by "K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
Published 10/12/2017 at 14:57
by "K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
Published 10/12/2017 at 14:57
Tags: bad things
STARS: 4
Pretty damn sure I’m about to say I own two boosted cars with bad head gaskets now: one project and a daily driver....
My Mustang and I just made it past 19,000 miles, and recently I noticed intermittently on cold starts that the idle is a bit rough for a few seconds, and there’s a sweet smell of maple syrup coming from the exhaust that goes away after the idle smooths out and I drive about a block. Coolant is getting in the combustion chamber.
Some of my mods have been keeping the engine from running hot, ironically. My lower temp thermostat and intercooler that would keep the cylinder head between 160-175F on average are keeping the car at 180-195F; the latter being where it would sit if stock. Took it to the dealer this afternoon, and the engine tech is gone until Monday. This is alright because I need the car to get to class and work until then, but bad because I’m driving on assumed borrowed time where things could get worse.
As such, I gonna be driving as little and lightly we possible. Staying as far out of boost as best as I can and tuning back to stock.
I’d normally say “fuck me all the way to Tuesday”, but getting broken up and self-destructive over this won’t get me anywhere. Even if my Mustang is the only thing that’s brought me more consistent happiness than people (parents not included), and has been therapeutic for my with many solitary drives. I’m gonna endure this for as long as I can. I bought a gallon of coolant to get me to Monday. I hope my dream car can make it past this.
"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
10/12/2017 at 15:03, STARS: 0
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
I know exactly how this feels. I feel really bad for you man. Hopefully it’s all good.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
10/12/2017 at 15:04, STARS: 0
You gotta take these things in stride. My M3 ate a throttle position actuator when I was unemployed. A $2400 repair really wasn’t what I wanted while having no income. The M3 has always brought me joy, especially in dark times, so things like that come up, you deal with them, and move on. It’s not the end of the world.
"RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht" (ramblininexile)
10/12/2017 at 15:14, STARS: 0
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
10/12/2017 at 15:16, STARS: 1
I’m certainly no expert, but I think it sounds more like an external coolant leak than it getting into the cylinders. I’d think if it was the HG you’d see white smoke and I don’t think you’d smell the antifreeze.
That doesn’t explain the bad idle at startup, but maybe it’s sucking in air through the leak and not idling right?
"BeaterGT" (beatergt)
10/12/2017 at 15:17, STARS: 0
Every car has its issues. And you already have a plan to take care of it, so carry on my friend (and try not to search classifieds for GTs).
"vicali" (vicali)
10/12/2017 at 15:18, STARS: 0
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/headgasket-luck-1819320667
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
10/12/2017 at 15:21, STARS: 0
Man, that sucks. I used to have a ’94 Cougar (NA), and I had to replace the HGs when they popped. The way I found out was when I went to top off the coolant and smelled exhaust fumes in the recovery tank.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
10/12/2017 at 15:23, STARS: 1
I sorta kinda got asked by my wife to help my nephew buy a car. He wanted a Subaru. I told him older higher-mileage Subarus can have headgasket problems and suggested going for a 2011 or newer. They weren’t really in his budget, so he looked at other options, but ended up buying a 2009 Forester with close to 100k miles.
My wife and her sister just visited this nephew, and before they left town, my wife mentioned that the nephew’s car was in the shop with some kind of big repair, like $2000, “some kind of gasket or something?”
It was, in fact, a headgasket. The dealer is paying to fix it though. Not sure how it works in Utah, but here in Wisconsin when you buy a used car from a dealer, if a major mechanical issue comes up in the first 30 days and it wasn’t disclosed on the window sticker, the dealer has to fix it. I assume other states have similar protections.
Are you in the warranty?
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/12/2017 at 15:24, STARS: 0
It’s been a year 19,000 miles on a new and lightly modified car for me.
"diplodicus" (diplodicus)
10/12/2017 at 15:25, STARS: 0
Warranty doesn’t cover the headgasket? My mechanic confirmed today that my e30 needs a headgasket. It will be at least another week before I’ve got it, and $1700 assuming the head is still ok.
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/12/2017 at 15:27, STARS: 0
I see white smoke (but not a cloud of it), and I can think of another reason for a rough idle at cold start combined with sweet smell.
"vicali" (vicali)
10/12/2017 at 15:27, STARS: 0
Shhhh, my 08 Forester will hear you..
"EL_ULY" (uly)
10/12/2017 at 15:28, STARS: 0
powertrain warranty?
"vondon302" (vondon302)
10/12/2017 at 15:28, STARS: 0
Well that sucks. Hope everything works out. Here watch this it’s been inspiring me lately to stay positive.
It’s also made me make my bed every morning something I haven’t done since I lived at home.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
10/12/2017 at 15:28, STARS: 0
Whoops, misread that. Thought you smelled it from the cabin.
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/12/2017 at 15:28, STARS: 1
I did both....The latter for masochist giggles
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/12/2017 at 15:29, STARS: 0
I’m modified, lightly though. We’ll see what happens, hoping for the best.
"Arrivederci" (arrividerci)
10/12/2017 at 15:29, STARS: 0
I may be feeling your pain. When I popped the hood a couple weeks ago to install some LED turn signals in the S3, I noticed my expansion tank was on MIN. About two months prior I had gotten a low coolant warning after going over an interchange in a spirited fashion, so I topped it up and Googled what the problem might be. Apparently a lot of these cars had air bubbles from the factory in the cooling system, so it wasn’t surprising to get a low warning. Just mix some coolant 50/50 with water and top up.
But then it happened again a few days ago. Now I’m a little worried, so I topped it up again and will be taking a picture of the expansion tank every week. If it eats the coolant again, off to the Audi dealer I go.
Your problem could be as simple as an air bubble in the system that was just purged - since you topped it up, keep an eye on it to see if it drops again. With only 19k on the clock, you should still be under warranty too.
"diplodicus" (diplodicus)
10/12/2017 at 15:36, STARS: 0
I believe they have to prove your mods directly caused the failure in order to charge you. Isn’t it the same gasket used in the RS? Those have also been blowing.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
10/12/2017 at 15:39, STARS: 1
After I kick my unruly wannabe drug lord tenant out of my house I have to come visit you, man!
As for your dream car, I think it can get past this. Cars are more resilient than you think. Be careful and you should be okay. :) Your blue partner in crime shall persist!
"DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back" (karsonkinja)
10/12/2017 at 15:45, STARS: 0
I’d normally say “fuck me all the way to Tuesday”, but getting broken up and self-destructive over this won’t get me anywhere.
Keep this attitude, man. I have to almost chant this at myself sometimes...even when little things go wrong. There’s always an end to the current situation that one is in. One day at a time, friend.
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/12/2017 at 15:47, STARS: 0
They do, I’m not sure if they will though. The motor isn’t that far off from the RS, but there haven’t been many Boostang head gasket failures. I think I’m the third to report it on the forum.
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/12/2017 at 15:53, STARS: 0
But I’m tuned...That’s the difference. My dealer is somewhat mod friendly, so I have hope.
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/12/2017 at 15:54, STARS: 1
I’m positive it isn’t, but there’s not much I can do about it myself.
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/12/2017 at 15:55, STARS: 0
We’ll see how far that warranty at covers my mods. The dealer is somewhat mod friendly...
"Arrivederci" (arrividerci)
10/12/2017 at 16:00, STARS: 1
Have they looked at your car previously while it has been tuned? Is there a way to flash back to stock before you have them look at it?
In the VAG world, any car detected with a tune gets the dreaded TD1 status, which basically voids powertrain coverage and make it harder to get anything covered. I hope Ford is friendlier.
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/12/2017 at 16:01, STARS: 0
My car has always gone in for service tuned with no problems. That’s how the dealer is. I can flash back to stock but that’s it.
"BeaterGT" (beatergt)
10/12/2017 at 16:08, STARS: 0
I thought majority of the head gasket problems were pre-2005. Take care of her and she’ll reward you!
"Arrivederci" (arrividerci)
10/12/2017 at 16:15, STARS: 0
If they haven’t had a reason to read your ECU during the service trips you might want to try and flash back to the stock tune. That said, if they ask if you’ve ever been tuned, I wouldn’t lie.
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/12/2017 at 16:25, STARS: 0
Even if I lied, I’m a terrible liar.
"JGrabowMSt" (jgrabowmst)
10/12/2017 at 16:28, STARS: 2
How does the oil look though? Milkshakey?
"I Will Always Be The Honey Badger" (iwillalwaysbethehoneybadger)
10/12/2017 at 16:29, STARS: 0
Never mod under warranty if you aren’t willing to pay the price. All you can do is cross your fingers and be really, really, nice to the dealer.
"Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner" (gavinharter30)
10/12/2017 at 16:38, STARS: 0
Welcome to the club
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
10/12/2017 at 16:42, STARS: 2
This. Are the boys in the yard?
Joking aside, what does the oil look like? Is there coolant that runs through the intake anywhere?
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/12/2017 at 17:11, STARS: 0
Lemme look.
"Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish" (mrfist)
10/12/2017 at 17:26, STARS: 0
Now you’ve got me checking my coolant.. What mods are you running right now?
"vicali" (vicali)
10/12/2017 at 17:32, STARS: 1
No worries, she’s part of the family.
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/12/2017 at 17:44, STARS: 0
It looks just like regular oil on a dipstick. No sign of milkshake at all.
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/12/2017 at 17:45, STARS: 0
The oil looks just like oil would regularly on a dipstick. No signs of milkshake. Strange.
I don’t know if there are any coolant lines on the intake. I’ll look further.
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/12/2017 at 17:48, STARS: 1
Catch can, intercooler, catback exhaust, 160F thermostat, and a 93 octane tune by Livernois
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
10/12/2017 at 17:49, STARS: 0
Could also be a coolant passage somewhere. I’m unfamiliar with the coolant routing in the EB engine. But it doesn’t scream head gasket leak to me.
"S65" (granthp)
10/12/2017 at 17:50, STARS: 0
How much power does yours make over a stock EB?
"Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish" (mrfist)
10/12/2017 at 18:33, STARS: 0
Ok so nothing too crazy. I would just take the tune off if possible, I caught some shit from the dealer for a tune when I had the FiST.
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/12/2017 at 18:33, STARS: 0
I make around 360-370hp compared to the stock 310hp.
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/12/2017 at 18:35, STARS: 0
There was no snot or milkshake on the inside of the oil cap as well. I’ll look for leaks tomorrow.
"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/12/2017 at 18:51, STARS: 0
I’ve never gotten any shit other than coming in 6 times in a month to fix a noise in the suspension. They couldn’t find it and the service manager refused to work on just the suspension. I went home and later found that it was a loose 15mm caliper bolt lol.
My regular service advisor drives a full turboback Cobb tuned FiST, and my family is good friends with the owners of the dealer, so I do have some theoretical leeway/lifeline; but idk how far that’ll go. So far my quick sleuthing hasn’t pointed at a bad headgasket but there’s gotta be a leak somewhere.
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
10/12/2017 at 18:53, STARS: 0
Cruising into work this morning and the coolant light starts blinking red at me, it’s an ‘09 S8 with 55k miles. Check temp, and it’s okay so I pull off the expressway and stop on a side street, by now the light has went off, so I pop the hood and don’t see coolant in the reservoir bottle so I carefully open the cap, and see there is some coolant in there. But it’s below the min mark. That’s no good. Make my way to the auto parts store and buy a premixed gallon and top it off. Kind of a sinking feeling, so we will see how the level goes over the next few days. Good times for sure.
"Wagon Guy drives a Boostang" (gimmeboost)
10/12/2017 at 22:57, STARS: 0
I’m going to echo others.
1. Flash the computer back to stock, now, not later, so you drive on it that way over the weekend.
2. Stay out of boost as much as possible until Monday.
3. Be honest about the mods. No need to pull the aftermarket parts, they would in no way be related to a headgasket issue.