Ways to check for a BHG?

R

Ryan

New Member
Mar 22, 2009
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I hate to say it and im sure its partly just me over reacting but I think I might have a blown head gasket and was wondering if anyone here could tell me some ways to check it?
I dont have the power i should and my brother has noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust on start up and for a min or so after. I am also losing coolant and cannot find out where its going.
If anyone could help me it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

-Ryan
 
Tanya

Tanya

Supramania Contributor
Aug 15, 2005
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[Jeff Foxworthy]
If the badge on your car says "Toyota Supra" and it weighs over 3400lbs, you might have a BHG.
[/Jeff Foxworthy]























on a more serious note.... check your oil... for "milkshake", check your coolant for oil.... do a compression and leakdown test on cylinders.
 
RazoE

RazoE

Boobs/Boost, my favorite
Jun 13, 2006
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check your coolant hoses as well..

I was driving my 92 on Thursday and saw the temp needle start to climb up, parked and checked the reservoir, empty!

once it cooled down I took off the rad cap and noticed there was alot of water missing, I poured some in, and drove. Temp climbed again, and once again, I filled her up. I tried turning on the heater to see if air was being trapped and if flowing the coolant would help. Well I saw my birdcage light turn on, and I filled up the reservoir, then parked it. I noticed a small drip once parked. I checked the coolant hoses at the back of the head, and sure enough, small leak. Replaced it, and it's been fine since, full of antifreeze. So it could be something as simple as that...
 
R

Ryan

New Member
Mar 22, 2009
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Waterford
There doesnt seem to be any milkshake type oil and i cant see any oil in the coolant.
Im 90% positive it isnt a hose leak cuz ive check most of it the lines. does anyone have a diagram so that way i can make sure i checked all the coolant lines and possible leak sites?
Also is there any cheap easy way to do a compression check and leakdown test?
thanks alot. And yeah i understand the supra issues. I was just hoping i got lucky...
 
A

AJ'S 88NA

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Jul 26, 2007
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Ryan;1404721 said:
There doesnt seem to be any milkshake type oil and i cant see any oil in the coolant.
Im 90% positive it isnt a hose leak cuz ive check most of it the lines. does anyone have a diagram so that way i can make sure i checked all the coolant lines and possible leak sites?
Also is there any cheap easy way to do a compression check and leakdown test?
thanks alot. And yeah i understand the supra issues. I was just hoping i got lucky...
Click to expand...

Most parts stores will loan you a compression tester. Have you looked at your oil for maybe some water droplets in it?

A little smoke on start up maybe condensation in the exhaust. Hope for that, but check it for a BHG, maybe the start of it and you will save yourself a lot of money if you catch it before it gets too bad.
 
PureDrifter

PureDrifter

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Aug 11, 2009
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if you arent at least somewhat above average in mechanical knowledge and experience working on cars, dont attempt it.

look at a couple of the guides up on the forum, and the TSRM, see if its something you'd want to tackle yourself.
 
H

honestabe

Happy as hell :D
Jan 15, 2006
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Fixing a BHG will take atleast a day, especially if you've never done it before. Have you drained your oil? The last 2 cars I've drained the oil from that had BHG's water came out of the oil pan first, which is a dead give away for a BHG.
 
PlatinumTracks

PlatinumTracks

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Dec 8, 2008
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White smoke; Loss of power; Loss of coolant;

Only thing your missing is if there like spoiled milk looking stuff under you oil cap.

if you have all 4 you win the prize of a BHG....

atleast thats what i got when i blew mines...

---
Also when mines blew i was thinking the same thing you were everything ok must be something else and kept driving the car only for things to get wrost as they go so definitely dont drive the car untill you find out was going on.
 
I

IJ.

Grumpy Old Man
Mar 30, 2005
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I come from a land down under
Open the hood look for this sticker>

circled.jpg

If present chances are you have one...
(thanks for the pic TTanos)
 
J

jgcable

New Member
Jul 26, 2008
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Milford, CT
honestabe;1405170 said:
Fixing a BHG will take atleast a day, especially if you've never done it before. Have you drained your oil? The last 2 cars I've drained the oil from that had BHG's water came out of the oil pan first, which is a dead give away for a BHG.
Click to expand...

It will take a day only if you own a machine shop and can have the head planed or at least checked for straightness. In order for them to do that you have to dissasemble the entire head.
Your coolant is probably exiting through an exhaust jacket and being burned out of the tail pipe. Thats why you don't see any in the oil.
If you have never done a BHG on a Supra and you are a fairly experienced and detail oriented mechanic that doesn't cut corners and does the job correctly and you purchase all the correct parts for the job (there are a fair amount of them if you want to do it correctly), AND.. you have all the tools to do the job.. AND.. you have a machine shop standing by that will take your head and do the right thing with it AND you follow the TRSM manual and the advice from the NUMEROUS threads on BHG on this forum it should take you about 3 solid 10 hour days to do it. THEN... be prepared to retorque the head after approx 5 heat cycles. Also.. don't forget the new head bolts.
If you do the job correctly... you only should have to do it 1 time.
 
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