Head gasket, Oil Separator, or something else

[aftorwar]

Originally Posted by JCL

1) No, you are out of luck if you are past the date. Good news is that it likely isn't a catastrophe.

2) It is the oil separator, the clue is the pressurized crankcase that you heard when you pulled the dipstick. Usually takes a fairly cold soak, with a vehicle that has a buildup of condensation in the drain lines (so there is something to freeze). It appears to have frozen shut, which pressurized the crankcase. That is good news, because freezing in the open position can be more expensive.

3) Unlikely to be a head gasket.

I would have the valve replaced, and the lines. They may offer you the upgraded (heated) lines but you need to decide if that is necessary. It may be cheaper to just clean out the lines and valve after another four years.

Good luck. By the way, you listed a good diagnostic summary. Much easier to help than the more common "it stopped running what is my problem" posts.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff! a couple follow-up questions:

If its the oil separator, once thawed will the white smoke go away? If so, after how long (parked in the garage overnight, started this morning, still lots of smoke after 2 minute idle. shut engine off in the event it's not the oil separator).

Do you recommend I change the valve cover gasket too? If pressurized, I'm trying to think of what might have failed that I ought to replace while DIYing the oil separator.

Any other thoughts on inspections that would indicate blown head gasket?

[JCL]

Originally Posted by aftorwar

Thanks Jeff! a couple follow-up questions:

If its the oil separator, once thawed will the white smoke go away? If so, after how long (parked in the garage overnight, started this morning, still lots of smoke after 2 minute idle. shut engine off in the event it's not the oil separator).

Do you recommend I change the valve cover gasket too? If pressurized, I'm trying to think of what might have failed that I ought to replace while DIYing the oil separator.

Any other thoughts on inspections that would indicate blown head gasket?

White smoke is moisture in the combustion chamber or exhaust. How long it lasts after starting depends on how much moisture is in there. It could take really warming it up.

Valve cover gasket only needs replacing if it is leaking. It is the usual failure point with a pressurized crankcase. If it isn't leaking, leave it alone, unless you want to do it for a preventative step while you are in there.

A head gasket can fail between several different places; the combustion chamber, an oil gallery, a coolant jacket, or to the outside. If it fails between the combustion chamber and a coolant jacket (which is what you suspect, since that is the path that puts coolant in the combustion chamber) then you should see a low coolant level, and with the engine running, bubbles will often show up in the header tank.

I would assume it is the separator, replace that and the hoses, and then go from there.