My friend brought his car to me complaining that there was oil in his coolant reservoir tank. He said the car ran great and was giving him no problems other than a fluctuating temp. (Not overheating) I checked and there was indeed oil in the reservoir as well as a fuel smell. I checked the radiator cap and there was a little oil on the underside of the cap as well. I initially thought head gasket or cracked/warped head. Compression check was as follows: 1- 170, 2- 150, 3- 170, 4- 170. I replaced the head gasket and re-installed the head as well as components. I didnt mess with the valves or timing at all though, just removed what was necessary to get the head off. When I inspected the gasket for the head AND the head itself, they both looked fine. I didnt go to a machine shop because he didnt have the money for it and this is why I re-assembled. He also didnt have any money for the intake gasket so I had to re-use the one I took off, which was not in all that great of condition. After the engine was put back together it started right up with no issues, then after about it warmed up to operating temp, I got a misfire code (P1399). We drove it around the block and changed the oil and the code went away and the engine smoothed out. On the was home somebody on the street told us we were leaking water, and we had white smoke coming from the exhaust, so we got back to the house and checked and sure enough there was a small stream coming of from under the head (gasket area) clear water though. During driving the temp would raise to about 3/4 then drop back to normal on the gauge. I turned the car off to check the water around the head and when I tried to turn it back on it wouldn't start. Check engine light came back on. (P0505 and P0304) I thought maybe the timing got skewed somehow, so I pulled the cover and set it at TDC and tried to start it again. No joy. I pulled the plugs and on 3/4 there was water and fuel mixture. 1/2 were clean and dry. Car is now sitting. Im think I should've had the head inspected and still suspect a head problem. Ideas?
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 AT 12:35 AM