Re: More questions than answers (Engine Failure)

["content22207" <brobertson@xxxx>]

Aren't there some water jacket drain plugs somewhere at bottom of
block? I don't use them, but seem to remember a tech article on the
website in which Dave Swingle does.

Coolant IS coming from somewhere -- water jacket, external plumbing,
pump, etc.

Biggest concern with head gasket theory -- symptoms different than
vacuum leak. Vacuum leaks primarily a low RPM problem, basically
"wandering" idle. Leaking head gasket worse at high RPM's: hesitation,
shudders, and misses. 

Do you have any of the classic head gasket indicators: steam in
exhaust or a milky white residue in oil? Put a timing light on each
plug -- if water leak is bad enough will foul them (electrode will
actually rust).

Sounds like stupid question (and I know I beat the topic to death),
but have you ensured all external coolant hoses and pipes intact? Are
quite a few to worry about. Is it possible you have two different
problems (water leak and vacuum leak) at same time?

At least your speedo works.

Bill Robertson
#5939

>--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "cruznmd" <racuti1@xxxx> wrote:
> For anyone who's been following this odessey, I have:
> 
> Drilled out that last stuck clutch pressure plate bolt. Removed the 
> clutch and flywheel. I found, absolutely nothing.
> 
> I'll recap the symptoms: Engine behaved as though it had a vacuum 
> leak (which I couldn't find) Oil mixed with coolant on the ground (at 
> least 1/2 to 1 quart). The bottom of the engine was totally wet with 
> the mix, especially the tranny end of the engine, and the crossbeam. 
> The rest of the engine was totally dry. To me, this suggested a 
> cracked block, or blown headgasket(s). Some of you (and the folks at 
> DMCH) informed me that crack blocks were extremely rare and a blown 
> head gasket was much more likely.
> 
> Fine. But that didn't answer where the fluid came from. There was a 
> lot of it, but none of it came from where the heads mate to the 
> block. It all seemed centered around the bottom of the tranny, 
> smearing back all over the bottom of the engine. The more stuff I got 
> apart, the more of the trail I could see, the more convinced I was 
> that the crank seal blew out. When I removed the tranny, there was 
> even a -puddle- of the fluid mix in the bellhousing.
> 
> I looked all over. I can't find a crack. The crank seal is dry. No 
> snail trail. WHERE is this stuff coming from????? Test this theory: 
> Is there positive pressure in the oil pan when the engine runs? Did 
> the oil pan gasket give out, spraying that area of the engine? It's 
> the right location. The whole oil pan gasket is leaking. The bottom 
> dust plate for the clutch was missing when I took it all apart. Did 
> it spray in there, and leave the puddle in the bellhousing?
> 
> One final question: I have a new crank seal. Even though the old one 
> seems intact, should I replace it or not mess with it???
> 
> Sorry for the length. 
> Rich
> #5335 -MD