(B18C1) head gasket replacement? DIY? Dealer?

[Josie]

Hi all;

Pretty sure my head gasket is gone on my GSR 🙁 🙁 ! I was driving last night, came to stop light, and saw smoke suddenly coming up from under the hood. There was NO over heat on the gauge but I shut it off right away. Smoke stopped quickly after. So since it was almost dark, I had it towed to my house, and let it sit for the night and went out to take a look this morning.

Now there had been some seepage from the head gasket for a few months (oil) and I always checked to make sure oil was topped up. Definitely didn’t think was the cause from last night. And I saw rad fluid way up high (all on the rad-fan shroud and up near the rad cap.) so I thought it might be a loose clamp or a cracked hose. I opened the cap on the radiator and it was all topped up. Lots of fluid in the reservoir too. I obviously didn’t loose much coolant.

Well I cleaned the area all up with a rag and looked it over. no drips from the night before on the ground, I never had drips of rad fluid before either.

So, I started the car. let it idle for about 2 minutes and looked around the rad cap area looking for the leak. When POOF! Saw there was fluid seeping out from the head gasket almost immediately, (front passenger side corner where the seepage was before). Not sure if was oil or rad fluid (or both) but it was a definite steady stream that would not last long if I kept running! I killed the engine right away. Came inside and started looking at parts needed, tools needed, cost and time for the head gsasket

Knowing my area, the limited places that carry parts for my car, and the fact the Eric would suggest dealer parts 😛 I called the dealer and they quoted me $750 for parts alone plus 12% tax.:ohmy: That said, that’s for the Head gasket, water pump, timing belt (which needed to be done soon anyway) and other miscellaneous parts I guess.

I asked for a labor quote too which they said 8 shop hours @ $130 per hour so price is just under $2000 (CAD) for parts and labor to have the dealer fix these issues.

SO that said, I am wondering:

1) Is my diagnosis right as this being the head gasket?
2) Is the dealer knocking some hours off the clock (8 hours was the quote) for the fact that the timing belt replacement would be easily done since they are taking the head off regardless?
3) Do you think anything else might be toast or do you think I caught this in time to save the engine?
4) Noting that I don’t have an indoor place to work, is this something a novice could attempt to do over a weekend or two?
5)I am looking at my project truck which for about another $500 I bet could be my new DD for now. haha
6 )Is it worth getting the dealer labor or should I buy the parts and find a cheaper place to do the work?

Thoughts? suggestions? ideas? Comments? I do like my GSR a lot and I am going to get it fixed. (I’d have to change my ETCG username if I got rid of her LOL) Just want to know if this is a good a time and job as any to jump up and dig into something more than general maintenance. Or could I end up doing for more damage than good making it a DIY from hell?. Something tells me my 1970 Chevy C10 is a bit more forgiving for newbies like me 😛

thanks in advance everyone. Love this site and all the great advice I get here.

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[Josie]

Just a quick update to this was I ended up changing the radiator and top hose, new Fluid and cleaned out the over flow hose (it was gouped pretty bad. I did that and no smoke or leaks. The oil still seeps out from the head but that has been doing that for a year or more. Its common I have read. Not the greatest but common. The leaks stops once the engine warms up more. I have changed the oil and filter recently (myself) and didn’t see any coolant in there. Looks just like oil. I think the head gasket still needs a once over and the car will get a timing belt soon. Still haven’t done the compression test as to be honest the thing runs great.

I’ll do the compression next nice day we get here on the “wet” coast. Its spring here so its rainy and just not nice to be playing around with your plugs out. 😛

[Author]

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