Seeping head gasket / pushing coolant
#1
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Thread Starter
Seeping head gasket / pushing coolant
Problem/symptoms:
Combustion gases seeping through head gasket into cooling system. Air displacing coolant in system, causing coolant to be pushed into overflow reservoir. Bubbles can be seen in overflow reservoir when engine is running.
results were positive. I didn’t even need to use a vacuum as air in radiator was forced through the detector.
Previously, I noticed that the coolant in the overflow reservoir would go above the Max mark, about halfway up the reservoir, then go back down. **If you notice this then get it checked out before the leak gets worse!** As the leak got worse, more coolant would be pushed into the overflow reservoir where it would top off and spill onto the pulleys while driving, causing them to squeak.
No visible leaks. No oil in coolant or vice versa. No white smoke in exhaust. Air must be seeping through the head gasket upon the compression stroke but no coolant is being sucked in upon the vacuum stroke as the leak hole is probably acting like a one way check valve.
Car has 160k miles with no service records (bought car at 130k miles from a private dealer, had 1 previous owner).
Fix:
Replace head gasket.
Combustion gases seeping through head gasket into cooling system. Air displacing coolant in system, causing coolant to be pushed into overflow reservoir. Bubbles can be seen in overflow reservoir when engine is running.
results were positive. I didn’t even need to use a vacuum as air in radiator was forced through the detector.
Previously, I noticed that the coolant in the overflow reservoir would go above the Max mark, about halfway up the reservoir, then go back down. **If you notice this then get it checked out before the leak gets worse!** As the leak got worse, more coolant would be pushed into the overflow reservoir where it would top off and spill onto the pulleys while driving, causing them to squeak.
No visible leaks. No oil in coolant or vice versa. No white smoke in exhaust. Air must be seeping through the head gasket upon the compression stroke but no coolant is being sucked in upon the vacuum stroke as the leak hole is probably acting like a one way check valve.
Car has 160k miles with no service records (bought car at 130k miles from a private dealer, had 1 previous owner).
Fix:
Replace head gasket.
![Frown](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif)
#7
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Thread Starter
I think I'll wait until the head is the point of restriction before jumping on that. Like after a turbo upgrade, uppipe or intake manifold.
![Wish](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/wish.gif)
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#8
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Thread Starter
I'm starting to suspect that the turbo housing is cracked and leaking coolant. Notice the exhaust inlet is sooty but the outlet looks white. That's about where the coolant flows through the turbo.
Another clue is that there's a hairline crack near the middle (barely seen in the last pic at 3 o'clock to the right of the turbine).
What do you guys think?
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0785.jpg)
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0783.jpg)
Another clue is that there's a hairline crack near the middle (barely seen in the last pic at 3 o'clock to the right of the turbine).
What do you guys think?
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0785.jpg)
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0783.jpg)
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0797-1.jpg)
#9
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Thread Starter
The head gaskets don't look too bad. The material is coming off the steel and there seems to be some blow by between the layers.
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0782.jpg)
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0781.jpg)
The piston on the right seems to have a clean spot.
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0795.jpg)
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0791.jpg)
The valves for that piston seem to be cleaner than the rest too.
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0809.jpg)
Here's a bonus shot of the crank and what looks like an oil pump chain.
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0782.jpg)
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0781.jpg)
The piston on the right seems to have a clean spot.
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0795.jpg)
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0791.jpg)
The valves for that piston seem to be cleaner than the rest too.
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0809.jpg)
Here's a bonus shot of the crank and what looks like an oil pump chain.
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0807.jpg)
#10
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Thread Starter
It would make sense if the turbo housing is cracked as I did previously have a cracked downpipe. Major vibrations due to a bad CV joint and no flex in the exhaust was a recipe for disaster.
![Doh](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/doh.gif)
#12
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Thread Starter
Crack kills.
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0813.jpg)
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0813-2.jpg)
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0814.jpg)
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0814-2.jpg)
Not sure how long the turbo housing was cracked but I am spooling up much more quickly now with my new turbo.
Edit:
First post: "Problem: Combustion gases seeping through turbo housing into cooling system... Fix: Replace turbo housing"
Thread title: Seeping turbo housing / pushing coolant
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0813.jpg)
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0813-2.jpg)
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0814.jpg)
![](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/misternamster/RDX/RDX-0814-2.jpg)
Not sure how long the turbo housing was cracked but I am spooling up much more quickly now with my new turbo.
Edit:
First post: "Problem: Combustion gases seeping through turbo housing into cooling system... Fix: Replace turbo housing"
Thread title: Seeping turbo housing / pushing coolant
Last edited by InfamousJamous; 04-20-2012 at 07:28 PM.
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