Injen CAI Damaged my Head Gasket? In Need Of Serious Advice!

[Nexagen]

I posted a post earlier about my 2000 Eclipse GS 4 Cyl with a 4G64 Engine with an Injen Race Division Cold Air Intake sucking in water and my friend and I were talking about it and he saw how it studdered when I accelerated. We got some Gas Cleaner that gets rid of water in the fuel.

But we also consulted to this guy at Autozone and he said that I have a blown head gasket which is inside my engine and is important for all of the 4 cylinders in my car to work.

This monday 2/30/2004 I am going to buy 3 quarts of Royal Purple 5W30 then head to the Jiffy Lube and change the oil.

If this does not fix my problem I could buy another head gasket for my car online for $42 at this site:
http://www2.autopartsauthority.com/p...er+Head+Gasket

Or I could do an entire engine swap and put another 4g64 engine that these guys on Ebay are selling that has 75,000 miles... but it cost at least $600 with shipping and taxes... not to mention the installation cost!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33615
I already put in an order for 4 Iridium IX spark plugs and Magnecor KV85 Ignition Wires in case there is something wrong with the ignition.

Anyway what do you guys think? Could it really be this serious?

When I put the stock intake back in the car ran without any problems. It ran like it had no symptoms at all. I thought hey, the spark plugs must have been the problem and I put my Injen Cold Air Intake back in and the problem comes back.

If after another oil change and plugs and wires the car still studders and chugs what should I do?

Buy a new cylinder head gasket for $42 or another engine for $600?
I already think I will go with a new head gasket... but how much do mechanics usually charge to put a new head gasket in?

Thanks and oh yeah rain is a b*tch

[FDTT]

$500 for a head gasket is not unusual at a shop.

But how do they diagnose the head gasket? Cause it chugs? Umm sounds like you need to visit a good mechanic. Symptoms of blown headgasket, overheating, oil in colant, puff of white smoke out tailpipe, exhaust smells sweet.

How deep of a puddle did you go through in your car to completly submerge the cone of the CAI?

[Nexagen]

The puddle was about 5 inches and I dashed right through it at 85 MPH on the left lane of the freeway.

The head gasket cost $42 bucks online. Do you mean it will cost $500 to replace the new $42 headgasket in? Is it $500 for the job?

[Nexagen]

The Autozone guy just said that I should let my car idle for a few mins then check the tip of my exhaust and see if it is wet, which it is not. They also said if white smoke comes out when I start up the car but it does'nt and just starts up normally.

[Nexagen]

Also after putting my Injen CAI the "Service Engine Soon" light came on but I found a workaround to this by disconnecting the battery which in turn resets everything except the stereo.

[FDTT]

Ok well the CAI os connected but do you have a MAF sensor, or another air flow sensor in your car?

5 inches of water shouldent submerge the intake cone. There shouldent be much water int eh engine. Check your oil dipstick for water. Also check your rad filler neck for oil.

$500 is for head off, replace gasket, head back on, new coolant, oil and maby a few othere odds and ends.

[Nexagen]

No I dont have a Mass Air Fuel Sensor or at least I dont think I have one. The car is pretty much stock aside from the CAI.

[burly]

Yeah, unfortunately head gasket replacement is one of those really cheap part, really expensive labor jobs. FDTT is right in estimating ~500 dollars, though it is dependent on your area of the country and the shop. If you do end up replacing the head gasket and you are thinking of replacing the engine, one option you have is to have the engine rebuilt. I don't know how many miles you have on the current engine, but going to a motor that already has 75k on it, you could be back in this situation again (e.g. replacement) fairly quickly. Something to keep in mind if while you are dealing with this.

[Nexagen]

How much would an engine rebuild cost? Would it be also $500?

Damn and I was saving this up for a new Cat-Back...

[Nexagen]

I just checked it out and it cost like $1500 for an engine rebuild. I think I will just get the Head Gasket Replaced...

[ales]

So far there is nothing to suggest your head gasket is blown. Consult a good mechanic.

[GTR2b]

Originally Posted by ales

So far there is nothing to suggest your head gasket is blown. Consult a good mechanic.

I completely agree with this.

There is no information whatsoever that would lead me to believe that you have a blown head gasket, let alone motor so put your wallet away!

If you REALLY had a blown HG or motor, you would get some or all of the symtoms that others have already listed and now for the key part... you would have the SAME problem no matter WHAT intake you had on it stock or not.

Here's what I would do. Go get yourself a good vacuum gauge, they're cheap in invaluable. Hook it up inline with your CAI. Put your Injen back on there and take the filter off. DON'T DRIVE IT LIKE THAT! Make sure the ground and surrounding area is clean and free of debris. Rev the engine a few times and note the gauge and then turn the car off and put the filter back on. Start the engine again and rev it a few times in a similar manner as before and compare the behaivor of the gauge.

If you noticed a significant increase in vacuum with the filter on, then I would say your filter is completely hosed. If you didn't notice any obvious change, put your stock intake back on and perform the same test.

Or, your best option would be to go to a TRUSTED garage and have a mechanic check it out. Up to you.

[burly]

Yeah, I was operating on the premise that you did end up having to have a major repair done and were seriously considering an engine swap. The reason I suggested a rebuilt is because, while the cost of the engine on eBay may only be $600 w/ shipping, by the time you add in odds and ends, shop time (unless you can do it yourself), and all the other costs involved in an engine swap, you would probably end up spending near or more than the cost of a rebuild. On top of this, with the swap, you would still have a motor with 75k on it which could require serious work in the relatively near future after putting it in.

However, definitely find out exactly what work is required to fix this engine and don't get a head gasket replaced on an assumption.

[Nexagen]

Ok you guys are right. I took my car to Jiffy Lube and had the engine flushed, put 4 quarts of Royal Purple 5W30 Synthethic oil and for the first 5 mins the symptoms acted up. But later I drove it for about 40 miles and no symptoms whatsoever.

So as it turns out I dont have a blown head gasket, just that a bit of water got inside my engine. Which is good because I dont have to take it to a shop and lose my arms and legs!

So I guess some sludge or water and dirt got inside my engine cause they used an Bilstein Engine Flush pump to flush the entire engine, but the engine flush got rid of all that stuff and the new oil also helped. Although the engine flush and oil change costed $120 and the oil about $15...

Now I am so paranoid about this I go to www.weather.com and check my weather in my area before putting on my cold air extension and driving.

I have yet to see how the engine runs on NGK Iridium IX and Magnecor Wires, but it can only be good.

Oh yeah BTW, rain sucks and it owes me $135!

[Nexagen]

Ok I just figured out how to clean my mass airflow sensor. All I need to do is buy some carburator cleaner or Brake Cleaner at Autozone and it evaporate fast then it should work.

http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cleanmaf.htm