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Head Gasket Repair #254259
03/15/09 11:26 AM
03/15/09 11:26 AM
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Detroit, Mi
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vjb Offline OP
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I am not a mechanic, and do not have a lot of experience with engine repair. I think that my slant six has either a blown head gasket, or possibly a warped or cracked head. Has anyone ever used a product called "Steel Seal"? This stuff seems too good to be true. Is it worth a try?
Thanks

Re: Head Gasket Repair [Re: vjb] #254260
03/15/09 11:33 AM
03/15/09 11:33 AM
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RapidRobert Offline
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give us details on how is it acting. A compression tester(they're cheap) and a compression test would help confirm what's going on with the short block. On those miracle cures if it sounds too good to be true than it probably is. They do not work.


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Re: Head Gasket Repair [Re: RapidRobert] #254261
03/15/09 11:50 AM
03/15/09 11:50 AM
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Please describe symptoms. What tests have you done? A cracked head or blown head gasket will result in combustion gasses in the coolant or other abnormalities.
R.

Re: Head Gasket Repair [Re: dogdays] #254262
03/15/09 11:58 AM
03/15/09 11:58 AM
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The car has been garaged since last Sept. At that time, I didn't notice any overheating, smoke, water from tailpipe, fluid loss, rad fluid on dipstick, or fluid under the car. However, just recently, I saw a puddle of antifreeze under the car. Upon examination, it appears that the antifreeze is coming from where the head meets the block. I haven't started it yet this year, nor have I had a chance to do anything else to it. Just wondering what my next steps should be.
Thanks

Re: Head Gasket Repair [Re: vjb] #254263
03/15/09 12:15 PM
03/15/09 12:15 PM
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The first thing to do is to pressure test the cooling system to isolate where the problem is. More likely than a head gasket would be a frost plug has rotted through or some other problem. The head gasket is the least likely culprit and the most expensive and labout intensive to repair.

Sheldon

Re: Head Gasket Repair [Re: RUNCHARGER] #254264
03/15/09 02:56 PM
03/15/09 02:56 PM
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Quote:

More likely than a head gasket would be a frost plug has rotted through or some other problem.


I'd run it at a fast idle & let it get good & hot & see where it leaks.


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Re: Head Gasket Repair [Re: RapidRobert] #254265
03/17/09 10:13 AM
03/17/09 10:13 AM
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Couldn't afford or borrow a test kit, however, an old timer showed me the "bottle test" (fill the rad w/ fluid, stick overflow tube in to bottle of water below the water level, watch what happens- does water go down? or does it bubble?.) According to him, there is no head gasket leak, after running it hot and fast, I could not find any evidence of a leak. Where did the antifreeze come from originally?
Thanks

Re: Head Gasket Repair [Re: vjb] #254266
03/17/09 10:19 AM
03/17/09 10:19 AM
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For now I'd eyeball the freeze plugs & snug up all your rad/heater hoses & how far back on the garage floor was the puddle?


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Re: Head Gasket Repair [Re: RapidRobert] #254267
03/17/09 11:01 AM
03/17/09 11:01 AM
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Freeze plug looks good, I had snugged up all of the hose, thermostat, heater hose connections. Could not find any evidence of leaks. The leak appeared to come from the front of the block, on the passenger side.
Thanks

Re: Head Gasket Repair [Re: vjb] #254268
03/17/09 11:37 AM
03/17/09 11:37 AM
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RapidRobert Offline
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Check the weep hole on the water pump(it's on the bottom side). When the pump seal goes bad they leak a bit off & on but usually not steady which makes it harder to detect. If so R&R the water pump


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Re: Head Gasket Repair [Re: RapidRobert] #254269
03/17/09 12:14 PM
03/17/09 12:14 PM
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Thanks alot. I'll have to check that tomorrow (if the weather cooperates).
vjb

Re: Head Gasket Repair [Re: vjb] #254270
03/19/09 03:28 PM
03/19/09 03:28 PM
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Thanks an awful lot for the help. Checked the weep hole - dry! Engine ran very good, no evidence of leaks. Still don't know where the antifreeze came from. I replaced the cap. I'll keep a close eye on it when I start cruising again.
Once again, thanks alot
v

Re: Head Gasket Repair [Re: vjb] #254271
03/19/09 09:13 PM
03/19/09 09:13 PM
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Not2farfromNashville, TN
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www.slantsix.org the best slant site on the 'net!

Seeya there!

BTW slants don't have freeze plugs in the heads!



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Re: Head Gasket Repair [Re: Rug_Trucker] #254272
03/19/09 10:27 PM
03/19/09 10:27 PM
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Lincoln Nebraska
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I had a weep hole only let out a bit on occaision. For months I thought it was going into the cyls & being burned until one day it was wet when I eyeballed it. I just kept topping it off every so often & planned on junking the eng in the future until my disovery


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