Cracked head...what to do in the meantime?

[radiod]

Title pretty much says it all...I've got coolant seeping in to cylinder 3. Question is basically what do I do in the meantime? I know I should do an oil change (obviously) to get rid of the contaminated oil, but what about the stuff in the cylinder? What can I do about that? I can't replace the head because of finances...hopefully I can sell enough stuff to get the engine work done :icon_conf

 

[Zumtizzle]

Is it a BHG or cracked head?

I'd stay off the car and anything in the cylinder will burn off and do an oil change fast after the first one.

 

[radiod]

It's a cracked head, already ripped things apart to check the gasket and all was fine. Retorqued and had no problems at all until the engine heated up and cooled down a few times.

You suggesting to pretty much just idle the engine up to temperature to burn off the stuff out of the cylinder and then immediately do an oil change? Won't coolant still seep in during the cooldown of the engine again?

 

[Zumtizzle]

Wait a second. Did you put a new gasket in or not?

I'd tare it all down and find a new head. Don't even bother with anything else.

 

[radiod]

I've got a line on a new head...I just can't AFFORD it right now I don't want to rust the inside of my engine away while I try and scrounge up cash

 

[IJ.]

Bigger danger is running it with coolant/oil mix and trashing the bearings shortly followed by Rod Knock.

 

[radiod]

So just basically leave it as it sits...don't run it, do the oil change, and keep it parked until I can swap heads is what I'm getting from that.

 

[IJ.]

I'd drain ALL the coolant change the Oil with some cheap oil crank it with the EFI fuse pulled to clear out the contaminated Oil then drain it again and DON'T run it till repaired.

 

[radiod]

Sounds like a plan to me. Will probably have to run it on a short trip to the garage to get the swap done, do a rinse and repeat of the above after the swap only with nice oil. Just want to get rid of those sleepless nights worrying over my engine guts slowly wasting away.

 

[IJ.]

Can't run it again after it's cleaned out or you'll be back to square 1.

 

[turbodriz]

I am not implying that u don't know what u are doing but if you have a stock head gasket it is not reusable after already been torqued. Won't u have the head checked out by a machine shop before u go any further?



Just my 2 cents

 

[radiod]

I know a stock gasket is dead once you pull it out. It's got an HKS 1.5mm metal gasket on there now with ARP head studs. The thing should be bullet proof :icon_razz

Yeah, I understand about the cleaning too. I'm meaning clean it out (as you described), DON'T run it...roll it back to where it can be parked for a while.

When the time comes that I can afford the swap, I have to get it to a more appropriate working environment. Would it be ok to run it there (within 10 minutes away, city streets) or do I get it towed? Obviously if I ran it there, I'd have to do the whole cleaning process again, I realize that. I can't work on it in my gravel driveway with semi's passing by every 5 minutes kicking up dust though, that would be even worse for my engine guts.

 

[IJ.]

I'd tow it if it's that close.
(not worth the added hassle/expense/risk)

 

[turbodriz]

I know a stock gasket is dead once you pull it out. It's got an HKS 1.5mm metal gasket on there now with ARP head studs. The thing should be bullet proof :icon_razz

Yeah, I understand about the cleaning too. I'm meaning clean it out (as you described), DON'T run it...roll it back to where it can be parked for a while.

When the time comes that I can afford the swap, I have to get it to a more appropriate working environment. Would it be ok to run it there (within 10 minutes away, city streets) or do I get it towed? Obviously if I ran it there, I'd have to do the whole cleaning process again, I realize that. I can't work on it in my gravel driveway with semi's passing by every 5 minutes kicking up dust though, that would be even worse for my engine guts.

Well , I guess you have a cracked head :nono: