Just did the head gasket on my '91 240. Now it's billowing white smoke out of the tailpipe and the exhaust manifold. Runs rough and bogs down but doesn't stall. Coolant coming out of the top of the reservoir.

Only code is 2-3-2 "runs rich or lean" (not helpful &#128580.
The reason for doing the head in the first place is I was leaking coolant out the top of the reservoir and overheating.

I did take the head to a machine shop. They decked it, pressure tested it, and did a valve job.

Could it be the head bolt torque? Timing? Thoughts?

 

Sounds like head gasket leaking . Water coming out of the coolant tank is a sign that gasket is leaking. How much did they take off of the head. Either the engine deck is not flat or they took to much off of the head. Could be the head gasket is on wrong or not torqued correctly. You'll need to take it off again and see what went wrong.

 

I started it again and it ran fine for about a minute and then it started running rough again and billowing white smoke out the tailpipe

 

Do a compression test. The reason it ran for a few minutes OK was because when the engine block warmed up the gasket started to leak.

 

Jaggies is correct. Your head gasket is leaking.

It is not white smoke...it is steam you are seeing. When the block heats up and expands, the head gasket begins to leak.

You should just probably replace it with new, because they are not expensive. You can try letting the block cool off completely and re-torquing it. Very long shot, however.


Dave Riedle

 

Yeah, sadly a do-over is called for... but retorque, nothing to lose.

 

I had a Toyota 3rz engine that had a low spot in the center of the block deck, between cyls 2 and 3 that caused the head gasket to leak. When you pull the head, use a straight edge to check the block deck surface. You can shine a light on one side, while looking from the other side. See if there are any gaps, and also measure with a feeler gauge. I had to pull my engine, have the block decked .012" and at that point just rebuild it.

 

So I've had the head off three times now and I'm still having the same problem. It acts like a bad head gasket. Decks are clean and straight. I've used different gaskets every time. The head bolts are torqued to spec. I have no idea what's wrong.

 

Could be a crack in the head. I am not sure how common that is.

 

Had it pressure tested. No crack.

 

Purv, when you take off the head, what does the HG look like? It should be apparent where it was leaking! After three times especially, not rocket science. If the gaskets look fine, no cracks, then the head or block are cracked.

 

The gasket looked fine every time. I guess it's probably a cracked block. Time to say goodbye to "Helga."��

 

If you're junking it or replacing the engine, might as well try a can of that mechanic in a can headgasket fixer stuff from the auto parts store. Who knows, might work.

 

Yeah, I'd give Helga a dose of Blue Devil Head Gasket treatment--follow instructions to the letter! Don't use the PourNGo, Use the full strength, as long as the car can run for 50 minutes, the crack will seal up! I have used that stuff several times, it hasn't failed yet!

 

I'd be worried about ruining the radiator. Worth a try if the car is getting junked anyway though.

 

My guess would be more likely the head. Was the head and deck check for flatness. By the way did you try putting dye in the engine and trying to see were any water is coming from. We assume you had the right headgasket and it was installed properly. Also you must have used 2 or 3 gaskets and not reused ones you just installed .

 

I kind of wondered about "block seal" myself. I guess you have nothing to lose there.