If water was leaking into the combustion chamber, wouldn't it clean the carbon off of the piston? I am just trying to determine if I have a leaking head gasket or not.

 

If you have a blown h/g at a point were coolant enters the combustion chamber, you will have white smoke coming from the muffler...

Not sure about the cleaning of the pistons....maybe over time it would

 

- "If water", then yes. Coolant = 50% Glycol, end result not clean.

Coolant level drops:
- leak
- thermostat jammed; boiling
- other circ problems; boiling

 

Well it does clean the carbon off but doesnt clean the piston there will be a dark colored sludge on top of it from the burnt up sugars in the antifreeze.Where like wiking said if it was water the top of the piston would be pretty darn clean.

I dont think you could tell throguh the spark plug hole in a VE unless you had one of those lil camera things like they use during operations or for drain systems.

Why do you think you have a leaking head gasket? you oculd take it to a shop and they pressure test the system to see if there is any leaks.

 

How about the plugs, would they show any signs of burning water? Plugs all look fine, no signs of any problems there. I occassionally have a little smoke out of the tail pipe at idle. At the time I had a couple of broken exhaust studs and numerous exhaust leaks as well.

 

better yet, take the cap off of your fluid reservoir, put your mouth on it, make a seal, and blow.

You'll know if you have a leak.

when you run out of breath, move. The fluid will come rushing back at you.

BTW: what indications are you getting that made you suspect a head gasket? Is it because you're losing coolant, you see smoke, or you just happen to have some really shiny piston heads?

 

plugs woudl have a white look to them or small areas of them cleaned off.

If you are going to put your mouth near your rad at least make some sort of cover with a hose coming out of it since antifreeze is not good for you :P plus i dont find it tastes very good.

 

That's why I said move. But i believe the rad hose is just about the right size to shove in the hole, if you have a spare piece lying around

 

Be sure the engine is cold, remove the radiator cap, make sure the coolant is topped off, then turn on the engine. If you notice some bubbling or if there is coolant coming out, chances are its leaking into the combustion chamber. Also, a compression check should tell you right away if your headgasket is blown.

 

There's only really 2 ways of testing this properly. Blowing through the overflow jug wilol sometimes work, BUT not always. As some cracks take quite the pressure to blow through. As the engine heats up the crack will open.

1. Pressure test the cylinders, one at a time, with a compression tester through the spark plug holes. Screw the tester into the hole, turn the engine over a couple times and read the guage. Continue with the other cyls. If you have one dead hole there's a crack either in the Head gasket or in the head. When you pressure testing the cyls, it's always a good idea to do it when the engine is warm, as cold readings will not always be acurate.

2. Pressure test the collant system with a pressure tester that clamps to the rad cap, pump up to a decent pressure and wait, if it drops, you have a crack or hole somewhere.

If your burning coollant in your cyls your plugs will be white in color. And your exhaustwill also be white in color.