So in the past 4 weeks I have replaced the valve cover gaskest, alternator, plugs, wires, water pump and gaskets/hoses, timing belt,tensioner. I am now having a hard idle for the first 3-4 minutes at start-up but only after a long sit time- 4-5 hours or more. It feels/acts like I have coolant in the oil. I have checked the plugs and they are clean, coolant level is low but I don't have coolant in the oil(tested), do not have coolant puddling or dripping fron any hose/clamp/connection. I can not find where I am losing coolant at? Could it be the turbo? How would I test this? Can I disconnect the turbo or bypass it with out damaging the engine if it is the turbo? How much to replace or rebuilt it? Thanks for the help.

 

How does 'coolant in the oil feel/act'? I don't believe there is a way to tell by feel or action. Do you mean Head Gasket 'symptoms'? How much coolant are you losing? After doing a water pump there will be some settling of the coolant. What do you mean by "hard idle"? Engine Miss? Turbo cannot burn coolant internally... Well, may be under the "anything is possible doctrine", but probably not in this case. You cannot "bypass" it...Keep an eye on the coolant and determine the rate of loss, may be it's nothing to worry about.

 

Yes, head gasket symptoms, and I am losing about a 1/2 gallon a week. The hard idle is a sputtering and choking as though not getting a consistant fuel supply, but after 2-3 minutes the car runs fine. No excessive smoke or exhaust right after start up. It could be an engine miss, not really sure what that entails.

 

That's a lot! You have to pressure test the system--the coolant is going somewhere...

 

The last hard to find leak I had to deal with turned out to be the heater hose, where it connects under the intake manifold. Hose had a small split around the clamp and the coolant was seeping out and evaporating on the hot engine rather than leaving puddles. I found it by sticking my hand in there and getting burned by the steam. Sure couldn't see it. Hope that's not your problem; the hose was a PITA to change..