blown head gasket testing

[1BURBAN]

I have a 89 4.3 s10 with a suspected blown head gasket, symptoms are slight coolant loss (1 pint or so ideling in the back yard), extremly rough idle and, very small bubbles in coolant. I have no milkshake on the dipstick and no white smoke from the tail pipe. I have seen others on the board mention a litmus test or dye test for hydrocarbons in the antifreeze, can anyone tell where these test can be purchased (I know any parts, store be specific) and what said products are called. I asked the napa guy about these products and was rewarded with the stare of a deer in the head lights.

Thanks - Tony

 

[toomany]

The dye is more for if you have a leak, and are trying to find where it's coming from. I've never done the exaust test before.

Have you done a leak down test yet? I think that'd be faster/cheaper then the other methods.

 

[1BURBAN]

well I have a compression tester but no leak down tester. I will comp test tomorrow. I assume I am lookin for a drasticly lower reading on 2 cylinders right.

 

[4X4HIGH]

If you're losing water and there are no external leaks and you have bubbles in the cooling system you have a head gasket issue. Those engines do have problems with the intake gaskets and there is a revised gasket for that engine. You can burn a small amount of water and not get the infamous steam out the tailpipe and you would not get water/oil mix if the leak is small enough. If you want to verify for certain about the hydrocarbons in the cooling system then take it to your local smog guy and have him sniff the radiator with his smog machine (that is how you verify that issue).

 

[1BURBAN]

well this is the second set of head gaskets I have put on this motor so I guess I am leaning towared cracked head. would the symptoms be the same (bubbles specifically).

 

[4X4HIGH]

well this is the second set of head gaskets I have put on this motor so I guess I am leaning towared cracked head. would the symptoms be the same (bubbles specifically).

If the head is cracked usually you will not get the bubbles, that is usally caused from a head gasket that is leaking combustion passed the gasket and into a cooling jacket. If you've had this issue before did you have the heads machined before reinstalling them? I highly suggest having the heads checked for cracks and then resurface them before installing this time.

 

[1BURBAN]

sounds like a trip to the local machine shop - Thanks