blown headgasket or something else

[wildfire0310]

OK this isn't my car but my roommate, but I do all the work.

Here is what is going on:

Yesterday she was driving home and said she stalled the car. Turned it back on and it stalled again. Then she noticed the stock oil gauge "wasn't work". She checked her oil and said "it was empty"...ie low. She filled it up with oil ran to the store to get dinner and came home. Total drive of about 4 miles.

When I got home, I checked the car. I found the oil level to still be low, added oil and checked coolent. The overflow was empty and the rad was low. Filled both up and then went for a quick lap. Enough to warm the motor. The oil pressure was reading normal for me. 3k rpm about 35-40psi warmish and idle was around 20ish psi. Just below the unlabeled mark on the gauge.

Now today she called me to say the car overheated. She said the temp gauge didn't show anything, but when she parked the car, the overflow tank was overflowing. She also said she had a loss of some oil pressure(not sure how much).

I am picking up the car tonight and babying it home. Anything i should look for other then oil in the coolent???

The car is an 87 7m-gte 5spd.

I know this is wrong with the car.
turbo seal is bad, and has some minor shaft play. she doesn't boost *after market gauge to show boost*
I believe the O2 sensor is bad..
power steering is leaking...

thank for all the help

 

[Nomad707]

how does it run? is it running normally? if it stalled on her, with no oil or coolant, it probably temporarily seized. i wouldnt be driving it at all. the engine might really seize, then your screwed.

with all these issues going on, id say sell it and buy a GE, since she doesnt even boost.

look for coolant leaks elsewhere, watch temp gauge, just be very cautious and aware when driving it home.

and now, slap her on the hand for driving it with no oil.

kidding, kidding.

lol.

good luck..

 

[CampbellsChunkySoupra]

check the compression on all of the cylinders..

throwing any codes?

 

[wildfire0310]

how does it run? is it running normally? if it stalled on her, with no oil or coolant, it probably temporarily seized. i wouldnt be driving it at all. the engine might really seize, then your screwed.

with all these issues going on, id say sell it and buy a GE, since she doesnt even boost.

look for coolant leaks elsewhere, watch temp gauge, just be very cautious and aware when driving it home.

and now, slap her on the hand for driving it with no oil.

kidding, kidding.

lol.

good luck..

LOL.

She not boosting cause of the turbo been bad.

When I drove it last night, it drove fine, and it wasn't leaking an other fuild other then PS(same drip area as always, and same feel).


See the stock temp gauge doesn't move at all. It warms up and goes to the mid way mark and then will stay there. I read part of the post about how the stock gauge works and understand it totally sucks. What is weird is that if its overheating the stock gauge still isn't showing it, but does show when the motor is cold.

check the compression on all of the cylinders..

throwing any codes?

I try and get my hands on a compression tester. I will check to see what codes are throwing. It's had a check engine light, but only when it warms up, which to me is why I said the O2 sensor.

Anyone have a logger program so I can see what the stock ECU is seeing???

Thanks for the quick replies

 

[CampbellsChunkySoupra]

well, if u run the codes u'll have your best answer besides the compression check. sometimes u will have multiple codes that play off and on of each other. one will lead to another and so on and so forth. it would be good to diagnose those asap too. all it takes a lovely paper clip

 

[Wills7MGTE]

get her, and get in the backseat, and show her what a rod thrw the block feels like!!!!! (SERIOUSLY DO IT!) :biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:

 

[wildfire0310]

ok I just drove the car home...

When I went to pick it up the oil level was fine... was still at the top of the "ok" area.

The coolent was really low.

As I drove it home the oil pressure dipped a little, nothing to really bat and eye at, and the temp gauge didn't move at all. When I parked it, I left it running and checked the engine bay, no visible leaks, and no sounds of compressed coolent leaking. After turning the car off, no coolent over flowed from the tank. Also the lvl was about the same as it was when I filled it up....

Not sure if maybe the car is overheating in the day time heat... It was really hot mid day, when she had to drive the car to work....

I am about to start searching on how to read the supra check engine codes...

 

[NewWestSupras]

Pressure test your coolant system. Also, after the comp. test do a leak down test as well. Theres a writeup on here how to make your own tester cheaply with a comp. tester and some other parts. Think its here: http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2229
Hope its just a minor coolant leak problem, but it could be an on/off hg leak.

 

[wildfire0310]

Well I just ran the car and got the code.

Its reading a code 11.

Now I need to figure out why a code elven
"ECU(+B)
Diagnosis
* Momentary interruption in power supply to ECU.
Trouble Area
* Ignition switch circuit
* Ignition switch
* Main relay circuit
* Main relay
* ECU"

How would this be causing an overheating issues.... unless it causing the stock gauge not to work and something stupid is the overheating issues.

BTW about a month ago, I replace the thermostat(180) and new rad cap.

Time to research more....BTW I really like the mass amount of knowledge on this board... reminds me of DSM days..:icon_bigg

 

[ATL88Supra]

hmmmm low coolent when was the last time you did a flush? or added any?

and low oil ? and still driveing ? thats a good way to send that car to the junkyard

 

[wildfire0310]

hmmmm low coolent when was the last time you did a flush? or added any?

and low oil ? and still driveing ? thats a good way to send that car to the junkyard

The oil lvl is fine now, has not change since I started watching the lvl.

As for flush,...... not sure she got it.. I add coolent and added some last night before driving it home. The lvl did not change during my drive home.

 

[mk3supra]

any update on anything you found?

 

[johnathan1]

You could possibly just have a coolant leak where you can't see, or worst case scenario, it could be a BHG...I would pressure test the cooling system...It take about five minutes and you will know if you have a ny coolant leaks.