Head gasket

[jeff2023]

Hi all,
I have a Vu ute v6 , it blew a top rad hose and overheated a bit , got a new hose and filled the system back up and drove around 300kms.

it hasnt over heated again , but i have a misfire at idle ?

Aslo i have a bit of water vapor from the exhaust ?

rad hose feels like it has pressure in a few minutes after starting.

Car has 260,000 kms

Do these symptoms sound like its blown the head gasket ? Or maybe the inlet gaskets ?

Im going to do a compression test later to day.

Any help much appreciated , thanks ?

 

[Phillbert]

Your compression test will tell a lot, will know more then.
Is there gunk under the radiator cap, brown sludge? or in the Return tank?

 

[jeff2023]

Your compression test will tell a lot, will know more then.
Is there gunk under the radiator cap, brown sludge? or in the Return tank?

Theres no gunk, but i just run it with the rad cap of and my hand over the top, its defo building pressure and smells like exhaust gas in radiator ?

So has to be head gasket i think ?

 

[Lex]

Theres no gunk, but i just run it with the rad cap of and my hand over the top, its defo building pressure and smells like exhaust gas in radiator ?

So has to be head gasket i think ?

Inlet manifold gaskets.

 

[Immortality]

Theres no gunk, but i just run it with the rad cap of and my hand over the top, its defo building pressure and smells like exhaust gas in radiator ?

So has to be head gasket i think ?

That does suggest a head gasket issue or worse.

Compression test should reveal all.

 

[jeff2023]

So done the compression test
The cylinder near the brake master cylinder was 75 psi , also coolant on spark plug

All the rest were 110 ish and no coolant on the plugs

 

[Immortality]

Well you have your answer.

 

[Fu Manchu]

 

[jeff2023]

Is this gasket kit any good ?

And are the cast heads normally ok with a clean up ?

https://www.maceengineering.com.au/...-FOR-HOLDEN-COMMODORE-VS-VY-ECOTEC-L36-38L-V6

 

[Immortality]

Never used those gaskets so can't comment but for a stock rebuild I see no reason why not.

As for the heads, they are known to crack between the In./ex. valve seats but no way to know if it's a problem until you get them off. I did a set recently that had some minor cracks in the exhaust seats but the head guy who did them wasn't concerned and the cleaned up fine with a valve seat grind and the heads/engine runs fine and no coolant leaks.