1993 Toyota Corolla cooling system boiling /over pressure

MARKSALZAN

MEMBER
1993 TOYOTA COROLLA
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
20,000 MILES

Hi, I recently got involved with helping someone down on there luck. I have been a mechanic for over 25 years but retired my tools over 10 years ago. My question is.
No coolant in oil
No coolant (white smoke) out tail pipe
no external leaks
new radiator
But extreme amout of steam in cooling system.
Im thinking head gasket but the leak seems to be one way and that is from hot exhaust gas to cooling system.
car runs good but coolant gets evaporated quickly.

is it a head gasket or a cracked head and is there any way on this particular engine to narrow it down before dissassembly. If it were a head gasket I would attempt the job but if the head has to be replaced it will be junked.

Thanks!

4 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there,

There is no way of telling if the head is cracked with out having it removed and crack tested, this should be done regardless as you should always have the head checked for any damage when removed, I would get a Co test done in the cooling system, this is a simple chemical test to determine the build up of Co gasses, if positive the head gasket will be leaking, but the head must be checked over as well.

Mark (mhpautos)

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Monday, February 22nd, 2010 AT 4:04 PM

HONOLULU

MEMBER
12 POSTS

A combustion chamber into which water is leaking will be clean as a new whistle, so will the spark plug from that cylinder. Ergo, remove and examine all plugs, they should look the same and no plug should appear immaculate.

Entirely possible for water to only leak one way, if a crack opens with heat and closes when cold.

A compression test may prove useful, as would a leak-down test.

Odd that a car needing a replacement head, with only 20,000 miles, would be junked. Still near-new.

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Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 AT 2:03 AM

MMPRINCE4000

MECHANIC
8,548 POSTS

I would try a compresion test on both hot and cold engine to see if cracked head. If same readings both hot and cold, then head gasket, if compression low hot, then cracked head, or possible broken head bolt.

If 1.6 engine (4AFE), then reman'ed head is around $300.

If you get a reman'ed head, check shim clearance on each valve first, before install.

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Thursday, February 25th, 2010 AT 7:17 AM

EGSOL

MEMBER
1 POST

Hi,

I have the same problem with my Toyota Corolla 93 model. Any suggestions on what to do aside from the above solution? Also, when I turn on the airconditioner, my engine temperature shoots up after a while and all the coolant evaporates when I reach my destination. Very inconvenient to check under the hood. My airconditioner also malfunctioned after this, no longer cold even after cleaning and recharging.

Please help!

Eric

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Saturday, November 26th, 2011 AT 12:03 AM