Headgasket question

[joedirt76]

I just bought a 95 neon, and the guy said the headgasket is gone on it, however my buddy suggests that maybe its just the valve cover seal or gasket or whatever. Is there any way to tell which one it is? It does look like leakage is coming from the back part of the valve cover...but I dont know, Im new at this stuff, thanks

[Polygon]

Does the engine operate at normal a normal temp, or does it sometimes get a little hot? Do you ever see white smoke comming from the hood or exhaust?

Either way, he could be right but I would get a better head gasket on there anyway.

[joedirt76]

The temp. guage never goes past halfway, never seen white smoke coming off the engine or exhaust. I do smell oil burning, but I suppose that oil coming in contact with the hot engine. I looked under the car, and its a complete mess due to the dripping oil. I think the previous owner just kept topping off the oil as it dripped out, instead of doing it right... Also when driving, sometimes the car starts to die out, it never dies totally, but it seems like it wants to die, any ideas...could this be a result of the dripping oil? thanks

[pcv]

I'd wash the engine down with a good engine cleaner and let it dry. Make sure there is oil in the car. Run it for a day and check the leak. These car are known for head gasket leak. No point doing the valve cover gasket when the head is your problem. Good Luck.

[joedirt76]

Does anyone have any Ideas as to why my car is bogging down...it sorta wants to die out..I have to sporadicly hit the accelerator to keep it going, if I push harder on the gas, it wants to die out even more...
Could it be as a result of the headgasket...my buddy suggests that the fuel filter needs to be changed...let me know what you all think..
Thanks

[Robman]

Parts stores sell a tester. It takes a sample of your coolant and lets you know the condition of your head gasket

[joedirt76]

Really? wow, shows how much I know huh.. whats this tester called? also, anybody got advice about the bogging down?
Thanks

[Polygon]

Yes, that can be caused by a leaking head gasket.

[joedirt76]

Hey... about that tester...I asked a local parts store about it...and the guy said there is no such thing...he said the only way to find a gasket leak is to get the engine shampooed and let the dealership put die in the oil, and find out that way. Anyone know the name of this tester?
Thanks

[dragon459]

Yeah i had the same problem with my neon. It was a '96 and it blew a head gasket. I came to find out it was a really common problem in pre 1998 neons. Another problem i noticed was with the blue lapis paint job. Almost every neon i saw including mine had paint flaking off. Well i just wanted to put my two cents in. Good luck with your car.

[joedirt76]

Thats cool, thanks. Stupid me, I changed the valve cover gasket yesterday. And its still leaking a bit out of the back, I dont know whats going on with that. Then I opened my coolant to check it out...well its got brown and white swimming around in there with my coolant...if that doesnt spell headgasket, I dont know what does. Dammit, I should've checked it sooner, but I just got the car a week ago. I ordered the headgasket, and its here, but I gotta get it into the shop. What are my step in this process, Im assuming the coolant must be flushed right after the headgasket is changed, is there anything else I should do?
Thanks