I think I blew my first head gasket tonight

[blackbuick87]

In the midst of my best pass ever
True it was only a 12.8, but my car stopped pulling at 107mph and probably had 2-3 more mph in it

I was on 110 octane, Thrasher 108 and had zero knock. 20psi boost in third gear. WTF?

At least I hope its a head gasket. Oil blew out both breathers and completely coated the whole engine compartment. Just to be sure I took the car out for a quick test drive, and as soon as the engine starts to build boost on the boost gauge blue smoke starts POURING out the back.

The thing I dont understand is the car is also running like crap now, it wants to stall and has no balls at all. Could this be from the loss of compression or what? I think I blew her pretty good but I have no way of knowing which side. Also I dont see any signs of coolant in the oil

Could the fact that this was a Jaspers replacement block (installed by previous owner) have something to do with this whole thing?

The WORST thing about the whole mess is that it happened on my very first pass and I didnt get to tune the chassis at all

 

[Russ Merritt]

Sound like the turbo not the headgaskets. Take off the DP and elbow and have a look at the turbine wheel. You should also do a compression test, probably first thing. That will tell alot of what's up.

 

[azgn]

stop driving the car

run a compression/leak down test

you are lucky so far not to have contaminated your oil

 

[SilverSleeper]

Dude, that sucks!
All that oil.. sounds like a turbo problem.
Definately check compression, but I would pull the up pipe, and look to see if the turbo is the source of the oil.
Its possible, even without knock, that some part of the HG has been weakened over time, and that pass was enough to blow it out.

 

[azgn]

it sure as hell isn't a turbo seal....the gasket is blown to the outside of the head or in the intake.......not near a water jacket

 

[Russ Merritt]

IF it's coming out the breathers. It might be hard to tell if the oil is everywhere. He says blue smoke "POURS" out the exhaust with no power at all, that sounds like the turbo. The compression test will tell the story.

 

[blackbuick87]

Thats what I thought azgn, it wouldnt be blowing all over the engine bay if it was the turbo. And I just checked the turbo last week and it was perfect.

It figures the first time I take a trailer to the track is the time my car couldnt make it home on its own. JINX

My only question is why is it running so bad now? There is no knocking or anything, just a really slight tick when the engine is revved some. Could the loss of compression cause the power loss and crappy idle?

I would think it would have to be blown real bad for that to happen

 

[Russ Merritt]

"Out the back" not the exhaust. Sorry

 

[azgn]

just do the leakdown (or take a real close look/listen around your heads....you'll find a pooched gasket prolly)

been there, done that (a lot.....)

that "little tick" is compression leaking.....

 

[blackbuick87]

It should be noted a good part of the smoke was caused by oil being all over the headers and downpipe also
I need to power wash the whole thing anyways, so after I clean things up I will look for some material sticking out as Woody says.

Could it be blown into the lifter valley, which is pressurizing under the valve covers and blowing the oil out the breathers?

Oh finally, what should I use to get the oil of the entire a$$ end of my car

 

[blackbuick87]

ttt