silence

There are some pictures and some information on my blog

http://rideonpurpose.blogspot.com/20...mg-how-to.html

It's a safe link, please check them out.

Would you consider it a "done deal" at this point and either fix the gasket or replace the motor?

How can I "prove" to myself that it is the headgasket?

thanks!

-Drew

503C43 ////AMG

It definitely sounds like the head gasket. You could do a leak down test or pressurize the coolant system to detect a leak.

Loss of coolant + white smoke = blown head gasket

silence

I'm reluctant to install the new radiator etc. just to pressurize the coolant to test that way- It's also my understanding that such a test doesn't always show damage if it isn't terribly "leaky". My car doesn't seem to show symptoms at all unless under boost at this point.

Leak down requires going to each plug right?

Is there a way to be "certain" without doing those things?

I don't want to tow it to my friends (where we could swap the motor) just to find out it wasn't necessary.



Overall, it definitely sounds like a 5.0 litre is in my near future.

503C43 ////AMG

The definitive test is a cylinder leak down test. By applying compressed air to each cylinder in turn (with that cylinders intake & exhaust valves closed) you can isolate the faulty cylinder. ***{make certain to open your cooling system (radiator cap etc.) so you don't over pressurize it & blow a radiator, seal,etc.}*** LOOK FOR BUBBLES

OR

you can perform a block test,they sell this tool at your local napa or car quest parts store about 25.00,it looks like a big ear dropper and it extracts vapors from the radiator filler neck. If the blue solution that you add to it turns yellow then that indicates coolant entering your engine which means a blown head gasket

silence

the 2nd one there is to check for oil content in the coolant?

I'm 98% confident it's blown from what I've seen- confident enough that I won't be putting it back together enough to run it or properly add coolant unless someone gives me a very good reason to do so!

Maybe I will go throw the PITA of actually testing it properly- it just sucks that in order to do so I will have to tow it to a friends.

503C43 ////AMG

Yes, the test is to determine if you have coolant in your oil.
If you want to know for sure, do the leak down test. If you want to play the guessing game then throw a head gasket at it...

silence

we will do the leakdown test- but in the meantime I'm going to proceed as if it is the headgasket...

I just don't have time to waste to get organized to do the anything more here at home- I'll make provisions to get the car to my friends and we can do it there with the understanding that we are likely going to go forward with the full swap.

Assuming that is where I go with this from here, I won't be touching it again until spring regardless

-Drew