Coolant problems due to leaking head gasket?

[olouie]

After trying to sort out my coolant issues I finally took my car to RMG in Sunnyvale. Bob was great and flushed the system - couldn't find anything wrong with it. But before I had a medium to strong sound of air coming out of coolant cap (it would stop after a while or open the cap to let pressure out). Went away for a day after the flush, but now its back. Air sound will be strong and then I hear a pop from the cap and the sound will stop (new cap was installed during flush).

Flush was done due to coolant overflow after new tank(s) - long story - was put in by another shop. Didn't trust them anymore due to lack of Boxster knowledge.

Bob at RMG says that the air in coolant tank might be the first signs of a leaking head gasket. If that is the case then a replacement engine might be needed if it fails later on.

The coolant is not white or mixed with oil or anything.

Does anyone know if the head gasket can be tested to see if its failing? If it is, can it be replaced / fixed or do I really need a whole new engine?

At this rate I will be selling the Boxster soon before anything goes wrong. :-(

[blinkwatt]

Did they do the proper procedure for removing air from the coolant lines after they flushed the coolant?

What part no. is your coolant cap?

[olouie]

Did they do the proper procedure for removing air from the coolant lines after they flushed the coolant?

What part no. is your coolant cap?

Coolant cap ends in 01

They should have done the proper procedure - RMG used a vacuum tool to flush and fill it. They ran a tech session on the coolant system a while back so that is why I went to them.

I have not yet checked to see if the coolant is still overflowing, but after the overnight cooling the level was above max so I am thinking something is not right. Well that plus the hissing / popping sound.

[pk2]

After trying to sort out my coolant issues ...Bob at RMG says that the air in coolant tank might be the first signs of a leaking head gasket. If that is the case then a replacement engine might be needed if it fails later on.

Yes you most likely have a leaking head gasket… as to a new motor, unless your driving around with the temp pegged, get the leak fixed and off you go.

The coolant is not white or mixed with oil or anything.

Sometimes it takes awhile. Oil will eventually turn grey (really bad case) coolant doesn’t necessarily show any thing obvious. If your blowing the cap off and the threads are good…hate to say it…

Another folksy observation I’ve made is that if you remove the overflow cap (gently) when the engine is cooled down to safetly do so, and you smell a sort of exhaust/ozone like scent, hate to say it again…

Does anyone know if the head gasket can be tested to see if its failing? If it is, can it be replaced / fixed or do I really need a whole new engine?

Normal course of events is to have a “leak down test” done. That we’ll tell your mechanic a lot as to the where and what the nature of your leak problem is.

Is your engine shot? hardly. Unless a lot of water sat around in a cylinder your worst case is a cracked head. If you haven’t overheated the _ell out of it, it’s probably a head gasket. Labor cost won’t be fun but the parts are nothing. I can’t think of any reason you’d need a new engine.

Stop sweating , :)

P.K.

Oh ya, Another tel talle sign as to the severity is to lok at the inside of the oil filler cap, if it's got some gray oil, you definitly have a leak of some sort.

Edited September 13, 2007 by pk2

[Tool Pants]

That RMG tech session was January 17, 2004.

http://www.arrowheadradiator.com/head_gask...n_leak_test.htm

[olouie]

Only reason I thought that I would need a new engine is that Bob at RMG said that a new engine was really the only way to fix it.

Has anyone got a failing head gasket replaced before and know of how much that runs generally?