well, it ran quite well for about a week. a couple nights ago, the low coolant light came on, i checked it, level was normal, so i figured the sensor just went bad. then the next day, i start the car, and it blows white smoke (obscene amounts) out the exhaust that smells like coolant, but there is no coolant in my oil. since lt-1's are reverse flow and cool the heads first, it it still possible that its a headgasket? my oil is clean and great. car gets good oil pressure, isnt overheating. though tonight it started to stumble under 2000rpms... but its been very wet, so i think thats the dreaded opti.

anyways, my questions are:

how hard are the head gaskets, honestly? ive done them on hondas only.. took me 45 mins.

if it isnt the head gaskets, what else could it be?

is it possible that the car has started to run a bit rough because the spark plugs have coolant on them?


i honestly think this car is a lemon at this point. owned for a month, bad fuel pump, bad clutch, now head gaskets and maybe opti.

it was going to be my DD until basic, but i just want to park it and get a beater until i can afford to rebuild the engine, unless its an easy fix.

 

If the plugs have coolant on them that would definetely make it run rough.

My car runs worse when it's extremely wet outside to, but that could just be bad plug wires. Have you changed the wires and plugs yet?

 

to be honest, i havent had time... i bought the car about a month ago, and it started to fall apart.. that and working 40+ hours a week from 5pm til the wee hours of the night doesnt give me much time to do it..

 

Really sounds like a head gasket.Its not that hard,just time consuming.Intake and exhaust manifolds off,unbolt the heads.Get them checked for flatness and cracks.Install is reverse of removal. ; )

 

i cant imagine the back bolts being fun.... i guess i have to disconnect all fuel lines and all wiring that goes to the intake manifold?

 

You're the perfect candidate for a leakdown test. Look for bubbles in the radiator. BEFORE you do anything else.