Attempting to diagnose a possible blown head gasket! Help!!

Aintezbeincheesy · Post by **Aintezbeincheesy** » 29 Sep 2017, 16:24

94 850T, 130k here. Been driving around for a while now with the temp gauge fluctuating between normal operating temp and just below the redline. Usually the rad fan kicks on and brings it back down, however now the temp no longer goes down. Luckily work is only a 5 minute drive for me, so overheating on my daily drive shouldn't be an issue. I have (not a horrid amount) white smoke coming from the exhaust. I've also discovered coolant coming from the lower passenger side of the radiator itself, only happening once the car is at operating temp. I'm torn between something to do with the coolant system somewhere (radiator itself??) and the head gasket. Or it could be something else entirely??? Looking for any suggestions here. My knowledge is sub par at best, and I don't want to throw myself down the rabbit-hole of endless repairs. I'd be happy to give more info, as I don't really know exactly what I'm looking for, but tend to be an assume the worst, hope for the best kinda guy.

Post by **wizechatmgr** » 29 Sep 2017, 16:34

Sounds like a bad radiator, potential thermostat and a potential head gasket.

When was the last time the cooling system was serviced?

Post by **wizechatmgr** » 29 Sep 2017, 16:38

Do you have a milkshake like concoction when you check the engine oil dipstick?

Aintezbeincheesy · Post by **Aintezbeincheesy** » 29 Sep 2017, 16:45

wizechatmgr wrote: ↑29 Sep 2017, 16:34 Sounds like a bad radiator, potential thermostat and a potential head gasket.

When was the last time the cooling system was serviced?

Honestly? I have no clue. I haven't had the car for that long. Only been running it regularly for the past month and a half or so. Given a solid set of instructions and list of tools I would need, usually I can service whatever minor stuff needs doing. I just wouldn't know where to begin.

Aintezbeincheesy · Post by **Aintezbeincheesy** » 29 Sep 2017, 16:49

wizechatmgr wrote: ↑29 Sep 2017, 16:38 Do you have a milkshake like concoction when you check the engine oil dipstick?

I do not. I saw a slight, very very very thin milky film on my filler cap, but from what I've read that could also just be condensation from my repeated 5 minute drives to work. The oil on the dipstick is nice and clear from what I can tell.

Post by **FLXC90** » 29 Sep 2017, 19:55

Does your coolant low light work properly? When the coolant gets low, it will behave this way.

The upper torque mount failing can allow the drivetrain to rotate in its mounts, straining the upper radiator hose neck. Cracking on the underside is a "normal" mode of failure. Check the mount rubber, replace if necessary, and your radiator.

Post by **erikv11** » 30 Sep 2017, 12:05

I agree with the comments about checking out the coolant system.

I would get ("rent") a combustion leak tester from the auto parts store and test for HG leaks in that direction. Sounds likely.

Milkshake oil is uncommon when these p80 head gaskets go, so don't take its absence as a sign the head gasket is OK.

Aintezbeincheesy · Post by **Aintezbeincheesy** » 30 Sep 2017, 14:11

Well, an update is in order. I must have JUST blown the gasket recently, or it only got worse recently. Not even 10 minutes ago when i got home from work I checked the dipstick and filler cap, and sure enough there was milkshake starting to develop on the dipstick. Are there any other areas that coolant and oil would mix? Or am I definitely looking at a head gasket failure here? As much of a pain in the a** as this job sounds like it's going to be, I'm thinking of tackling this one myself if that's what it is.. Could I get away with NOT planing the head? Seems like it's a staple in a head gasket replacement though. Crossing my fingers that there could be ANY other way for oil and coolant to mix.

Aintezbeincheesy · Post by **Aintezbeincheesy** » 30 Sep 2017, 14:12

FLXC90 wrote: ↑29 Sep 2017, 19:55 Does your coolant low light work properly? When the coolant gets low, it will behave this way.

The upper torque mount failing can allow the drivetrain to rotate in its mounts, straining the upper radiator hose neck. Cracking on the underside is a "normal" mode of failure. Check the mount rubber, replace if necessary, and your radiator.

Coolant light works fine! I'll take a look at that mount and see what I'm workin' with.

PeteB · Post by **PeteB** » 30 Sep 2017, 14:54

I was very surprised to find this, and that it sometimes works. I'd think
that with the stress of a turbo it would not hold up: