Is this a BHG? (videos inside)

[Loki]

I am having some coolant problems. I'm really not sure if it is a BHG or not, it's not really having BHG symptoms but then again that is the only thing I can think of that it might be. It's not blowing white smoke, my coolant looks normal, my oil is normal, only thing that it's doing that loeads me to believe HG is that it's running a bit hot and filling up the overflow bottle and then barfing out the overflow :icon_conf but it's not doing it all the time, only sometimes.

I keep having alot of coolant in the overflow bottle, I've tried replacing my rad cap, thermostat. I've tried burping the system, mutliple times.

So today I tried burping the system again, the front end is as high up as I can get it to go without putting something on the jack. I'm pretty sure the rad cap was higher up then the heater core.

When I was burping it I revved it a few times and it would suck the coolant down and then start barfing the coolant out and then an air bubble would pop and the coolant would go back down :icon_conf I took a few videos, they are done with my cell phone so don't expect super awesome quality.





I am getting frustrated with this problem, if it is a BHG it doesn't really matter. I have a rebuilt head waiting to go in, I would just need to order a Cometic MHG and pull it apart and swap the new stuff in.

 

[jdub]

Have your cooling system pressure tested. Any leak that allows air into the system will cause what you are experiencing. Check your heater hoses, the coolant hose/plug at the rear of the head, the small hose at the back of the water pump housing. It could be the radiator itself as well.

 

[fiyota]

when you step on the gas doesnt the water pump start flowing the coolant faster?

 

[suprra_girl]

hows ur timing, i did a 7mge and had the timing out on the dizzy and it barfed..... alot LOL

 

[jdub]

hows ur timing, i did a 7mge and had the timing out on the dizzy and it barfed..... alot LOL

That will do it too...bad timing will shoot up your EGT up causing the motor to run hot. In this case you should see your coolant gauge above normal.

Like I said, get the coolant system pressure tested....that will tell you if there are any leaks. If there are, it's a real PITA to find it if the leak is not obvious.

 

[Loki]

I will check the timing tonight after work, and I will get the cooling system pressure tested as soon as I can get it done. Thanks for the ideas

 

[supra90turbo]

NO BHG!!
I hope it's not... I hung up my first BHG in my garage as a warning to other headgaskets.

 

[Shytheed Dumas]

Mine hangs in my garage too. Like a trophy. :bigthumb:

 

[IJ.]

Loki: Sadly looks bhg from here

 

[jdub]

Loki: Sadly looks bhg from here

Yeah...I'm thinking that too, but if it happens to be a leak, maybe Loki can dodge the BHG bullet...this time

 

[IJ.]

Walks like a duck quacks like a duck it's not a beaver

 

[jdub]

Walks like a duck quacks like a duck it's not a beaver

Reminds me of a joke:

An 85 year old man brought his 25 year old wife to the Dr and found out she was pregant. He was all proud of himself to the point of being a real pain.

So the Dr took him aside and said to the old guy: "You and one of your friends from the senior center are walking along the river. Suddenly, you old friend lifts up his cane, points it at a beaver across the river, and yells BANG! Sure enough the beaver falls over dead...what would you say to your old friend?"

The old man says: "I'd say somebody else shot that beaver! But, whats your point?"

The Dr says: "That's my point exactly"

:biglaugh:

 

[lagged]

let the thing warm up with the pressue tester on it, youll know if you have a BHG or not, the pressure will shoot up once the combustion gasses force their way into the cooling system.

 

[Loki]

Well I set my timing, it was quite off. It's dead on 10 right now and it's still barfing coolant out when i'm burping the system (like in the videos) it's not doing it as bad as it was doing it before but it's still doing it.

I haven't had a chance to get it pressure tested yet but I will do that before the end of the week hopefully.

 

[jdub]

I hate to say it, but IJ is probably right...a BHG :cry:

The pressure test will tell you if the system has any leaks...might want to do the NAPA block test for exhaust gas in your coolant.

 

[Loki]

I was thinking of doing the block test, just gotta wait till after payday

It's not that bad that it's probably a BHG, I've been wanting to change out the HG since I got this motor. It's just kind of a pain cause I gotta take my car apart.

 

[Topher E]

Its a BHG. Mine did exactly that.

 

[Wayne G.]

Well I set my timing, it was quite off. It's dead on 10 right now and it's still barfing coolant out when i'm burping the system (like in the videos) it's not doing it as bad as it was doing it before but it's still doing it.

I haven't had a chance to get it pressure tested yet but I will do that before the end of the week hopefully.

My 87 TT does exactly the same thing. Tryied all the same things you have
done - no help. It is a blown HG though not severe. The combustion gasses boil the coolant forcing it out I have noticed that
once the coolent level has droped down to a level about 2 to 3 inches from
the filler neck it stops pushing it out and still does not overheat. I am still
driving the thing while my new engine is being built.

 

[Loki]

I figured it was a BHG, just wasn't sure. Seeing as it only has this symptom and none of the other ones. Oh well I'll run the NAPA block test on it just to make sure, then I guess it'll be time to order a MHG.

 

[GotBoost?]

I'm in the process of fixing my bhg right now, and my car had exactly the same symptoms as your does. Watch oil quality, not that the coolant is going into the engine oil -> rod knock. GL.