Headgasket?

[mikey719]

I was taking it for the first real drive since my injector went out, and i noticed that it started smoking...A lot. So my first thought was head gasket, I checked the coolent, and it was extremely low, my temp gauge doesnt work, but the plenum felt a lot hotter than normal, couldn't even hold my hand on it. It threw a code 13 and started running really rought, luckily the coolent temp gauge just came disconnected, and after i hooked it up it ran fine, I filled it up with coolent, was still smoking like CRAZY, got home and realized the injecter i just replace had popped out but luckily I was actually on my way back from the hardware store getting replacement screws for the injector cover, (drove with the injector cover off, not realizing it held the injector in) so after i fixed the injector, it made a huge difference in the amount of smoke pouring out of the back. it seems to be running fine, is still putting out some white smoke, checked plugs, the #1 did have a LITTLE white build up on it, but nothing real bad, and since then, it really hasn't used a noticable about of coolent. I did the test where you fill the coolent to the top of the cap and look for bubbles, there was a small amount of bubbles, but it kind of looked like it was just air escaping, BUT when I gave it gas, coolent would literally shoot a foot high. The one guy at advanced auto, who is usually pretty knowledgeable claims that is normal, but im not so sure about that. It doesnt seem like there is quite as much power, and gas mileage seems a little low, but with all the problems ive been having with this motor, there could be other causes for that. So do you guys think it is a head gasket? any opinions would be appriciated!

[NolimitZ32]

Go rent a block tester kit from Autozone or Advance, that will tell you for sure.

Seriously

[bartZ32tt]

Not sure what the correlation is between the injector popping out and the low coolant, but just cylinder compression test the engine to find out if your head gasket(s) is/are bad. You might have had 2 separate issues going on but this doesn't seem like a bad hg to me.

[mikey719]

Yeah, that had really nothing to do with it I guess, thats just when i noticed that I am an idiot and that the motor was pretty hot (gauge went out). In my past experience headgaskets cause a lot of havoc when it comes to driveablitly, ive noticed it does occasionally studder between 2500 and 3000, but it is full of broken clips all over. I literally need to change almost every injector connection, coil pack, CTS shakes loose, and who knows what else. It is definetly lacking power, but it really seems like that car is just temperamental, some days it will wanna get up and go, others you have to beg it to move. I am trying to find a running N/A motor now, so I can just throw that in, and rebuild the one in it so I have a reliable DD.

[mikey719]

The thing bothering me, where did that coolent go? My best guess is, maybe all that fuel POURING into that cylinder (I had to pull the plug and turn it over a few times because the cylinders was full up to the plug with gas) made it hard to run with the extra compression of a cylinder full of fuel, made the motor hotter than it normally gets lately since its winter and its just bein used to run to the store down the road, and the 5 minutes to work. Maybe the heat expansion is what made the crack in the gasket big enough to really burn some coolent? Any other theories? Sorry my posts are so long winded. Just tryin to be as detailed as I can.

[Ziggy1621]

If you don't have water in the oil or vise versa, I wouldn't think so, but test it like Nolimit said. As far as the fuel mileage and smoke. I'm guessing the injector isn't installed correctly. An injector should never pop out because there are cas screwed in hiding them down. My guess is your injector has an oring pinched or missing. It should have 2

[mikey719]

I did not have the metal piece that goes over the injector on because the screws were completely stripped out. I did not realize the metal piece on top is what held them down. I just don't understand how that much coolent can disappear! Then after words not burn any coolent, and there is no leaks, its just driving me nuts. I'm trying to get my compression retested right now.

[nissanfreak12]

How fast is it disappearing? It is possible the radiator cap is not sealing correctly, it will leak out that way. Even if its new, check it. You also could have gunk in the system and causing it to get under the seal at the cap, and it will turn to steam if there is air in the system. Therefor, disappear.

You could also have a small leak in one of the water lines or in the radiator. It could be spraying in a way that it evaporates before you can notice the leak. Its happened to me before. All this will cause your car to run hot and overheat.

Need to get the injector strap fixed, it needs to stay down. We don't need another Z in a fire.

[mikey719]

Yea I got the injector strap on, I only drove it the couple miles to the hardware store to get replacement screws, So that's all settled. Its really using barely any coolant. Maybe every couple hundred miles it will go down an inch, maybe even less. But there is white smoke out of the pipes, that doesn't seem to disappear like when its just condensation. If I let it idle for a few minutes, and rev it up, it lets out a nice little puff of smoke. I don't know what else would burn white, although when the injector popped out and fuel was pouring in, it was thick white smoke, even tho everyone says excessive fuel will cause dark smoke. Maybe its just running rich for some reason? I will do the 02 test tomorrow and see if it looks normal. Also, it is really getting sluggish. When I get on the highway you have press the gas waaaay harder than before to get up to speed. but other than that, the motor sounds alright, not missing at all, definitely still drivable, just a lot less fun. I'm not one to normally use this kind of thing, but if it is a headgasket problem, it would seem to be a very small crack, would that head gasket sealer you put in the radiator be worth a shot? I'm just nervous about that stuff because i feel like it would just gum up everything else it contacts. Its just Ive had to put lots of money into this car at least once a month, and at this rate, ill be living in it soon, lol.

[NolimitZ32]

Go rent a block tester kit from Autozone or Advance, that will tell you for sure.

Seriously

DUDE SERIOUSLY, YOU ASK FOR ADVICE AND THEN IGNORE IT. This is $30 to rent (which you get back when you return it) and it will tell you 100% whether there is a HG issue or not.

[mikey719]

Trust me, I did not ignore it, my buddy lives about 5 blocks away and has a compression tester. He has just been working every time i've been off. But i will pick one up if I cant get it soon from him.

[NolimitZ32]

Go rent a block tester kit from Autozone or Advance, that will tell you for sure.

.

Not a compression tester, a block tester, 2 totally different things. Compression test can lie, a block tester never lies.

[mikey719]

Oh, okay. How does one of those work exactly?

[NolimitZ32]

http://bit.ly/Y3lRJq