To find out once and for all, I would call around and find a shop that has an exhaust gas sniffer that can detect exhaust gas in your expansion tank.

With cap tight an occasional bubble or two is normal, but if you get a steady stream when you rev the engine, you most likely have a headgasket that is starting to go. I was trying to figure out the effect of having the cap off...here's a guess...with cap off when you rev the engine the head gasket will still leak and the exhaust bubbles should eventually get to the tank. However, if you have a plumbing or water pump leak, without pressure, the leak stops and the bubbles should be minimized.

Re: turbo flanges, you should not have any white coolant stains if the headgasket is keeping coolant out of the exhaust.

A few other clues: one(or two) spark plug that is very clean, mileage getting better, rough idle(not rpm swings) at start up that smooths out in 10-15 seconds. The first two result from your mini water injection system, and the last is from coolant seeping into the cylinder after shut down. When the idle gets really rough at start-up, it is time to address the headgasket soon. Legend has it that you could get "hydrolock" where the quantity of coolant is sufficient to not quickly burn off. Because the coolant won't compress, you can then blow the head, pistons, and even cause connecting rod and crank damage. A plausible legend, but I have never actually seen or personally heard of a specific instance. Could be part of headgasket fear factor.

posted by 216.75....

• more on my "bubbles in da coolant" paranoia>>, burlyb, Tue, 26 Mar 2002 16:26:04
  • Just check the compression and find out for real., KeithG, Wed, 27 Mar 2002 15:13:45
  • Re: more on my "bubbles in da coolant" paranoia>>, JohnK, Wed, 27 Mar 2002 10:41:27 <-- Viewing This Message
    • plugs are normal grey - no cleaning..., burlyb, Wed, 27 Mar 2002 16:30:09
      • Re: plugs are normal grey - no cleaning..., JohnK, Wed, 27 Mar 2002 18:26:51
  • Do you see bubbles if the system is pressurized?, Cirrus White, Tue, 26 Mar 2002 22:19:06
    • Good point Yoshi, burlyb, Wed, 27 Mar 2002 10:39:09
      • Yes, hot point in water jacket is making..., Cirrus White, Wed, 27 Mar 2002 21:48:41
  • Not to get your ..., PaulM, Tue, 26 Mar 2002 17:45:11

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