1996 Geo Prizm Blown Head Gasket?

BLACKHACKER

MEMBER
1996 GEO PRIZM
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
245,673 MILES

Ok, I'm sure this is stated a lot, but I know zero about cars. I was checking my fluids and my oil dipstick showed that I was a little low on oil. I added some, by some I mean I think I added about a half a quart. I was in a rush to get somewhere I was late to. About a miles drive down the street I kept hearing a pinging or popping sound. Kind of like when your tires kick up rocks under the fender. About 200 feet later a HUGE plume of white smoke came out the exhaust. I pulled over and checked the engine and didn't notice anything special. I had to get it back home so I flipped on the hazards and stayed below 30mph the whole way home. The car shuddered its heart out but no more smoke came out of it. So two questions: Head Gasket? If so, how do I go about replacing that? Are there any step by steps anywhere (yes I have googled)

1 Reply

MMPRINCE4000

MECHANIC
8,548 POSTS

Check compression first to make sure the head gasket is blown. Look for coolant in the oil, if coolant is present, you may be too late. Coolant will wash the oil film off the main bearings causing metal to metal contact.

Buy a Haynes manual for the car, it will give you step by step instructions on head removal.
This is a big job, you must remove the camshafts to get to the headbolts, and everything attached to head (intake manifold, exhaust manifold, injectors, electrical connectors etc.).

Then the head must be checked to make sure it is not warped or cracked.