Is my head gasket blown...? Calling all Gear-heads! ;-)

SavageUrge · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 2:17 pm

I sure hope not, but there has been a horrendous burning smell for about a month now after I park it in the garage. I crawled under there to change the oil and found that oil was blown onto the exhaust manifold from somewhere up around the valve cover. I'm hoping it's a valve cover personally, just because of cost of replacement, but could it be the head gasket? Are there tell-tale signs that the head gasket is blown? 141K+ miles. Thanks!

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 2:25 pm

Is it still running OK?
Are you loosing any coolant?
Really doubt its a head gasket more than likely valve cover

Budke · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 2:25 pm

Check for two things, oil in the coolant and coolant in the oil.

Sent using the force

ando · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 3:10 pm

If you take the oil filler cap off the top of the engine, is there any sign of a creamy milky goo around the filler neck and cap ? (sure sign of coolant in the oil :wink:

)

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 4:06 pm

ando wrote:

If you take the oil filler cap off the top of the engine, is there any sign of a creamy milky goo around the filler neck and cap ? (sure sign of coolant in the oil :wink:

)

here we go, get that subject started again :roll:

This will bring out all of those who find condensation in the fill tubes and think they have an issue

SavageUrge · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 8:22 pm

Thanks for the replies! To answer your questions, yes, the Jeep is running just fine and no, there isn't any signs of milky oil or coolant leaks. I was however, about a quart low on oil since it was blowing out onto the ex/man for about the last 2500 miles :shock:

@Aldo: Milky goo on the oil filler cap is not a sign of coolant intrusion. It is simply a sign of condensation due to low operating temps caused by short trips. I've had this before, and it's not a huge deal.

ando · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 1:31 am

Well it was on my Mitsubushi off roader ... also over pressure in the cooling system!

But fair enough, thats obviously not the case here ... I'll shut up now

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 12:54 pm

Go to Napa and buy a block test kit,about $50,and follow the instructions.Fast and simple to check for combustable gasses in the cooling system that is a sure sign of gasket/head trouble.

SavageUrge · **Posted:** Fri May 25, 2012 3:53 pm

Thank you TJ. It's in the shop now and I'm awaiting the response from them. I do believe it is a valve cover gasket as there is no coolant to be seen and since I was in the process of changing the oil when I spotted it, I can say with confidence that there is no coolant in the oil. :-D

SavageUrge · **Posted:** Sun May 27, 2012 12:30 am

Turns out it was just the valve cover gasket! :-)

Had them both replaced and all is well again :-)

Is my head gasket blown...? Calling all Gear-heads! ;-)

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