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Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 16:46:06 -0500
From: "Larry Tobin" <tobljtnopsamnt.ca>
Subject: Re: They say I blew my head gasket!!!!!


Bob Charlap wrote in message ... >So They say I blew my head gasket!!!!! > >My 1988 900T overheats within 3 miles and lots of steam starts pouring >out from under the hood! My local mechanic (Dallas,Texas) said he was >sure it was a head gasket and I would be screwed to the tune of at a >minimum $1000.00 (OUCH!) > >Before I take it to the one and only SAAB dealership and shell out the >big bucks next week anybody have any suggestions? > >Thanks, > >Bob >bob2nopsamie.com > If your car is leaking that bad it should be easy to see where the leak is as the coolant is green and tastes sweet "for those who dare lick their fingers". There are a few basic checks that anyone can do. First you can have the system pressure tested. A hand pump is inserted at radiator cap and system is pumped up to around 30-40 lbs. If it holds steady, there are no leaks in the system. You can do a compression test on the cylinders. Low pressure on 2 adjacent cylinders usually means a bad head gasket between the cylinders. Another indication of a bad head gasket is water in the oil. The oil will turn a whitish grey and the oil filler cap will collect a lot of condensation and sludge. If your coolant level is always dropping and nothing is leaking onto your driveway or into your oil pan then it may be leaking into the cylinders, in which case it will come out the tail pipe as one great cloud of steam as you drive down the highway. In 25 years of driving, I have never seen a cloud of steam under the hood as a result of a bad head gasket. It is usually the result of overheating(boiling over). If you have let your engine boil over or run dry, you can cause the head to warp and blow the head gasket. You can also burn or warp the valves. A new head gasket will not last long on a warped head and a new head will cost $$$$$$$$$. Final note: Ocassionaly a leak will not show up until the components reach full operating temp and everything starts to expand etc. Good luck, hope I didnt scare you !

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