas in the coolant. You have BHG.

-If nothing happens, then you may not have a BHG, just a simple leak.

Again, the block is not a way of ruling out bhg, it is only a way to verify that you have one. Understand? If it comes back positive, bhg. If not, keep searching for your problem.

 

[slopra]

its ok im just gonna replace my headgasket anyway.
if it really is blown then great if not then ill just consider it preventive maintenance (i have 193k miles lol)
i get employee discount at toyota
$81.80 for the gasket and seal kit. thats every gasket and seal for the car for $80
and a brand new OEM (obviously) radiator for 130

and i dont even work at toyota lol

edit - oh and if im getting a factory gasket which is obviously a non metal one do i absolutely have to resurface my head?
if its just a little warped or has one or two small pits can i get away with not resurfacing it?

 

[ben1984j]

its ok im just gonna replace my headgasket anyway.
if it really is blown then great if not then ill just consider it preventive maintenance (i have 193k miles lol)
i get employee discount at toyota
$81.80 for the gasket and seal kit. thats every gasket and seal for the car for $80
and a brand new OEM (obviously) radiator for 130

and i dont even work at toyota lol

edit - oh and if im getting a factory gasket which is obviously a non metal one do i absolutely have to resurface my head?
if its just a little warped or has one or two small pits can i get away with not resurfacing it?

You dont have to if it's in spec, which you can check with a (machinist's) straight edge and feeler gauges. The maximum allowed warpage is .1 mm or .0039 in...but it's usually a good idea to just get it resurfaced since it should only cost about $70. And remember you need a machinist's straight edge to check this, a normal one that you'd buy at Sears or somewhere will be warped itself and won't be accurate.

 

[slopra]

is there anyone in san antonio with a good straight edge?? please lol

 

[S.A. supra]

I say bhg. They manifest themselves in many different ways. But It does sound like you are pressuring your coolant system.

I had a bhg and my car didn't smoke or idle rough and i still was boosting 10psi. Ran like a champ, but my coolant kept over flowing my reservoir.

 

[slopra]

I say bhg. They manifest themselves in many different ways. But It does sound like you are pressuring your coolant system.

I had a bhg and my car didn't smoke or idle rough and i still was boosting 10psi. Ran like a champ, but my coolant kept over flowing my reservoir.

Did you overheat? Did you warp your head? Cuz mine does kinda the same thing. Just a lil worse than that