Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2000 04:43:17 GMT From: Rick and Lorie Mieras <rlmierasnopsamsplanet.net> Subject: Big cloud of smoke, trail of oil....
Today on my way home from work, I was cruising down my favorite sharp corner, full boost, 3rd gear, 120 kliks or so, still accellerating, when I happened to notice a HUGE cloud of smoke pouring out of my tailpipe...I cheched guages, oil press OK, temp OK, engine is still making power....so I decided to try to limp home. In 15 K's of low speed driving (10 minutes, max) I lost almost all my oil, no coolant visible in expansion tank, when I arrived home in a massive cloud of smoke, engine now roughly running on 3 cylinders, car looking like a total junker. (it's an '87 9000 Turbo) Raising the hood, I observe oil and antifreeze sprayed liberally all over the place....a real mess. I think I blew the headgasket, at least I HOPE I blew the headgasket...there is a hissing noise like a steam engine running whilst the engine idles. Anyone wanna buy a SAAB? My question to the group is, anyone here ever change the headgasket themselves? My dealer is 300 kilometers away, and I am allergic to his shop rate of $75.00/HR. Any advise would be appreciated. Cheers, Rick, now driving my wife's '85 plymouth carravelle....the horror.....