94 Blazer Gasket Issues

[yesimsteve]

94 Blazer 4.3L V6 replacing head gaskets.. I've taken both the upper and lower intake manifold off.. when I removed the lower manifold the gasket was very sponge like and easily came apart.. is that normal?? Also there is orange fluid (oil mixed with coolant/water) is that necessary to clean out?

Sorry this is my first time doing this.

[MT-2500]

Why are you replacing the head gaskets?
Did you not check for head gasket leakage before tearing it down?
Take a close look at the intake gaskets and ask yourself if they could be leaking coolabnt in the oil.
If you have coolant in the oil you had better change the oil and filter when you get it back together. Then start it up and warm up engine and change the oil and filter again before driving it. And then after you drive it some change the stuff again.
You rod and main and cam bearings will live longer.
MT

[Gabe25]

Originally Posted by MT-2500

Why are you replacing the head gaskets?
Did you not check for head gasket leakage before tearing it down?
Take a close look at the intake gaskets and ask yourself if they could be leaking coolabnt in the oil.
If you have coolant in the oil you had better change the oil and filter when you get it back together. Then start it up and warm up engine and change the oil and filter again before driving it. And then after you drive it some change the stuff again.
You rod and main and cam bearings will live longer.
MT

MT, he posted a earlier thread http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=507631 that he suspects a blown head gasket.

yesimsteve, It diffently sounds like its your lower intake gasket that was leaking. Did you ever take a compression test on your cylinder? What were the readings? One more thing. Try and get your posting on one thread for the same thing. It makes it easier when we can see everything in one place. Let us know where your at.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by Gabe25

MT, he posted a earlier thread http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=507631 that he suspects a blown head gasket.

yesimsteve, It diffently sounds like its your lower intake gasket that was leaking. Did you ever take a compression test on your cylinder? What were the readings? One more thing. Try and get your posting on one thread for the same thing. It makes it easier when we can see everything in one place. Let us know where your at.

OK Now I see says the blind man.
Someone jumped into this project without checking it out first.
And that leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions.
MT

[yesimsteve]

Sorry about the dual posting.. anyways I had a mechanic verify that it was the head gaskets.. i didnt do a compression test myself though. From looking at the lower intake gaskets they look like they were definately leaking. Maybe the mechanic was wrong?? what should I do? I should have done the compression tests myself I guess..

The thing is I had no way to get to the autoparts store, i had no compression gauge.. but I did have all the gaskets and tools to start the job.. and the mechanic said it definately was the head gaskets.. so i just went to it!

[Gabe25]

Originally Posted by yesimsteve

Sorry about the dual posting.. anyways I had a mechanic verify that it was the head gaskets.. i didnt do a compression test myself though. From looking at the lower intake gaskets they look like they were definately leaking. Maybe the mechanic was wrong?? what should I do? I should have done the compression tests myself I guess..

The thing is I had no way to get to the autoparts store, i had no compression gauge.. but I did have all the gaskets and tools to start the job.. and the mechanic said it definately was the head gaskets.. so i just went to it!

Is there away you can contact the mechanic and ask him if he did a compression test and what was the readings. If you can't or if he did take the test. Did you have a 75 / 25 percent chance that its your lower intake gasket. I would just go ahead and replace the lower intake gasket. From everything you have givin us leans towards it. The compression test would of confirmed it for sure. Good luck and let us know how your doing...........

[yesimsteve]

Originally Posted by Gabe25

Is there away you can contact the mechanic and ask him if he did a compression test and what was the readings. If you can't or if he did take the test. Did you have a 75 / 25 percent chance that its your lower intake gasket. I would just go ahead and replace the lower intake gasket. From everything you have givin us leans towards it. The compression test would of confirmed it for sure. Good luck and let us know how your doing...........

Thanks for the quick response! I contacted the mechanic and he says his assistant ran the compression tests and is not in today... After talking with him I have a feeling they didnt run any compression tests.

Gabe, since I am about halfway to the heads and have the entire gasket set.. should I continue?? I mean since it did overheat isnt there a chance it could have damaged the heads? I would seriously like to replace the lower intake and then just put it back together... but I would like to fix this once and for all!

Thanks.

[Gabe25]

Originally Posted by yesimsteve

Thanks for the quick response! I contacted the mechanic and he says his assistant ran the compression tests and is not in today... After talking with him I have a feeling they didnt run any compression tests.

Gabe, since I am about halfway to the heads and have the entire gasket set.. should I continue?? I mean since it did overheat isnt there a chance it could have damaged the heads? I would seriously like to replace the lower intake and then just put it back together... but I would like to fix this once and for all!

Thanks.

I'd would still do a compression test first before removing the heads. Pull the fuse that provide power to your fuel pump. Hook up your battery and perform your compression test. Pull you belt off so your water pump won't shoot water into your motor. Its going to get alittle messy with the intake off, but you can clean you motor after your done. One more thing. Before you start cranking your motor. Make sure that there isn't any debrie in the oil gallies and lifters. I would use a shop vacuum clear and suck up all that junk that fell in when you removed your intake. If your readings are all about the same. Then I would just complete the lower intake gasket replacement and close up.

[yesimsteve]

Originally Posted by Gabe25

I'd would still do a compression test first before removing the heads. Pull the fuse that provide power to your fuel pump. Hook up your battery and perform your compression test. Pull you belt off so your water pump won't shoot water into your motor. Its going to get alittle messy with the intake off, but you can clean you motor after your done. One more thing. Before you start cranking your motor. Make sure that there isn't any debrie in the oil gallies and lifters. I would use a shop vacuum clear and suck up all that junk that fell in when you removed your intake. If your readings are all about the same. Then I would just complete the lower intake gasket replacement and close up.

Thanks for your help Gabe.. well first off I didnt know I could do a compression test with the intake off..basically I dont have a compression gauge and I dont want to tow it to a mechanic. I already bought the entire gasket set.. I think im just gonna go for it. I'll keep you posted.. im probably gonna have more questions.

[Gabe25]

OK Good Luck.

[yesimsteve]

Hey Gabe (or anybody else)... I was told by a mechanic that a compression test wouldnt necessarily tell me if I had a bad head gasket. I explained to him all my symptoms and he thought it was the lower intake gasket....but then he said to remove the spark plugs and check to see if one is white & wet. So I removed the spark plugs and sure enough.. one of them is white & wet. The mechanic said this would confirm the head gasket is bad. Do you guys agree with the mechanic?

Anyways, so then removing the exhaust pipe from the manifold my book is pretty unclear on what to do.. if i go under the car I see 3 bolts on the right and left side.. they have springs around them.. are these the bolts I want to take off?

Thanks.

[Gabe25]

Originally Posted by yesimsteve

Hey Gabe (or anybody else)... I was told by a mechanic that a compression test wouldnt necessarily tell me if I had a bad head gasket. I explained to him all my symptoms and he thought it was the lower intake gasket....but then he said to remove the spark plugs and check to see if one is white & wet. So I removed the spark plugs and sure enough.. one of them is white & wet. The mechanic said this would confirm the head gasket is bad. Do you guys agree with the mechanic?

Anyways, so then removing the exhaust pipe from the manifold my book is pretty unclear on what to do.. if i go under the car I see 3 bolts on the right and left side.. they have springs around them.. are these the bolts I want to take off?

Thanks.

Yea, that could be a indicator of a leaking head gasket. I take it that you are going to pull the heads and take it to a machine shop for them to make the surface true again.
Yes, that the bolts that connect the exhaust manifold to the pipes. If your have springs on them your lucky. My bolts wear tact welded and I needed to use a impact gun to break them free.

[yesimsteve]

Ok.. I had no trouble (except for a couple stubborn bolts) taking off the right exhaust manifold.. but im having a little trouble taking off the left..

I removed the rear alternator bracket on the second bolt.. but on the first bolt there is a metal bracket going underneath the car.. i think it might have something to do with the power steering?

How do I remove this?

Thanks

[Gabe25]

Originally Posted by yesimsteve

Ok.. I had no trouble (except for a couple stubborn bolts) taking off the right exhaust manifold.. but im having a little trouble taking off the left..

I removed the rear alternator bracket on the second bolt.. but on the first bolt there is a metal bracket going underneath the car.. i think it might have something to do with the power steering?

How do I remove this?

Thanks

OK, you got 3 bolts that hold your alternator down. The top bolts goes to a bracket that bolts too the exhaust manifold. The 2 lower bolts of the alternator go directly to the alternator / power steering pump bracket. Those should be easy to remove. Now you'll need to remove the bolts holding the alternator / power steering pump bracket. To do that need to remove the bolts that is holding the pump to the bracket which is located under the power steering pump pully. So, you'll need a power sterring pump pully puller to remover the power sterring pump pully to remover the bolts. Once you have completed that. You'll be able to get to the alternator / power steering pump bracket to remove the bolts from the bracket, the bracket will be able to be removed and you'll be able to remove your head. Good Luck......

[yesimsteve]

Originally Posted by Gabe25

OK, you got 3 bolts that hold your alternator down. The top bolts goes to a bracket that bolts too the exhaust manifold. The 2 lower bolts of the alternator go directly to the alternator / power steering pump bracket. Those should be easy to remove. Now you'll need to remove the bolts holding the alternator / power steering pump bracket. To do that need to remove the bolts that is holding the pump to the bracket which is located under the power steering pump pully. So, you'll need a power sterring pump pully puller to remover the power sterring pump pully to remover the bolts. Once you have completed that. You'll be able to get to the alternator / power steering pump bracket to remove the bolts from the bracket, the bracket will be able to be removed and you'll be able to remove your head. Good Luck......

damn that power steering pump pulley is a special order item at all the local auto stores.. thanks for the help Gabe.