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, Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:40:51
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Hi all,
I have just begun tackling a head gasket replacement project. My car is an '01 SE 3.0 V6.
History: A couple days ago, I noticed a bunch of white smoke from my exhaust as I drove in to work in the morning. I took a whiff but the exhaust didn't have the burnt oily odor but it also didn't smell 'sweet' like coolant would. There was some oily looking condensate in my tailpipe but it didn't feel oily and felt like like water. Given all that, I suspected one of my head gaskets was compromised.
Anyway, the condition deteriorated rapidly when I drove home and my immediate concern was getting home from work before I lost compression. Unfortunately, I work 40 miles from home. The last 10 miles were grueling in terms of the smoke screen I was laying down behind me and what I could tell was a worsening loss of power/compression but I did finally make it home.
I started the car up the next morning to investigate/listen but not to drive. While it was running and billowing, I could hear a lot of tapping that I never heard before. Could I have damaged something else or was that the sound of water impinging the valves?
Anyway, I just started the job today in my garage and have the valve covers off so far. Haven't progressed further because I need to figure out how I will support the engine before removing the left engine mount arm.
Anyone have some info for me about situation #1 above with the tapping I was hearing now? What should I look at once I have the head off in response to that latest observation?
How about #2 with respect to a simple way to support the engine when I remove the left engine mount?
I'm not much of a motor head. Turned some wrenches in an engine room a long time ago in the Navy as a secondary duty but not as my primary duty. Therefore, I know one tool from the next but don't have much experience with a modern automobile engine... so forgive me in advance if I need a little hand-holding since I have now gone past the point of no return with this project and have to get it right. Plus I love my SAAB 9-5 and can't wait to get back on the road with it.
posted by 72.21.149...
, Tue, 24 Apr 2012 06:38:10
, Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:22:46, Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:00:44, Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:25:40, Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:40:51
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