I think my sister blew the headgaskets in her 94 V6. Help anyone?

[astronut1885]

Hey guys. I noticed the whole "server crash" thing, so I don't know if this is even going to post. My sister has a 94 V6. It's got dual exhaust and flows, and that's it. The other day the tensioner pulley blew up, and she like a moron drove the car for 30 minutes with no belt. When she finally parked it, it had gotten pretty hot. Yesterday, I put a new belt and tensioner on, and drove the car for a while. It seemed fine to me, and I drove it for about 45 minutes. Today she called me and said it was overheating bad. Water was spraying out of the overflow, and there was steam everywhere. The belt was still on, so I knew something was up. When I got home, the car was cool. I ran it, and just sitting there holding a 2k idle I was able to get it 1/2 way to overheating. I smelled the exhaust, and it reeked of coolant, and it looked like some was dripping from the tails. I know 3.8s love to blow headgaskets, and with all the overheating and now this, I assume that's what happened. My mechanic said the same when I told him what I had found. Anyone here have any experience with this? I'm a 5.0 guy, so I don't know much about the 3.8 little brother....

 

[232_slowness]

i never had a problem with that, of course i don't drive my car without a properly working belt for more than 20 seconds... 30 minutes? good god... I'd say take it in and have the mechanics fix it and check the engine in case of cracks.

 

[MustangLX-5.0]

It's normal for some condensation to drip from the tailpipe.How long does it take before it gets hot? Do you notice anything leaking externally? Check the oil.If there is condensation on the dipstick or the oil has a milky look then there is an internal coolant leak in one of the heads.Also check the coolant in the radiator for brown or black globs or excessive milkyness (Even the noticable oily color film on the surface,if excessive).All these are signs the gasket is leaking.And yes,'94 - '96 3.8's are notorious for leaking head gaskets.The Cylinder heads being made of aluminum easiliy warp if over heated.And especially the years noted.The heads were improperly machined at the factory.Which allowed coolant to get into certain areas around the gasket and cause pit marks.

Luckily I caught mine a month or so after getting it.It is a '96 and I bought it in 2000.It only had 61k miles at the time.

How many miles does it have on it? I know the 94's had a head gasket recall.You may be able to get it fixed for free....if this is the case.

 

[cobra232]

the head gaskets are blown for sure. no doubt about it

94-961/2 3.8 stangs are known for head gasket problems

it is an easy fix if you can do the work yourself

www.rpm-mustangs.com will have everything you need to fix the problem.

go with the Ford graphite head gaskets and you will need new head bolts as they are torque to yield and not reusable

 

[232_slowness]

note if the engine overheated enough the spark plugs could have been damaged as well, check them out

 

[orangej]

On my 95 v6 the belt shredded one time and I couldn't get the car to go anywhere. (Not that I wanted to). How in the world was she able to keep driving it w/o a belt? But, anyhow, good luck with the head gaskets!! It sucks, I know.

 

[dr0pt0pf0rd]

it is an easy fix if you can do the work yourself

your joking right? when was the last time you changed a head gasket?


btw... nice job stangnet with losing all the registrations from Jan-March... had to re-register...

 

[232_slowness]

Go get a qualified mechanic

 

[MustangLX-5.0]

Changing head gaskets aren't difficult.It's just time consuming...+ draining the coolant and oil are tedious things.I'll tear half my car apart and enjoy it in the process.Yet,when it comes to having to get jacks and jackstands then propping it all up and then having to dump all that crap fluid in seperate containers while having to lay cramped on my back,while getting bit by fire ants on my driveway.OH yeah,that's real big time fun!

Did I forget to mention you have to buy new headbolts everytime you take them out of the motor? Damn aluminum heads!

But if you have a friend that knows their way around a motor well,go for it.Save an awful lot of $$

 

[astronut1885]

I am the one who knows my way around a pushrod motor. I did a full H/C/I on my car with my friend/mechanic, and last winter I did a full lifter replacement and rocker swap myself. I have no doubt I can do the job, I just want to know what I am in for, and what needs to be done to make sure it all works when I put it together.