The banner above is an advertisment - if it asks you to download software, please ignore.
Site News - 3/26 M Car Covers (by State of Nine) | 12/12 Make Amazon Pay Saabnet!
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 16:26:52 +0200
From: Robert Brown <rxobert.bxrownnospampnet.se>
Subject: Re: head gasket problem


Richard Sutherland-Smith wrote: > 1993 C900i 2.1L > It is blowing exhaust into the cooling resevoir at a steady bubbling > rate, so I assume the head gasket has gone. > Can I drive it at a sedate rate in this condition or is it likely to > blow all its water out onto the road at any moment? > Thanks Hi, I had the same symptom about 15 years back, with a 1983 Saab 99GL (2,0 H-engine, single carb). A real surge of bubbles in the coolant when taking the cap off, too. Almost burnt hands and face. The pressure eventually cracked the reservoir tank. There was also a risk that a coolant hose would fall off due to the pressure. I got it home after 300 km *very* careful driving. When I pulled it all apart, I found a crack beside the exhaust port of no. 3 cylinder. Exhaust gases were reaching the coolant, and coolant would seep into the cylinder, which meant it started only on three cylinders for the first couple of minutes. The integrity of the head gasket was good though, everywhere. Luckily I got a head from a wrecker's (from a 1982 C900). That plus a new head gasket and 15 hours of back-breaking work (I was new to this kind of work :-) got me back in business. The car lasted a further 11 years; it "died" in 2000 due to body rust. I traced the problem back to a day when the cooling fan had failed to come on, causing overheating. Saab heads have been very sensitive to temperature; a non-functional fan increases risk for a cracked head. This (replacing gasket and/or head) is not a job that a Saab mech must do; any good mechanic whom you trust can do it. Ask to see the head and gasket once they're off. Check the head very carefully for cracks; a hairline crack is sufficient for causing the problem you have. See if the gasket has been breached, too. But make sure to get Saab's recommendation on head bolt torques, tightening sequence, etc. Two more hints: 1. Careful in getting the correct head gasket for refitting; save the old one and compare it with the new. Position of oil channels etc gets arbitrarily changed from year to year. 2. Check your oil (on dipstick) for brown foam - a sign that coolant has reached the oil system. If so, replace your engine oil after the repair job's done. Good luck, I hope it's just the head gasket. Tell us how it goes. /Robert

Return to Main Index
StateOfNine.com
SaabClub.com
Jak Stoll Performance
M Car Covers
Ad Available

The content on this site may not be republished without permission. Copyright © 1988-2024 - The Saab Network - saabnet.com.
For usage guidelines, see the Mission & Privacy Notice.
[Contact | Site Map | Saabnet.com on Facebook | Saabnet.com on Twitter | Shop Amazon via TSN | Site Donations]