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Old 03-22-2008, 12:22 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Blown headgasket????Good info.

I thought that this was some useful info.



Occasionally, the compression in the cylinder will cause a leak to form in the gasket and the gasket will have to be replaced, or severe damage can take place (a "blown" head gasket). This problem has been exacerbated by the use of aluminum rather than iron cylinder heads; while lighter than iron, aluminum has a much greater thermal expansion rate, which in turn causes a great deal more stress to be placed on the head gasket. Engine makers have responded to this by adding a non-stick coating such as Teflon to the surface of the head gasket.

If the gasket fails, a variety of problems can occur, from compression loss (leading to power reduction, or a rough engine), to exhaust gases being forced into the cooling system, leading to the engine overheating and increased engine wear due to the motor oil being mixed with antifreeze. Coolant can leak into the cylinders, causing the exhaust to issue steam[3] and the catalytic converter to be damaged. If a very large amount of coolant does this, hydrolock can occur, causing extensive engine damage. Sometimes, all that may happen when a head gasket is blown is excessive steam erupting from the tailpipe and the engine may act and drive like normal



A damaged head gasket can cause compression to leak between cylinders.Head gasket condition can be investigated by checking the compression pressure with a pressure gauge, or better, a leak-down test, and/or noting any indication of combustion gasses in the cooling system on a water-cooled engine. Oil mixed with coolant and excessive coolant loss with no apparent cause, or presence of carbon monoxide or hydrocarbon gases in the expansion tank of the cooling system can also be signs of head gasket problems.

Driving with a blown head gasket (if possible) can cause additional extensive damage due to overheating or loss of lubrication.

Blue exhaust smoke may be indicative of oil-burning.
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Old 03-22-2008, 12:30 AM   #2 (permalink)
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good info... stuck it for now...
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Old 03-22-2008, 01:39 AM   #3 (permalink)
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good info... stuck it for now...
Thanks......Everyone needs to know this.
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Old 03-24-2008, 09:26 PM   #4 (permalink)
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2 late 4 me.. hahaha!! thank god 4 waranty!
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Old 04-10-2008, 09:37 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Oh freaking great. I just did my legend's headgasket a few summers ago. Now there are people having their Civic's gaskets go bad? I guess after that whole mess I could do the Civic's in a day. If you have ever heard about the Legend's Head gasket problem and how much of a B*tch it is to replace, you'll sympathize!
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Old 05-02-2008, 04:09 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hondaonchrome View Post
I thought that this was some useful info.



Occasionally, the compression in the cylinder will cause a leak to form in the gasket and the gasket will have to be replaced, or severe damage can take place (a "blown" head gasket). This problem has been exacerbated by the use of aluminum rather than iron cylinder heads; while lighter than iron, aluminum has a much greater thermal expansion rate, which in turn causes a great deal more stress to be placed on the head gasket. Engine makers have responded to this by adding a non-stick coating such as Teflon to the surface of the head gasket.

If the gasket fails, a variety of problems can occur, from compression loss (leading to power reduction, or a rough engine), to exhaust gases being forced into the cooling system, leading to the engine overheating and increased engine wear due to the motor oil being mixed with antifreeze. Coolant can leak into the cylinders, causing the exhaust to issue steam[3] and the catalytic converter to be damaged. If a very large amount of coolant does this, hydrolock can occur, causing extensive engine damage. Sometimes, all that may happen when a head gasket is blown is excessive steam erupting from the tailpipe and the engine may act and drive like normal



A damaged head gasket can cause compression to leak between cylinders.Head gasket condition can be investigated by checking the compression pressure with a pressure gauge, or better, a leak-down test, and/or noting any indication of combustion gasses in the cooling system on a water-cooled engine. Oil mixed with coolant and excessive coolant loss with no apparent cause, or presence of carbon monoxide or hydrocarbon gases in the expansion tank of the cooling system can also be signs of head gasket problems.

Driving with a blown head gasket (if possible) can cause additional extensive damage due to overheating or loss of lubrication.

Blue exhaust smoke may be indicative of oil-burning.
May I add that blue smoke is also the same as white smoke. Driving with a blown head gasket IS very possible. Also, VERY IMPORTANT if you plan on replacing the HG(head gasket) by yourself remove the head bolts from center outward or else you WILL warp your head. And please dear God please tq the head bolts back down to SPEC.

Last edited by KingMarineM16a4; 05-02-2008 at 04:10 PM.
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Old 05-02-2008, 04:26 PM   #7 (permalink)
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May I add that blue smoke is also the same as white smoke. Driving with a blown head gasket IS very possible. Also, VERY IMPORTANT if you plan on replacing the HG(head gasket) by yourself remove the head bolts from center outward or else you WILL warp your head. And please dear God please tq the head bolts back down to SPEC.

i'm sorry but this is misinformation... blue smoke is NOT the same as white smoke...


Different colors of smoke and what they mean:
Blue = Oil
White = Water
Black = Gas
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Old 05-02-2008, 07:41 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by bizzybearfigiblue View Post

i'm sorry but this is misinformation... blue smoke is NOT the same as white smoke...


Different colors of smoke and what they mean:
Blue = Oil
White = Water
Black = Gas
Well when you are talking about head gaskets blue and white are the same. You are burning oil and coolant.
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Old 07-18-2008, 05:29 PM   #9 (permalink)
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too late 4 me lol..

but the warranty took care
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Old 07-24-2008, 12:48 PM   #10 (permalink)
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could you give more of a description of how this happens?
1. If I'm driving fairly hard (including track days), is there a point where it happens more often (after so many miles/years?)?
2. Will these symptoms occur suddenly or over a few hours?
3. If it does happen, what else should i check to make sure everything's okay?

Thanks
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Old 08-21-2008, 06:17 PM   #11 (permalink)
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ok just brought my car back to honda....I think I blew the head gaskets.. car didn't want to start this morning and when the car is idling if you rev it up white smoke shoots out the tailpipe.. on my way to honda my friend was driving behind me and said everytime I let off the gas or gave it gas white smoke came out. I should hear from honda in the next few hours hopefully. What do you guys think??
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Old 08-21-2008, 06:28 PM   #12 (permalink)
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if u have an SI find out what caused the head gasket to blow, i had several tuning shops tell me its almost impossible to blow the head gasket on these motors, which leads me to think its caused by a faulty gasket
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Old 08-22-2008, 12:11 AM   #13 (permalink)
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hey yea I have an Si and its still under warenty I just had my 1st 2nd and 3rd gears replaced. Honda didn't call me back today but hopefully tommorow I will find something out. I'm really curious to what this is and why it happened..
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Old 09-18-2008, 12:56 PM   #14 (permalink)
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How many hours of labor is it for you guys to have your head gasket changed?
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Old 10-13-2008, 10:00 PM   #15 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bizzybearfigiblue View Post

i'm sorry but this is misinformation... blue smoke is NOT the same as white smoke...


Different colors of smoke and what they mean:
Blue = Oil
White = Water
Black = Gas
Technically, white smoke could also be ATF from a bad vacuum modulator in an auto tranny... but yes, other than that, the above is correct
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