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I got the head gasket job completed last night about 10:00. Did a double check of all coolant connections, made sure all intake connections were good (I also installed a K&N filter I got with a replacement turbo intake hose due to mine breaking), put in coolant - almost two gallons, then proceeded to start her up. I initially cranked it over a few seconds with the fuel pump fuse pulled and no plugs to prime the oil pump then installed plugs & DI cassette. After a few seconds of turning over she started up and ran smooth (this without the balance shafts connected). I let her warm up for about 10 minutes or so then loaded up the tools in the trunk (I was working in a different garage at my apartments so had to move everything back to mine) and drove it the 200' to my garage/storage unit and unloaded. I then drove it to a parking space, shut her down, washed my hands, then my wife and I took her out for about a 10 minute drive. Got gas along the way at which point I checked the coolant level (I had only just put the reservoir cap on so it wouldn't build pressure and I could check it easily) where I saw it was low which I expected. Took it back to our garage - less than a minute drive. I had the cap off and had just put in what coolant I had left, the rad fan had just turned off (needle never went above middle btw) when suddenly the coolant bubbles up and out of the res. Lost about 3 quarts. I shut the engine off immediately of course. I proceeded to get some water in a jug and top off the system then drove it the couple hundred feet to a parking space near the apartment where it sits today.
So, am I still looking at a cooling system problem or did this occur because I didn't have the cap on and let it build pressure? I also noticed what appears to be a coolant leak at the driver corner of the head. WTfrig? I also guess I didn't get the valve cover tight enough as I saw trails of oil down the front of my nice clean head. :(
I'm thinking when I get a chance to look at it again of warming it up at idle with the reservoir cap firmly tightened, let it cool down then check the level and see if it expands so much it pushes out the cap.
At no time did it overheat. Also, it was smoother at idle in gear (automatic) than it was previously.
posted by 71.202.245...
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