head gasket?

[302fordracer]

I have been fighting an overheating issue and I did some testing today looking for the problem..I bought a craftsman infrared temperature gun and took the temperature at the header flanges. I made sure to keep my hand very steady and took the temperature at the same spot for each cylinder...my results; cylinder 1 ran (after car reached full operating temperature) around 230-235 degrees while every other cylinder was around 310-315...do you think that this indicates a blown head gasket? and could this be the source of my overheating even if I am NOT losing coolant?

 

[302fordracer]

No one has any input???

 

[fastford91]

if its a head gasket there should be white smoke coming out the exhaust and a sweet smell depending on how big it is! i dont know anything about the tool you bought!

 

[302fordracer]

that would be if i were burning coolant but i am curious because i know that you don't necessarily lose coolant with a bad head gasket.

 

[rockytoohot]

Does your cooling system pressurize very quickly after you start the engine? Do you see a never ending stream of small bubbles coming up through the rad with the cap off? These are two indicators of a blown head gasket and are very easy to check.

 

[parchisi]

I personally have never heard of the test that you ran, so I'm not saying that it isn't legit. But I'd just run a compression test. If that checks out ok, I'd start lookin' elsewhere.

 

[ninety15.0]

I understand where you are coming from with this test. I think that if there were a HG problem....coolant in that cylinder would cause lower temps. Especially considering the large difference in temperature between that cylinder and the rest....not to mention that temperature is just above a normal coolant temp. I would do a comp check and leak down test. Hopefully those will tell you the rest of the story. Good luck

 

[302fordracer]

I don't have the necessary equipment for further testing but it goes in thursday to my trusted mechanic...hopefully he will be certain about it before I lay down the time and money on this project..

 

[PUNISHER RACING]

Have you tried a thermostat maybe its sticking ,you need to pressure test the cylinders to find out if you have a bad gasket.

 

[302fordracer]

everything in the cooling system is brand new...new thermostat new radiator new fan fresh coolant and oil...I'm pretty sure it needs a gaket but I want to be positive...

 

[302fordracer]

if anyone has a set of gt40 irons now is the time for me to do that upgrade...lol

 

[Flavadave4]

Was you fan running during this test?

 

[302fordracer]

yep..