Lumina Head Gasket HELP!!!

[snappy|nuts]

Hi folks, I have a problem obviously. The past month or so I've noticed a smell coming through my air vents, kinda smells like exhaust. I just thought the seal was leaking on the exhaust manifold and the blower fan was drawing exhaust into the car.
I was putting oil in the car one day and I noticed the tell tale foam on the oil cap! When I check the oil, there is no foam on the dip stick. Usually with a head gasket problem there is foam on the dip stick isn't there?
Anyway, I check the hose coming from the valve cover to the throttle body and there is foam coating the tube too. So coolant is getting into the top of the valves for sure. My coolant isn't going down very much at all, neither is the oil so it doesn't seem to be a major leak. In 3 months I might have added a quart of oil and half a quart of coolant. The car runs fine, a little hard on gas maybe. I don't get a lot of heat either, but that could be a thomostat. Also, when I drive, the smell through the vents goes away.
The previous owner mentioned that he replaced the heater core, could this possibly have something to do with coolant up around my valves? Is it safe to drive the car a little longer until I get the money to actually get it looked at and fixed? I took it in to get a quick look by a pro, he said he wasn't sure that it was a head gasket because of lack of foam on the dipstick. He also mentioned a "preasure buildup"? He said I should get a second opinion. Another mechanic thinks it's either a head gasket or intake gasket.

Anyone know what this could be? Is it a small leak in the head gasket or possibly some sort of blockage? The motor is a 3100 V6.

I know this is a lot of reading, but I'm desperate and any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all!

[Jonn]

Originally Posted by snappy|nuts

Hi folks, I have a problem obviously. The past month or so I've noticed a smell coming through my air vents, kinda smells like exhaust. I just thought the seal was leaking on the exhaust manifold and the blower fan was drawing exhaust into the car.
I was putting oil in the car one day and I noticed the tell tale foam on the oil cap! When I check the oil, there is no foam on the dip stick. Usually with a head gasket problem there is foam on the dip stick isn't there?
Anyway, I check the hose coming from the valve cover to the throttle body and there is foam coating the tube too. So coolant is getting into the top of the valves for sure. My coolant isn't going down very much at all, neither is the oil so it doesn't seem to be a major leak. In 3 months I might have added a quart of oil and half a quart of coolant. The car runs fine, a little hard on gas maybe. I don't get a lot of heat either, but that could be a thomostat. Also, when I drive, the smell through the vents goes away.
The previous owner mentioned that he replaced the heater core, could this possibly have something to do with coolant up around my valves? Is it safe to drive the car a little longer until I get the money to actually get it looked at and fixed? I took it in to get a quick look by a pro, he said he wasn't sure that it was a head gasket because of lack of foam on the dipstick. He also mentioned a "preasure buildup"? He said I should get a second opinion. Another mechanic thinks it's either a head gasket or intake gasket.

Anyone know what this could be? Is it a small leak in the head gasket or possibly some sort of blockage? The motor is a 3100 V6.

I know this is a lot of reading, but I'm desperate and any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all!

Well from what you said, may or may not be a leak, you say you have very little heat, if your engine isnt getting up to temperture and burning off the condensation inside itself, you will get foamy stuff in those hoses. Id get the heat issue fixed, maybe a pressure check on cooling system, an dif it checks ok, not worry about it. As for the replaced heater core, check the clamps on the hoses at the firewall, the may be loose now letting antifreeze seep into passenger compartment..

[snappy|nuts]

I checked the lines to the heater core at the firewall on the engine side and there doesn't look to be any leaks. I just find it really odd that there is no foam on the dip stick, just up around the valves.

I never notice and fluid on the ground. The motor seems to run perfect so I'm really baffled.

[tblake]

change the oil. If its milky, then probably an intake or head gasket issue. And just a question for you? What color is your coolant? If its red, dex-cool (death cool), and you suspect its getting into your oil, I wouldnt drive the car untill its fixed. Correct my if I'm wrong here Jeff, but isnt dex-cool the stuff that eats away at the block, and leaves little pits if the head or intake gasket would ever blow? Or am I just hearing things? Good luck with it.

[snappy|nuts]

ok last night I tookmy car in for a third opinion! This mechanic looked at the steam coming from my oil filler hole and steam coming from the dipstick hole and from the hose that runs from the valve cover to the throttle body. He immediately said it wasn't antifreeze causing the moisture, it was condensation from within the motor. He then grabbed the PCV valve and started playing around with it. As soon as he used his thumb to make a tight seal around the hose and the valve cover with the PCV valve removed, the steam stopped coming out of everywhere!!! I went and got a new PCV valve and the smell has stopped coming in my air vents and there is no more steam coming out of the top end. I will have to drive it for awhile before I'll notice build up of foam if the problem isn't fixed, but something tells me that was the problem. I almost bought a new motor over this and the PCV valve was $4. I just find it amazing that one mechanic that runs a large outfit didn't even think of checking the PCV valve and immediately said it was a head gasket or intake gasket.

I'm not 100% sure it is fixed, but this mechanic said it should be and all the moisture will burn off in the next 100 miles. He said the PCV valve looks like it has been gone for about 10 000 miles and there is a large sludge buildup. He also said it wouldn't be a bad idea to take off the covers and clean off the valves and area.

[richtazz]

a blocked pcv valve will cause excessive condensation in the oiling system. The PCV's job is to circulate air in the oiling system to prevent hydocarbon and moisture buildup in the crankcase. If you use the car for basic short trips, this multiplies the problem, as the engine never reaches full operating temp to burn it off. If it's not getting good heat inside the car, that could be a t-stat issue.

[v6guy]

Originally Posted by snappy|nuts

Hi folks, I have a problem obviously. The past month or so I've noticed a smell coming through my air vents, kinda smells like exhaust. I just thought the seal was leaking on the exhaust manifold and the blower fan was drawing exhaust into the car.
I was putting oil in the car one day and I noticed the tell tale foam on the oil cap! When I check the oil, there is no foam on the dip stick. Usually with a head gasket problem there is foam on the dip stick isn't there?
Anyway, I check the hose coming from the valve cover to the throttle body and there is foam coating the tube too. So coolant is getting into the top of the valves for sure. My coolant isn't going down very much at all, neither is the oil so it doesn't seem to be a major leak. In 3 months I might have added a quart of oil and half a quart of coolant. The car runs fine, a little hard on gas maybe. I don't get a lot of heat either, but that could be a thomostat. Also, when I drive, the smell through the vents goes away.
The previous owner mentioned that he replaced the heater core, could this possibly have something to do with coolant up around my valves? Is it safe to drive the car a little longer until I get the money to actually get it looked at and fixed? I took it in to get a quick look by a pro, he said he wasn't sure that it was a head gasket because of lack of foam on the dipstick. He also mentioned a "preasure buildup"? He said I should get a second opinion. Another mechanic thinks it's either a head gasket or intake gasket.

Anyone know what this could be? Is it a small leak in the head gasket or possibly some sort of blockage? The motor is a 3100 V6.

I know this is a lot of reading, but I'm desperate and any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all!

Hey there,

Mine started the same way as yours, very gradual and adding coolant now and then and low heat at times and nothing noticeable on the dipstick. Then last week it finally gave out, the intake gasket that is. I am working on it right now and upon dismantling found some of the intake manifold bolts loose, so I am thinking this was the start of the problem. Replace that gasket b4 it leaves you stranded or over heats the engine. I thought at first it was a head gasket but stumbled across the bad intake gasket. whew!!

[snappy|nuts]

oh really..... since I replaced my PCV valve I have no noticed and more moisture around my valves. I'll have to check my intake gasket tonight after work! I have noticed a slight drop in the amount of coolant in my overflow. Thanks for the advice!