[zooky08]

Okay found that my m13a engine has a water leak.
Radiator slowly using water, water dribling out of exhaust, has steam also.
Small dots of milky oil on dipstick. Radiator only bubbles when I fill it right up but doesn't once it drops just above fins
Temp sits on half way
So cracked head or gasket?
What is the chance being a gasket over a cracked head?
Could I try some stop leak?

What would it cost for a mechanic to change head gasket?
I'm mechanical minded but I don't really wanna fuck with modern engines.

Cheers

[zuk85]

how many k's on it? is it the vvt m13a?

would most likely be gasket, but only way to tell if its the head is too have it pressure tested "UNLESS U CAN CLEARLY SEE ITS CRACKED WHEN YOU HAVE THE HEAD OFF"

mechanics will charge you the labour costs average around $70hr plus items e.g the gasket kit.
prolly around 4-6 hours work if everything is sweet, and no cracked head other wise has to be sent off to be pressure tested.

did u run the motor hot or anything that may have cause this to start happening.

I hope your not driving the car no more or as soon as you found it. u dont want it to crack the head if it has not be done aleady.

hope that helps

someone might be able to correct me on times if they have acutally done a m13a head gasket im just taking a guesstament

[zooky08]

Well I rang a mechanic and they said about $1000 just on labour to do a gasket
Nah it's the not vvt m13a
Just put in chemi weld, just have to weight and see what happens
I have a reputation of buying cars or engines with cracked heads

[atari4x4]

don't put chemi weld in a car you want to keep, its nasty shit that can block heater cores, small water passages & your radiator.

[JrZook]

zooky08 wrote:

Well I rang a mechanic and they said about $1000 just on labour to do a gasket
Nah it's the not vvt m13a
Just put in chemi weld, just have to weight and see what happens
I have a reputation of buying cars or engines with cracked heads

And no way of doing pressure tests or radiator sniffs?

[zooky08]

I can do a radiator pressure test.
It doesn't over heat so if some thing wrong it must only be a small crack in the gasket.
No signs of burning coolant on the spark plugs.
Car doesn't run rough or any thing, idles perfectly.

[joe5701]

zooky08 wrote:

No signs of burning coolant on the spark plugs. water dribling out of exhaust, has steam also

Im with atari on the chemiweld. do a leak down on the cylinders

[steak_knife]

Frucked it...

All alloy eng's don't like to be hot

[atari4x4]

i'd say it was frucked beforehand & put on the market

[zooky08]

If it had a crack in the head wouldn't it overheat?

[steak_knife]

zooky08 wrote:

If it had a crack in the head wouldn't it overheat?

Not always... until the water run's out any hoe.

[zooky08]

Okay well I'll send it for some test and if it's bad then I guess I'll have to fork out the money to put it on the operating table