Blown Head Gasket......???

[cjuni]

What would be the best way to check if you have a blown head gasket???

OH...... I checked to see if the oil was mixin w/antifreeze...nothing.

 

[ralphy1798]

Does it over heat? Thats one for sure way to tell.

 

[03DOHC]

Pull all your plugs and do a compression test. Blown head gaskets aren't as common on 4.6s as they are on 5.0s.

Why do you think you have a blown head gasket?

 

[Power Trip]

Compression tests can be very misleading sometimes. CHeck the oil of course, look for smoke coming out the exhaust(no brainer). Also, run the car and pop the radiator cap off and watch the coolant. Look for bubbling.

 

[GodStang]

on my cobra wew ran all the blown head gasket tests and it tested positive on all of them. We where almost positive that it was a blown head gasket till we got it apart to see 8 melted pistons, 2 damaged cyclinder walls, and a busted head. The Head gasket was still in perfect shape.

 

[Shadowgray03]

on my cobra wew ran all the blown head gasket tests and it tested positive on all of them. We where almost positive that it was a blown head gasket till we got it apart to see 8 melted pistons, 2 damaged cyclinder walls, and a busted head. The Head gasket was still in perfect shape.

I had head damage on my blown motor as well but head gasket was in tact.

 

[caveman6666]

FWIW, if they blow externally it can go unnoticed for a long time with no symptoms.

 

[FireRed04Vert]

Leak the motor. Listen to where the air is going. If it's going to an adjacent cylinder or radiator, then I would suspect the head gasket. If it's going to the crankcase, I would be very worried. But and competent performance shop can leak it for you if you don't have the tools and compressor. It's the best test I know of for checking the seal of your motor. If it tests good...then you're probably fine.

By the way, I would leak it cold and hot both.