Mr.Sonoma

Hey guys just wanted to know what I should look for as far as symptoms of a bad head gasket in my 2001 Grand Prix. The car has 153,000kms on it and I am told around 160,000kms it fails usually. The car loses almost no oil probably, 1/2 to 1 qrt. every 8000 - 9000 kms. Coolant mucks up a bit every once in a while, but I am also told that the dexcool shit does that. Any help would be appreciated.


Thanks

,Noma

kustomkid54

Normally, you would have foam (white stuff) in the oil, if head gasket gone.
Read this forum. Read GTPDad's answer.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...ht=head+gasket

MIGTPGUY

damn, my heat is also fluctuating when i accelerate to the 210 mark and then drops back down when i idle to an intersection. I have a lil oil leaking out onto the fron three headers. Is this a head gasket or a valve cover gasket, or are those the same. Someone said it could be a valve cover gasket. Im hoping it is not a head gasket because i dont have the money to replace it.... My car seems to be performing fine except that now that i have Intense PCM in and when performance shift is on, i notice that when im going about 50 MPH and i slowly push in on accelerator, enough to not create any boost, that my rpms will kinda bounce from 1,300 to about 1,800. Hmmm.. Please tell me i dont have a bad head gasket.. And like i said, is there a dif between head gaskets and the oil valve gaskets

kustomkid54

GPs always had a valve covers gasket troubles

MIGTPGUY

um ok, is that dif the head gaskets, im assuming yes, and is it gunna cost alot. and should i worry much about it if its not leaking much oil, bout a half quart every 5 k miles

kustomkid54

No valve cover. Top of the head. Not head gasket.

MIGTPGUY

uymmmm ok....

kustomkid54

Guy,
Changed spelling.
Sorry

MIGTPGUY

i totally am not following what your saying, call me dumb but sitting here at my computer im lost lol

Chazman

Migtpguy:

They are two seperate gaskets
Valve cover gasket - cheap and easy
Head gasket - not so cheap and much more involved.

Chameleon-kat

And don't forget intake manifold gaskets depending on what year and engine

MIGTPGUY

thanks chazman, all that needed to be said.... i hope its just a valve cover gasket. Like i said, its leaking onto the front 3 header pipes.. so im guessing valve gasket

Chazman

Oil generally travels down not up, your valve cover gasket is above the three pipes, head gasket below.

Sounds like the valve cover gasket to me.

MIGTPGUY

yeah, there is not one drop of oil leaking onto my driveway... its all on the three headers and its horrible because once the three header pipes get hot, it burns that oil on them and stinks up my ride. Hows a man to get any ass in his car when the shit smells like burnt oil?!?! and thanks chazman, i dont know shit about the gaskets as im not that into cars , im still trying to learn about GPs and cars in general, so im hoping its a valve cover gasket. any idea how long it would take a master certified mechanic to fix it, cuz i have a buddy that does shit for me for about 20-30$ an hour. and if i have valve gaskets replaced, would it be feasible to go ahead an put the new NGK spark plugs i have in???

Chazman

The front one should be a piece of cake, the rear could be alot harder, I'm not familiar with that motor, and how things are layed out in the engine compartment.

Once the oil leak is stopped, I would give the engine a good degreasing, then replace your plugs.