What else could it be if not the head gasket?

[LD1]

Start with a visual inspection of the cylinder walls in the suspect cylinders ... evidence of a small crack or cracks may actually be visible.

(Ask me how I know ... )

Did not see anything in the cylinders. I do have some dye penetrate, might try that.

Sprays that will help with that.

Compression check?
Any chance of warpage on head?

Never did a comp check. Darn near impossible to do on this motor. The intake manifold needs completely removed just to get to the plugs. And after seeing it run rough, and be burning coolant, I was sure this was a head gasket problem. So didnt bother with the comp test.

Still could be a gasket? I am not familiar with this style gasket. Heck, it could actually have been leaking between the two halves of the gasket?

 

[stuckmotor]

I had milky oil on a recently reringed tractor one time. Tightening the head cleared up the problem. It's been a long time and I don't remember whether there were signs of a leak on the gasket.

 

[LD1]

Dont know if I mentioned it, but oil wasnt milky. Just the smell and smoke of burning coolant, and as evident looking at number 1 and 4 piston.

 

[murphy1244]

Dont know if I mentioned it, but oil wasnt milky. Just the smell and smoke of burning coolant, and as evident looking at number 1 and 4 piston.

Do you know if it ever overheated?

 

[LD1]

No I don't know. But it's had a rough life. Brother is not good about changing oil or even checking it.

A few years ago, car was running like total crap. Only had about a quart to quart and a half in the engine, and probably 15-20k since last change. I thought for sure motor was toast.

He flushed some kerosene through it to dissolve the tar and sludge and surprisingly it ran fine. That was 60k miles ago.

Junkyard motor is about $800, and probably the best option given the motor history. But thought if we could get by with a $200 head gasket job....wont be bad.

But without being able to pinpoint the problem...the $200 may be a waste?

So he has to decide.....spend $200 at the risk of not fixing a thing, but with the chance to save a $800 motor swap

 

[murphy1244]

Did you check the engine and head for warpness? I know you did but I had to ask.

 

[LD1]

Head...yes. it's fine according to the machine shop.

Block...no. I don't have a good way to do so.

 

[rswyan]

Straight edge and a feeler gauge ?

 

[grm61]

Normally leaking head gasket leads to steam, and tops of offending pistons looking clean/steam cleaned ..maybe these are way beyond that..

Just my experience, I am not a mechanic

 

[dodge man]

I don't have a lot of advice but know someone that thought they had burned a valve but it turned out to be a head gasket. In this case, they also couldn't tell there was a head gasket problem by looking at it.