Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1998 20:08:04 -0800 From: Justin VanAbrahams <jvanabranopsamnet> Subject: Re: They say I blew my head gasket!!!!!
Bob Charlap wrote: > > So They say I blew my head gasket!!!!! > > My 1988 900T overheats within 3 miles and lots of steam starts pouring > out from under the hood! My local mechanic (Dallas,Texas) said he was > sure it was a head gasket and I would be screwed to the tune of at a > minimum $1000.00 (OUCH!) > > Before I take it to the one and only SAAB dealership and shell out the > big bucks next week anybody have any suggestions? > > Thanks, > > Bob > bob2nopsamie.com Don't screw around with a ruptured head gasket. Don't let it overheat... Saab 16v engines use a light alloy head that WILL warp and cost BIG $$$ if you need to replace - assuming you cannot find a good use one. Also, if you get a "traditional" gasket rupture, coolant can get into the oil supply, which can cause serious overheating damage to the turbo - again, not cheap. Anyway, lots of steam does not inherently mean a bad head gasket - could be a ruptured hose somewhere, too. Someone on here mentioned a cool additive you can put in the coolant to help spot leaks - sounds like neat stuff. Put the car in the open, and run it and look for leaks. There are many coolant hoses running all over the place on the 16v engines, so be sure to check them all. One big one to look at the is the main lower radiator hose that runs between the driver's side of the radiator to the back of the engine, going underneath the intake manifold. If you get a leak in this hose, coolant will spill out onto the block and cause lots of steam. There is also a banjo-type fitting on the intake manifold than runs to the turbo a looseness here or with the gasket on the intake manifold will cause coolant to spill onto the block - also causing a lot of steam. Although it's not a sure sign, check your oil for bubblies or a nasty film-goop on the dipstick - this would be caused by coolant getting into the oil supply. Check the coolant resevior for oil. Also, after running the car for a bit, watch the coolant resevior for bubbling from the hoses - this can be caused by air getting into the cooling system via a ruptured head gasket. Whatever you do, don't drive the car. I'd get a second opinion before dropping $1000, and by all means, TOW the car - DON'T drive it. If it overheats in 3-miles, the\ 2.99 miles it takes to get there are probably torture on the engine. Don't make a $1000 repair job turn into a $3000 job for a new head and turbo.... -Justin
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