Xoutpost.com - $1400 for new head gasket

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Brads2002 (Post 1031488)

So if there was smoke on startup that was from the oil dripping down which aslo means the vc is leaking. I would start there. Your ccv might be just fine especially considering your climate. It's not a bad job though. I have done it in around 2.5 hrs.

I tried to get some good photos. I hope they are helpful.

That's an awful lot of oil down the plug hole. Definitely looks to me like it's seeping into there, so my first suspect would be the valve cover gasket. There MAY however be an add-on fault, as others have said, with the CCV which is exacerbating the problem.

Just going by those pictures however, there is no way on this green earth I would suspect a head gasket.

Not to get off track here but the oil running by the pistons through the head gasket...is that the pressure side or the valve train bleed back side? I was thinking it was the drain side thats why no pressure. I am not sure though so you are teaching me. Agreed on exhaust gas feeding back being a more likely symptom.

OP-the electrode on that plug looks normal. I think your original misfire is due to the oil seepage on the plug boots or something unrelated...perhaps a coil is failing or plugs are old. If you haven't replaced they are due anyways. Notice in your last picture one of the valve cover hold down bolts to the left of the plug hole has oil seepage as well. I would replace the cover and all bolt grommets.

Quote:

Originally Posted by upallnight (Post 1031500)

Coolant system pressure is between 10-15 PSI. Any thing above that and the radiator cap will normally bleed of the excess pressure.

Oil pressure is anywhere between 5 to 40 PSI depending on the engine speed. Anything above that will be bleed off by the relief valve in the pump.

Peak cylinder pressures near TDC (where spark occurs) will be in the range of 300 psi for engine's at light loads, to 1000 psi for production engines at full power to 1500 psi or greater for race engines. This is where the engine's power comes from, as it forces the piston down. As the piston goes down, the cylinder volume increases which reduces the cylinder pressure. When the piston gets to the bottom on the cylinder (BDC) there may only be 100 to 500 psi in the cylinder. With that type of pressure a leak in the head gasket will allow combustion gas to enter the water jacket that surround the cylinder as air bubbles. That is why you can determine if you have a head gasket leak by the presence of combustion gas in the radiator.

Oil on the plugs is probably coming in from the valve cover gasket, specifically the seals around the plug wells. Not a head gasket. If you had trouble with the head gasket, your complaints would not be what they are.

You need Item 16, and 15 of Item 7.

RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 3.0i Cylinder head cover

You need to find out why you crankcase is getting pressurized. CCV is a good place to start.

Since a "real" mechanic has already inspected the engine and the mechanic's opinion was a head gasket, but the OP wants confirmation that it is the HG, the OP should perform one or both procedures that I have outlined or go to another mechanic for a second opinion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by upallnight (Post 1031581)

First, I want to thank everyone for their input & advice.

Next, I ordered a test kit from Amazon to check for gas in the coolant. I purchased a Lisle 75500 Combustion Leak Detector.

Finally, I am getting opinion from another mechanic. I actually pointed him to this thread, and he doesn't think it's a HG problem.

Best of luck, please report findings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by upallnight (Post 1031581)

Your diagnosis suggestions are correct and are soemthing a "real" mechanic should do prior to suggesting a head gasket.

Just sayin'...

Tend to agree with starting somewhere other than a HG. Compression test, coolant test, and pressure test are the easiest ways to tell if the HG has failed. If you NEVER overheated it... it's not likely to be the HG though. And if it doesn't overheat now... not likely to be the HG.

CCV @ around 100k is pretty typical. Is there suction on the oil filler cap when loosened?

What plugs are those btw?