924Board.org

PorscheLover86 · Joined: 30 Dec 2010 Posts: 65 Location: Virginia

Recently I saw coolant in my oil during my last oil change.. Ilve also been going through a pretty good amount of coolant.. Haven't really seen any white smoke from the exhaust or other issues except for the engine getting hot at idle after drving for a while. Blown head gasket?
_________________
Black '77 924 N/A

RedChar · Joined: 31 Dec 2010 Posts: 32 Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Is there oil in the coolant as well? Of course if you are going through coolant quickly it may be hard to tell...
_________________
'87 924s - Haven't come up with a good nickname
'07 - MINI Cooper, base
'85 - Mercedes 300td LeMons veggie oil car - The Frau

!tom · Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 3:21 am Post subject: Re: coolant in the oil. Yay.

PorscheLover86 · Joined: 30 Dec 2010 Posts: 65 Location: Virginia

I haven't noticed oil in the coolant but that's prbably because I'm goin through a bottle a week. And a quart of oil. I sure hope someone on here has a spare engine lying around or I'm gonna be walkin to work soon.
_________________
Black '77 924 N/A

stevekat · Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 719 Location: Los Angeles, CA

Probably more predictable to change a head gasket on an otherwise good engine than to change an engine. Also, I would consider it to be easier, particularly on a non-turbo.
_________________
"Never get out of the boat. Absolutely goddamn right. Unless you are goin' all the way."

Gone to new home: '81 924T, US version, CGT Intercooler, UTCIS-PT, Euro DITC, Greddy Trust MBC, Forged Fuchs Flat Dish 6's, Factory Recaro's.

PorscheLover86 · Joined: 30 Dec 2010 Posts: 65 Location: Virginia

any idea what it's gonna cost?
_________________
Black '77 924 N/A

stevekat · Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 719 Location: Los Angeles, CA

If you were to do the work yourself, RockAuto.com has a head gasket set for $40. If your head doesn't require reworking your cost stays modest (or if the head only requires decking.) You may need new head bolts - I cannot recall if the non-turbo uses stretch bolts. Someone here can chime in on that.
_________________
"Never get out of the boat. Absolutely goddamn right. Unless you are goin' all the way."

Gone to new home: '81 924T, US version, CGT Intercooler, UTCIS-PT, Euro DITC, Greddy Trust MBC, Forged Fuchs Flat Dish 6's, Factory Recaro's.

PorscheLover86 · Joined: 30 Dec 2010 Posts: 65 Location: Virginia

How much does it take to get it done?
_________________
Black '77 924 N/A

emoore924 · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 2822

If you're talking just head gasket and the associated machining, and paying someone else to do it, expect to spend around $1-1.5k to get the work done by someone else, and that's assuming nothing else is kabroken.

If you have other problems (valve problems, bad manifold, etc.) it can be more. By way of example, the 9mm valves for these are nla so that is a problem right away if you need valves replaced.

DIY reduces some of the labor, but you'll still pay parts and machining and you have to be realistic about how difficult this job is. It can be done at home, but you need the tools, the patience and the expertise. And don't underestimate how much of all of those you need (oh, and time too) to get the job done. It ain't for the beginner with a box-o-craftsman sockets.

Last n/a head gasket took me about 8 hours labor all in (my time) and probably $500 in parts and machining. It came apart fairly easily and there really were no other problems so it was not so bad.

PorscheLover86 · Joined: 30 Dec 2010 Posts: 65 Location: Virginia

so lets be realistic here. I've done a good bit of work on cars but never touched the engine. Would it be easier to just take this out and drop in another engine?
_________________
Black '77 924 N/A

Khal · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 3:00 am Post subject:

Paul · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 5:10 am Post subject:

Don't start the motor again. Coolant in the oil will destroy the bearings, crankshaft journals, the cam and lifters in short order.
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

!tom · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:41 am Post subject:

Roll up your sleeves and git 'er done.

It'll take a few hours, but there's no magic involved, and the only special tool required is a torque wrench. Those can be had for $20.

There's no need for any machining unless there is something more amiss than just the head gasket.

Sure, if you were a shop and wanted to guarantee your work, you may very well not complete the job without some machine work, but it's hardly a requirement for simply replacing the head gasket.

Replacing a head gasket is easy; the hard part is taking the intake and exhaust manifolds off.

Mind you, I've never done one on my 924 yet, but I've done a few, and they're all pretty much the same. The only thing that's different is just how hard it is to take the intake and exhaust manifolds off. And you're probably going to have to do that in an engine swap anyway.

Swapping engines over a bad head gasket is a misguided approach in my mind.
_________________
78 924 NA
5-lug

Paul · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 8:30 am Post subject:

You can leave the manifolds on if all you are doing is the head gasket.
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

Paul · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 8:41 am Post subject:

Next step should be a compression check.

Then torque the head.

Repeat the compression test.

Post results here.
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.