97 astro head gasket

[manny-man66]

Hello i just recently bought a 97 astro with 111,890 mi, with a blown head gasket i will check the heads to see if they are warped and send them in if so but if they are not, i was wodering if i could get some advice on the best way of cleaning all that milkshake out of the heads and engine any tip would be appreciated. thank you in advance for any advice and tips. MannyG

[Blue Bowtie]

Welcome Aboard!

How was the failed gasket diagnosed? Head gasket failure on the 262 is not common. Intake gasket problems are a lot more common, but some of the evidence is the same. If the main evidence of "head gasket failure" is coolant loss into or out of the engine, you may want to look a little more closely.

A cylinder leakage test should help reveal any gasket problems, and a cooling system pressure test should reveal any cooling system problems.

The "milkshake" in the heads is likely the result of oil and coolant being emulsified. The really bad part about that is the possibility of coolant damaging bearing shells. As part of the repairs, drain the crankcase and replace the oil filter. Refill with clean engine oil and run the engine long enough to distribute that clean oil through the engine (about one minute). That should at least wash any coolant contaminated oil from the crank and cam bearing shells and prevent any further damage. Then you can start the disassembly and repair.

Since the 262 has iron heads, they aren't as susceptible to warpage unless the engine has been severely overheated. Once you start disassembly, don't be surprised to find staining and leak evidence at the intake flanges:



The rust stains are a dead give-away. The clean trail in the lifter valley is further evidence. This was an 80,000 mile engine with the plastic/aluminum intake. Head gaskets were fine, but internal and external coolant leakage from the coolant passage increased the oil level and would wick around the head and along the block deck to appear to be a head gasket leak near the rear.

Whatever you find, you want to be sure to get the mating surfaces "surgical room" clean for the best chance of getting a gasket seal. You may have to scrape, then stone the intake flanges and deck surfaces flat to provide good, clean metal upon which to seal. If there is rust pitting, a sealant will be necessary.

[manny-man66]

First of all thank you for taking the time to reply Blue Bowtie.
This is what i know from my friend who i bough the van from he told me his radiator was leaking and he did not know it ,his heater was not working and somebody told him to change the thermostat well he tried and stripped the housing bolt so he drove it a few miles down to a shop where a mechanic inspected the van and told him his radiator was leaking but he would repair the thermostat housing and then repair the radiator,but before he could get to the radiator he noticed the milkshake in the engine and told him he probably had a blown head gasket. which is what a thought also.when he told me the story. now the only thing i have done is drain the mix out of the oil pan.as far as the cylinder leak test, is it like a compression check because i didn't think i could start that engine with all that mix in it especially if there is water in the cylinders and the plugs are all wet,which i dont know yet i havent got that far ( also he ran water only in the cooling system )or do you think i should take it to have the problem diagnosed, the only reason i haven't is because, if its an intake leak the shop might try and charge me for a head gasket leak.and if you have a little bit of time and could explain this cylinder leak test maybe a could do it my self .thanks for you're time and help again Manny g

[ASTRODRAGULA]

My 97 also had the same problem at about 200,000, I assumed it was head gasket. So to be absolute i changed head gaskets and up. I even took my heads in to have them cleaned up and checked out (figured it was good for it anyway) The guy at the shop said the intake side of the head was a lil rough. My problem was intake gasket. other than my arms turning into meatloaf. It really wasnt that hard of a job. Next time im gonna put some duct tape on those metal edges inside my van...ouch. From what you say intake gaskets was probably the problem