So I fear the worst, my head gasket is cracked and I don't know how. I've got a 1999 10th AE, turbocharged with 50,000 miles and this afternoon I notice a film of oily residue in the coolant reservoir. So I initially checked the dipstick and it had no coolant and was still on the F mark after 3000 miles, replaced the engine oil, noted no coolant whatsoever. So finally, I did a compression check and this is what I discovered!

190 PSI No.1 Cylinder.
185 PSI No.2 Cylinder.
185 PSI No.3 Cylinder.
190 PSI No.4 Cylinder.

No noticable changes in the spark plugs and my car isn't overheating, the only thing I notice is liquid splashing sound from the back of the firewall when I rev the car up. And of course that film of oil, how the **** did this happen? No white smoke or foaming under the valve cover...

If it isn't anything too critical. I am just going to wait till the 60,000 mark. Replace the head gasket, send the head off for a machining, and install a new timing belt, water pump, all that good stuff. I am though baffled at this oil in my coolant system...

 

oil and coolant make a thick creamy brownish milkshake.

 

Well I realized what was causing the gurgling splashing sound was air pockets in the cooling system. I lost quite a bit of coolant when I was reinstalling the turbo and manifold. Hmm...

You know what, I need to flush the entire system out. I may just be stressing over minute details.

 

Water wetter leaves a blackish residue unless you only use 1/4th bottle with a stock radiator.

 

I wonder if it is the result of using GM-Dexcool...

 

Oh huzzah I didn't think I had a blown head gasket. It was the water wetter. Yay!

 

Wouldn't it suck if it was a cracked head? But most certainly that wouldn't be the case. Anyway if it is a head gasket leak what do know is it must be a pinhole size leak, because my compression is fine, no funny smells, my coolant holds pressure... It's got 50,000 miles, so at 60,000 i'll tackle all the big maintenance issues. Transmission oil replacement, transmission boot replacement, differential oil replacement, turret oil replacement, coolant flush, now coolant hoses, brake overhaul and bleeding, clutch line replacement. Timing Belt and water pump replacement, and most importantly, HEAD GASKET and top-end machining.

Does anybody know of a good aftermarket vender that sales a 99-2000 head gasket that effectively lowers the compression ratio?

 

Ethylene glycol (Dexcool) is incompatible with propylene glycol even in very small amounts, so when you change to Dexcool you have to flush your system thoroughly. And you must never let the Dexcool level get low because it will cause sludging in your cooling system. There are very specific warnings about that in their literature. GM has service bulletins out about it as well. Air in cooling system + Dexcool = problems. There's plenty on the interwebz about it.

Edit: I'll stick to the green stuff, thanks.

Here's some info:http://www.sancarlosradiator.com/dex-cool.htm

 

Wow! I did not know that...Time to switch back to the green stuff, and by the way..can I add purple coloring to that? Cause i'm a fan of 'dat Purple Drank!

 

+1 on Dexcool issues.

Read up on incompatibility with regular green stuff. IIRC when mixed it breaks down over time and eats aluminum.

 

dexcool = fail. it has killed many a GM engine which would have run just fine with regular old coolant.