Blown head gasket?

[Xbox2202]

I've posted on here before about the car that I bought a couple of weeks ago, and after checking it and everything I think I have a blown head gasket. At least that's what everyone has told me from the symptoms. So I thought I would ask you guys to see if you think it's a blown head gasket too before I spend money that I don't have to go take it to a mechanic.

So, here's what it does:

1. It smokes white smoke at startup for a minute or two sometimes, sometimes it smokes for as long as it is turned on.

2. It idles high when you start it up, anywhere from 1400-2000 rpm, and it never idles at the same place, it's different every time you start it up.

3. It seems to be burning gasoline, and smells like it is burning gas from the smoke in the exhaust.

4. There is a very fine steam coming from the right side of the engine, it's so fine that you don't notice it unless the hood is up.

5. If you leave the car running for a while, there is bubbles coming up from the coolant when you have the cap off. It's pretty slow, about a bubble every one or two seconds.


So, if you guys think that my head gasket is busted, please tell me. Also, if it is busted, should I try to find some metal gaskets instead of regular ones to replace it so that they won't bust as easily?

Thanks

[Chevyracincamaro]

sounds like a gasket to me, dont know about the gas smell. check your coolant to see if there is any oil in it...

[Xbox2202]

So, about how much will it cost me to get the gasket replaced?

[Chevyracincamaro]

a lot if someone else does it. you ahve to pull the whole engine out, cause you cant get the heads off with the engine in the bay. plus, the engine drops out from the bottom, so it would be a pretty penny. call around to different shops and ask em to give you a quote as to how much it would be...

[gurrzt]

#5 is the give away, it is definetly the head gasket.

You will also have to resurface the head flat in addition to the gasket.

[4onFloor]

dont go with steel headgaskets. those require 0 tolorance for head warpage and un-even deck height. you'll have a bigger leak that what you already have

[Chevyracincamaro]

yeah the steel ones are for high performance applications more than anything, or atleast engines that are blue printed...

[Xbox2202]

Ok, so there's no way that me and my dad can replace the gaskets with the motor in the car?

[Rbraczyk]

No the motor is too far back.

[Rbraczyk]

Don't you wish you had my engine bay?

[Xbox2202]

Well, this is crap, I guess I'll try to be looking up some mechanics tomorrow. There goes my money for the next couple of months.

[Genopsyde]

Originally Posted by Xbox2202

3. It seems to be burning gasoline, and smells like it is burning gas from the smoke in the exhaust.

I thought it was supposed to burn gas....

[twdz28]

is the V6 motor really to far back??? I have replaced heads on two sets of LT1's!!! I guess when theirs a will theirs a way...

[redvette]

I replaced a head gasket on my LT1 a couple of months ago, with out taking the engine out. It took me a long night to take it a apart, and when i say "long" thats only because i almost took my thumb off (8 stiches), and then another night to put it back together. its a pain to work on it like that, but if you need to save money you can do it.

[Xbox2202]

Ok, thank you, because there's not too much money to be spent on mechanics right now. So you guys are sure that I can do it with the engine in? Also, does it matter that it's a V6? Would it make it harder or easier?