Replacing Head Gasket

[db21]

Reading some earlier posts it sounds like others have gone through this excercise...just joined hoping I could get some help as I evaluate what to do with my '99 Alero GLS (V6).

Short history is this...just had intake manifold gaskets replaced after engine light came on and appearance of coolant in engine.

4 weeks later engine sputtered, light came on and lost all my coolant in resevoir - believe it blew out versus being consumed as temp light shot up.

So based on that thinking it is head gasket problem. Question is...how big a job is this to do yourself?

I paid to get intakes done as was middle of winter here and I didn't want to mess around - but after $1300 I don't want to pay to not have the problem solved again, and know head gasket will be much more $$$.

Appreciate your thoughts and advice on any things to be aware of if doing it myself or ways to confirm that it is indeed head gasket issue. Thanks!

[scoopy03]

Originally Posted by db21

Reading some earlier posts it sounds like others have gone through this excercise...just joined hoping I could get some help as I evaluate what to do with my '99 Alero GLS (V6).

Short history is this...just had intake manifold gaskets replaced after engine light came on and appearance of coolant in engine.

4 weeks later engine sputtered, light came on and lost all my coolant in resevoir - believe it blew out versus being consumed as temp light shot up.

So based on that thinking it is head gasket problem. Question is...how big a job is this to do yourself?

I paid to get intakes done as was middle of winter here and I didn't want to mess around - but after $1300 I don't want to pay to not have the problem solved again, and know head gasket will be much more $$$.

Appreciate your thoughts and advice on any things to be aware of if doing it myself or ways to confirm that it is indeed head gasket issue. Thanks!

head gaskets are able to be done by yourself if you are mechinically inclined if not it may just be better to have a friend help you that knows something or a have a shop just do it. im going to have to do my head gasket soon but trying this head gasket repair bottle first then if not i have a 3800 supercharged lying around

[db21]

Okay I think I will tackle this myself - have done most of the other work on my Alero but this is a considerably bigger job.

Are there any special tools I will need to replace the heads? Don't want to get it half apart to find I need some special tool to take something off.

[Ken_OY]

Originally Posted by db21

Okay I think I will tackle this myself - have done most of the other work on my Alero but this is a considerably bigger job.

Are there any special tools I will need to replace the heads? Don't want to get it half apart to find I need some special tool to take something off.

How's going now? I have the same problem of my 95' camry. I also want to do it by myself. So, any advice? good luck

[db21]

Not too bad, got the 2nd head of yesterday... My advice would be, get a good penetrating fluid, take your time and follow the book, plus you may want to make notes when you remove stuff, order etc, to aid in reassembly. Plus I've been taking lots of digital pics to help my memory with reassembly.

BTW, a bit of confirmation on the diagnostic...it was indeed a bad head gasket, with a cracked metal seal... Just goes to show you CAN have a bad head gasket and still have good compression (175 lbs!) and NOT be billowing clouds of white smoke out the back!

[scoopy03]

Originally Posted by db21

Not too bad, got the 2nd head of yesterday... My advice would be, get a good penetrating fluid, take your time and follow the book, plus you may want to make notes when you remove stuff, order etc, to aid in reassembly. Plus I've been taking lots of digital pics to help my memory with reassembly.

BTW, a bit of confirmation on the diagnostic...it was indeed a bad head gasket, with a cracked metal seal... Just goes to show you CAN have a bad head gasket and still have good compression (175 lbs!) and NOT be billowing clouds of white smoke out the back!

the only thing i forgot to put in my post awhile ago was the only tool you really need is a torque stick which is 20-25 bucks from walmart or an auto store. my bad i thought about typing but apparently didnt type it heh. well the alero just likes to smoke or eat through antifreeze/coolant it just what it loves to do when the head gasket is blown or one of the bolts in the head or by the thermostat housing is loose. do forget to vacumm out the cylinders too and always keep a towel or shirt or something over the block so nothing gets inside of it.

[scoopy03]

i was wondering if you would be able to send me some of the pictures of the heads on without the intake manifold on so i can see the ports. i haven't had the need to work on my alero like that yet just i mainly worked on chevy's ford's and other gm's and mitsu. so pictures would help my decision if to put a supercharged on my 3400 engine and maybe it just blow and just put the whole engine in and call it a day if i had to