Can not figure out what's wrong...

Well, the car (a 91' Turbo) was over-heating badly on me, so, I went into the engine and checked it out. Ran a compression test, three times, and it passed every time. Installed new radiator hoses, a new radiator, a new thermostat, a new water pump, and new coolant intakes, attempting to fix the problem with the over-heating and after every new installation I faced the same problem. Car would over-heat in what seemed like random situations. Well, all new radiator was the last step and the car would sit on blocks for 2-3 hours just fine without any problems with the engine heat. But, the minute I got it back on the road I had some major problems with it. 5 minutes of driving and steam was pouring wildly out of the middle of the car as the engine temperature pushed up deep into red. I can not figure this out. If anyone has any idea at all of what it may be or has experienced a situation like this with their 3sgte before, please please please, help me out. I can not figure out what's wrong to fix it and have given it to one mechanic, who tried to tell me that the head gasket was blown and it would cost 2-3 grand to fix it, I then asked him to run a compression test for me in person so I could see it and it passed with flying colors, so he had no grounds for this. It's currently with the second mechanic and he's as dumbfounded as I am with what may be wrong with the vehicle. Please, someone, be my savior!

Dude that sucks. Im sorry, i dont know whats wrong with your car, but i CAN tell you that if you keep letting it go into the red youre bound to blow your motor..

TheMattHatter, there is a hose that is fondly called the HFH (hose from hell). It sits between the turbo and the block and when it goes it smokes like hell and looks really bad (like a blown HG).

It is a pain to get to (hence it's name).
I suspect that is your problem.

Two other things:
1. Make sure that whoever does your collatn fill/bleed they do it as per the MR2s instructions ... it is a finicky car to get propely bled.

2. I would avoid an mechanic that would quote 2-3 grand for a head gasket job ... I would avoid one that would even hint at it being $1000! That is just insulting.

What all exactly is on the agenda when it comes to replacing the head gasket? It's basically taking the entire head off right?

The headgasket is simply the gasket between the head and the block ... nothing more.

As far as I know, you drain the oil, drain the coolant ... take the head off (granted that is a lot of work) ... take out the old gasket and install a new one.

Put it all back together.

I could see this easily costing several hundred ... but a $1000 is just insulting.

$2-$3K you could have anotehr engine installed.

Yeah i know what a HG is, i was just unclear as to whats in the way.

the shop that did my haed gasket water pump timing belt and fuel injectors cost me 1,286.73 on my 89 N/A and it runs great I just really need to replace the spark plug wires.

if the head gasket fails dont u usually have coolant in the oil and the oil looks brown and milky?

nofoolin, that is a typical sign ... often the car will over heat as well.

thanks for the info, im checking my HFH tommorow, got the car back. So, where exactly is it, attaching the turbo to the head? You say it's a pain in the ass to get to, but, I'm curious as to the possabilities here, and will it blow just like any other hose? Can I feel the break in it, or test it, or am I going to need to replace it and try driving it just to test and see? Also, does this mean that my turbo's going bad at all? Or just that hose?

The hose has nothing to do with the turbo directly.
It is just a coolant hose that is routed somewhere between the turbo and the engine.

So what exactly is needed for the swap the engine tran, axes? why would you need the axes wouldnt the stock axes bolt right on?

i had the same over heating problem with my 3sgte engine in my '91 mr2... it usually overheated when driving in highways and randomly in normal street driving... i changed head gasket and every single gasket in the engine plus pistons and piston rings plus many more things... the thing is that i practically rebuilt the engine so it is brand new right now... now, it is not overheating so you might want to open up your engine and see what parts are messed up and change them... and yes, it costs a whole lotta money...

I know this post is old but im just gonna post cause its up here....
coolant in the oil looks like choclate milk. and yes a blown head gasket can get coolant in the oil and oil in the coolant.
If your still having trouble MattHatter I,d run a radiator pressure test. It will leak coolant where ever the leak is.

and 2-3 grand for a head gasket replacment.... what kind a jackass charges that much....

its not that hard of a job just alil time consuming and you got to pay attention to detail or your gonna have to do it all over again.

If thats your problem then I can go into specifics with you, just post.