blown head gasket

[jlong]

Well I think I have a blown head gasket, at the very least. I was driving down the interstate between san antonio and houston and got about 30 min outside houston and the car started down shifting when going over overpasses. I thought it was kind of strange and then noticed the temp was at 3/4 and climbing and then hit the top and the red light came on.

I was already exiting when it came on and when it did I shifted into neutral and turned it off. I let it cool off to about half way and tried to start it. It doesn't sound right. Sounds like it has lost compression. It started and then died. I let it sit there a little longer and then started it and it ran fine.

At this point the water tank was bone dry. Funny thing is the low water light never came on. I was able to get it to a gas station just fine. Ran fine and no problems. The gas station was about 3/4 a mile away. Got it there, put water in it and it ran fine. I let it idle and filled it with almost 2 gallons of water. I thought I was in the clear.

Well I stayed on the access road and drove no faster than 50mph. The temp held steady at a little over half and I got about a mile down the road and the temp rapidly started rising again. I immediately pulled off the road and shut it down. The water tank was bone dry again. I didn't notice any smoke out the tail pipe, I checked the dip stick and it didn't look like water was in the oil.

I smelled the water tank and it smells like gas/oil. It won't start now and sounds funny when I try to start it. It isn't knocking and the valves aren't ticking or no unusual tapping noises. It sounds high pitched now, like lost compression is allowing it to spin freely.

SO I guess my question is, is it fixable or practical to fix? Could the block or head be warped or cracked or should I just look for a low mileage replacement?

This sucks because I just bought bunch of new parts for it. Good thing is none of them are open or have been installed and I'm pretty sure I can return them if I don't end up fixing the engine.

[billytheman1188]

Its gonna cost you a pretty penny.....and hold on.....you put ONLY water in the coolant reservoir? Are you kidding? You're better off getting a new engine and swapping it.

[DUSTIN0285]

If water is all he had, theres nothing wrong with that, not like it'll hurt anything.

[jlong]

Not sure what you mean by this, and hold on.....you put ONLY water in the coolant reservoir?

I was thinking it would be cheaper and easier to just swap a used engine into it. Although I would like more opinions because if these engines stand up to a little heat maybe I can pull the head, get it magnafluxed and check the block deck.

[jlong]

Originally Posted by DUSTIN0285

If water is all he had, theres nothing wrong with that, not like it'll hurt anything.

Yeah, didn't want to mix the green stuff with the orange stuff, water was the best option. All the gas station had was green stuff and I wanted to get home. I used bottled water, although it was enhanced with minerals, OMG!

[Redog]

You're getting combustion gasses in the cooling system. It is a head gasket leak, but the best kind to have.

Will cost about $1200 to fix.

[jlong]

I think I will pull the head and go from there. Should be fun.

[sleepyalero]

yeah water isnt bad, the track likes you running water in your cooling system instead of coolant, because if you leak coolant on the track its more of a b!tch to clean up.

[spc2125]

Originally Posted by jlong

I think I will pull the head and go from there. Should be fun.

im in the process of pulling my head too!!!
just for different reasons. But its a great way to learn

[Hellfire5670]

i did my HG change one bymyself and once with my dad.... i never wanna do it again

[a.graham52]

Originally Posted by Hellfire5670

i did my HG change one bymyself and once with my dad.... i never wanna do it again

then you must have done something wrong because its really not that bad.

[spc2125]

Originally Posted by a.graham52

then you must have done something wrong because its really not that bad.

just time consuming

[AGT]

I never had to do it but I did do injectors. Is it worse than injectors? They did not seem too bad

[a.graham52]

Originally Posted by spc2125

just time consuming

relationships are time consuming... man done i hate those and i never wnat to do one again.

[zzyzzx]

What engine and how many miles are on it?

[Redog]

Originally Posted by AGT

I never had to do it but I did do injectors. Is it worse than injectors? They did not seem too bad

I had to do injectors too. It's 6 bolts on the mani and that's it (other bolts too, the ERG was a bitch in my book)

You can do the HG yourself, just give yourself a lot of time because you only want to do the job once. You cannot reuse head bolts

[[ion] C2]

Originally Posted by Redog

you only want to do the job once

yeah, don't be like me

[jlong]

I finally got the time to look at the engine and I think the engine has turned its last RPM.

I drained the oil and lots of water came out. Got the valve cover off and the front cover off. There was no water in the top of the head and everything looked clean. Water did come out of the front cover.

I was going to take the timing chain off but the colored links won't line up with the marks so I think the chain skipped at some point. I cannot turn the engine with a wrench with the plugs out.

When I bump the starter I hear a grinding noise.

At this point I really think water damaged the rotating assembly.

Any final thoughts? Anyone looking for a project? The body is in really good shape, white 4 door power everything and power drivers seat. Anyone need any parts hit me up.

RIP 2004 - 4/19/2012

I don't think I'm going to rebuild it. I have a 97 cherokee 4X4 that is in my garage awaiting a rebuilt motor and is in the same basic position as the alero. After watching the "Cheap Cherokee" series on trucks I am feeling pretty inspired to get it going again. I see a stroked 4 litter in my very near future.