So I've been boosting at around 9psi recently, and a few days ago I found some coolant on the floor of my garage. So I had a look in the engine bay and the only thing I noticed was that my catch can is now this creamy looking orange goo. It leads me to believe that I'm getting coolant into the oil system. There's not too much coolant in it, I mean it's not pouring out and my coolant level still looks about the same as always. Related to that, I've started to get some white smoke out of the tailpipe.
I'm thinking that I've blown a headgasket, does that sound right to you guys? Is there any chance that my pistons are messed up - I've been worried about keeping the stock internals in there, and hopefully I haven't gone and messed up the entire engine by not building the motor. I'm thinking the logical course of action is to do a compression test, though I've never done one before.
Thoughts?
" To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous. "
Have you checked the oil (diptick) to see if the oil looks creamy? Sounds like a head gasket.
FU Tuning
Hey John, yup I pulled the dipstick when I first saw the catch can and the oil looked fine.
If it is a head gasket, does this happen often with the Ecos? I was searching but I didn't find much.
" To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous. "
I just pulled the plugs and they all look good. There's a bit of grey oil on the threads but my educated guess there would be the anti-seize I put on. The oil on the dipstick still looks great too. I can't find any locations around the head where there is any leaking fluid.
I would really love to not have to take the head off, with my port fueler and turbo I can just imagine its going to be a world of hurt to get it out. I mean if the gasket is toast, and I can confirm it then I have no choice but I'd hate to pull it apart and then find out that's not the problem.
Any other comments guys?
" To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous. "
Did you ever put in ARP head studs?? Or are you still using the stock head bolts?? It sounds like head gasket. The stock head bolts can't hold the head down as good as the ARP head studs..
I haven't touched anything on the internal side of the engine. When I tear it apart I will be installing new rods, pistons and studs.
" To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous. "
You should consider switching to a LSJ head gasket also, I hear its a better gasket overall, and a good stronger option for those that are boosted.
Scorpio1 bishes... wrote:You should consider switching to a LSJ head gasket also, I hear its a better gasket overall, and a good stronger option for those that are boosted.
correct the stock L61 HG is 2 Layer MLS the LSJ is 3 Layer MLS. I used the lsj on my old built motor
LE61T PTE6262 Powered 
Qwibby {T3H Old QBE} wrote:Scorpio1 bishes... wrote:You should consider switching to a LSJ head gasket also, I hear its a better gasket overall, and a good stronger option for those that are boosted.
correct the stock L61 HG is 2 Layer MLS the LSJ is 3 Layer MLS. I used the lsj on my old built motor
For my own personal knowledge, is there any passage differences? No modifcation needed?
FU Tuning
As far as I know the ports on the L61 and Lsj are the same. The Le5 is just alittle bit bigger bore and has one extra water port a cylinder 4. I had use the LE5 head gasket by accident and it worked for 2 years before I took the head off to do my valve springs and stuff. Then I put in the stock L61 head gasket and had no problems at all with it. Just make sure the head is good and clean both surfaces really well and torque the head down right and use ARP studs and you will be fine..
So aside from head gasket, do you guys think it could be anything else causing the problem? Will it be visually obvious that the head gasket is bad when I take it apart?
" To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous. "
If you can do a leak down test do that first and go from there.. Some times you see that the gasket was leaking but I don't think you will because you said that you just started to see white smoke.. It also could be alittle moisture in the catch can. I know sometimes in the fall if I drive my cav on short trips and look at the oil cap there is alittle moisture on it.
It's in for a leak test and we'll see where it goes from there. Thanks for the input guys.
" To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous. "
