Questions about Head Gaskets

[toyotaaddict83]

Alright, firstly I would like to apologize for creating ANOTHER head gasket thread but I am all sorts confused/worried.

I'll begin with the specs. 1996 lx450 with 135k on the clock. It has a Magnaflow exhaust (which triggers the engine light, 02 sensor) with a annoying leak in the Y. I recently replaced the oil with 5w-30 (2 weeks ago) and did a coolant flush (as I lost my coolant tank on the road, funny story).

My concern comes from the color my coolant has become (chocolate milky), the slow loss of coolant (now at half full) and the frothy brown substance on the oil fill cap. I do have a mysterious leak that I have never been able to identify as well. The exhaust is cloudy (cold, in the Upper Peninsula) and I know I burn a bit of oil on start up (blue in color and fades with circulation, valves?). I haven't notice a loss in power, nor have I conducted any tests (Compression or Leak Down).

So can you guys work your magic and help a student out? If it is a HG, can I baby it till I finish my semester (1 month) and fix it after I return home, which is a 225 mile trip?

Thank you!!!

 

[turbocruiser]

So can you guys work your magic and help a student out? If it is a HG, can I baby it till I finish my semester (1 month) and fix it after I return home, which is a 225 mile trip?

Thank you!!!

Realistically there's really no way to predict this with any accuracy at all but one thing that is probable/predictable is that if you wait until it ultimately totally fails then you could have additional damage done as in warped head, warped block, damaged pistons, etc. and you would have a breakdown somewhere on the side of the road. If it is a matter of "can't afford now" then roll the dice, if it is a matter of "don't want to afford now", then I would really recommended finding a way to work it in sooner rather than later. As an anecdote I did my HG totally as Preventive Maintenance and I absolutely had no signs or symptoms of HG failure at that time and it actually was on its way out so I'm super glad I did mine sooner rather than later. Hope that helps.

 

[Howard705]

Throw in Bars Leak and keep the radiator full.

 

[NLXTACY]

Throw in Bars Leak and keep the radiator full.

This. That being said, what turbocruiser is saying is very true. You take the risk. Hydrolocking your motor is no joke and its basically what happened to me, pushing a rod outside of the block. That being said, if its a little coolant getting mixed with oil or getting dumped into your cylinder then Bar's Stop Leak will help. I was able to postpone my second headgasket repair for over two years thanks to BSL. But it only worked until it catastrophically failed.

 

[eurorom]

Sooner or later you will pay, I hope is not too soon and it will get expensive!

Big risk driving home 225 miles!

 

[baldilocks]

I just removed my 1994 head today. I noticed no sign of impending HG failure and mine went all at once on the highway not far from home. I agree with the school of thought pay now, park it now or pay more later.

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS]

Don't waste money on the BarsLeak. We tried several bottles on a burning antifreeze Ford pickup, didn't work. The only thing that worked was Blue Devil Head gasket sealer. That was last summer and today the truck is running just fine. The Blue Devil is a blue clear liquid (looks like windshield fluid) and the BarsLeak is like pouring mud into your radiator.

One more note, the Ford Truck was burning about 2 gallons of antifreeze per week and was missing (obviously).

 

[2MinutesTurkish]

Throw in Bars Leak and keep the radiator full.

This PLUS the temp gauge mod or an ultra/scan gauge and watch your temp gauge like a hawk.

Roll of the dice regardless but these will give you a better chance of not blowing it up too badly.

Good luck.

 

[NLXTACY]

Don't waste money on the BarsLeak.

Or buy BarsLeak cuz its worked for a bunch of us with 80s. @Qball

 

[Kernal]

Are these the products some people have used?

http://barsleaks.com/product/head-gasket-cooling-sealant/

http://store.gobluedevil.com/head-gasket-sealer-38386/

 

[toyotaaddict83]

It's not that I cannot afford or do not want to afford this fix, it is more related to i do not have time or the tools at my disposal whilst I am at school. Just to confirm though, everyone agrees that a HG is in my near future? Here's another question to put the icing on the newbie cake, what does a HG rebuild all entail?

Thank you guys, I really appreciate it.

 

[NLXTACY]

Your reasons for doing or not doing it are all your own. We are just here to advise and a lot of us have been thru it, sometimes more than once.

It is something you could do yourself. There is a DVD you can
Purchase from @IdahoDoug that goes through the whole process. Stay all OEM parts and you'll be fine.

 

[ewillis]

Or buy BarsLeak cuz its worked for a bunch of us with 80s. @Qball

@Qball down with HG issues?

 

[2MinutesTurkish]

It's not that I cannot afford or do not want to afford this fix, it is more related to i do not have time or the tools at my disposal whilst I am at school. Just to confirm though, everyone agrees that a HG is in my near future? Here's another question to put the icing on the newbie cake, what does a HG rebuild all entail?

Thank you guys, I really appreciate it.

Yes. A hg is absolutely in your future. When just depends. HeIl I rolled around for years on a blown head gasket in a 5.7 z71. Different motor but you get the point.

BTW I used Bars on that....dumping white smoke....and it cleared it right up. Held until I sold it 3 years later.

With the job, there's the simple slap a new HG on and assemble approach. Great on your watch and wallet...

Or you could go to your wits end and drop some real bones on the classic mud phrase...."while you're in there"

 

[NLXTACY]

@Qball down with HG issues?

Not anymore he's not. He 100% has a blown head gasket. One bottle of Bars and its 100% temporarily fixed

 

[toyotaaddict83]

I would like to thank you guys again for your help, means a lot! Also, who should I turn to for parts?

 

[NLXTACY]

@beno and @cruiserdan

 

[toyotaaddict83]

I have started my list of parts for my upcoming rebuild, but I was curious if anyone has any suggestions for me. Thank you!!

 

[half k cruiser]

How much time and money do you want to spend. You can simply call one of the vendors and ask for a valve grind kit ( should give you every seal in the top of the motor ) Probably set you back $300 for all of those seals. But it should get the top end of your motor freshened up.

 

[toyotaaddict83]

How much time and money do you want to spend. You can simply call one of the vendors and ask for a valve grind kit ( should give you every seal in the top of the motor ) Probably set you back $300 for all of those seals. But it should get the top end of your motor freshened up.

That is the overall plan but I am kinda thinking that I might as well "whilst Im in there" tackle the notorious problems... Im thinking under $1000