SOHC 1990

[night240]

Well...my friend is selling his Hatchback, but I'm about to buy it. My friend car problem is still an sohc has recently had the timing chain and guides replaced. headgasket was replaced when the stock one went out less that 100miles ago. there is a slight problem with the car still. coolant is still leaking into the crank case. i cant seem to figure out from where or how. and as much as it pains me to do so i no longer have the patience for the car and must part with her. it still pulls strong as **** more so than it did prior to the headgasket blowing. I would like to know if this is an easy fix? I thought I ask help online before buying the car.

-sunohara

[Vegascorbin]

DO NOT BUY THIS CAR WITHOUT A COMPRESSION CHECK!!!!!!!!

If the head gasket was just done and there is still coolent in the oil then either the head gasket job was done wrong or you have a cracked block.

Other posability is the timing chain has worn through to the water pump in the cover.

If compression / leakdown test is ok then it probably is the timing cover. Find out hte cost of a new one (if you can find it) and factor that into the price.

[night240]

DO NOT BUY THIS CAR WITHOUT A COMPRESSION CHECK!!!!!!!!

If the head gasket was just done and there is still coolent in the oil then either the head gasket job was done wrong or you have a cracked block.

Other posability is the timing chain has worn through to the water pump in the cover.

If compression / leakdown test is ok then it probably is the timing cover. Find out hte cost of a new one (if you can find it) and factor that into the price.

ah thanks.

[Jovanni]

I dont know, these is a sequence that needs to be followed on how to tighten a head gasket. You start from the middle bolts and work your way out of the cyclinder head. Then you do it again with more ft-lb's. If its too tight, then the gasket can get damaged and leak anti-freeze. but if its too loose, it will more than likely leak anti-freeze as well.

[Nismo240sxFranks]

i know what it is on the dot, u said someone replaced the timeing chain and everything, well when they tok that front timeing cover off, they didnt seal it good enough around the part of the water pump were it runs into the block threw the side of the cover. thats most likly why u were gettin colent into ur crankcase

[gumby74]

Either that or the head itself was not "trued" prior to assembly.Hopefully though, it is just the cover seeping.

[mysterymojo8]

I have the same problem with coolant leaking in the motor. I read up about possible problems and like Vegascorbin said the timing chain can wear through the timing cover. First i removed the timing cover and found that the guide had been completely worn away and the timing chain was wearing against the cover, but it had not worn through yet. Then I took of the head, and as Jovanni said there is an order to tightening the bolts as well as loosening them (start from the outside and work your way to the middle). when I got the head off, I could see visually on the gasket where the coolant had leaked into the combustion chamber. Then I did a feeler gauge test on the head and found it was too warped to be repaired. Who ever worked on the head last on my car most likely did not torque down the bolts properly and it was run too long after the head was reinstalled and before I got to the problem. A compression test is definitely a good idea.

[WWJD]

I say buy it if the car (body) is straight, tell your boy you'll give him $500. get another SOHC motor that's in good shape slap it in there and go beat on it. I said SOHC cause every1 doesnt want them. I know a buddy that just sold his motor, radiator... everything that wasn't needed 4 a DOHC swap he did for $100. so you'll still get the better deal IMO