Georgia Fiero Club Forum
All Things Fiero => Tech Tips, Tech Questions => Topic started by: NoobKevin on August 19, 2019, 08:44:12 pm
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I just fired up my 86 GT after replacing both heads. Immediately heavy water vapor began billowing out of the exhaust. Where could I have gone wrong? Could coolant be entering through the intake and into the combustion chamber? Could the heads and and gaskets be good? I have done head swaps before and I have never had a pair do this right after replacement. Also, the oil is as clean as it was out of the bottle. On the upside, the car fired right up and idles like a champ with the exception of the slightly sweet tasting vapor cloud.
NoobKevin
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So, no bubbles or white milky stuff in the oil?
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No, none of that so far. I have not let it run more than a minute or two. Oil looks new
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How is your fuel?
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Dont really know. I have not put gas in it so whatever is in it is what I towed it home with. Thing is, even before I tore the top end down it did not blow this kind of steam.
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Fair enough. Could water have gotten into the exhaust or the fuel while you had the top of the engine torn down?
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I would need to say the odds are unlikely. I plugged the lines and the whole car was covered and under a shelter. I think I made some error and now coolant has access to one or more combustion chambers. I wonder if it is the gaskets I used on the lower intake manifold. They were real thin.
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Were the replacement heads new or used? Did you check them for flatness? Did you check the block for flatness?
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Remanufactured from Rock Auto. I did not check either for flatness short of a carpenter's square.
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Reman heads from Rock Auto should be of a good quality. I would consider a framing square check was sufficient on those heads. If we were talking used heads that's a whole other story.
A intake gasket could have a bad spot where coolant is leaking into an intake port. It does take much coolant to make a pretty good cloud either. If the oil still doesn't show milky I would run the car for a longer period to sort it out. As long as you make sure it doesn't overheat you will be okay.
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Que all the Rock Auto is horrible stories......LOL
With the previous shop and my personal cars I've spent well over 10k and never had an issue.
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The steam cloud is what happened to my 86 a couple of weeks ago. I had driven it more than 30 miles that morning. I stopped for a moment, and when I restarted, it was very difficult to start. Big cloud of steam came out the pipes. Pulled it down to the end of Scott's shop and checked the oil filler cap, and it was chocolate mousse.
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Finally, that story came out. Check your compression.
On this story, checking cylinder compression wouldn't hurt, but I have seen coolant get into the engine by spillage while the top of the engine is off.
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Fierofool...Is the consensus that you overheated and took out a head gasket?
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NoobKevin....If you pull the plugs to check compression keep them in order of what cylinder you pulled them from and see if they smell like coolant.
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Not to highjack Kevin's thread, but MikeMac, it had developed an odd sound on one cylinder upon startup for several weeks. That sound would go away as it warmed up. It didn't overheat on the way over to Scott's. No steam bubbles coming through the tube, but when I parked it, it was overheating.
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I wouldn't consider it hijacking a thread if the issues are similar. It might help with sorting out either car.
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Start your car (engine cold) and run it for a few seconds and shut it down. Immediately open the thermostat cover. If water and bubbles come out, that's a clear sign you have a leak from a cylinder to the water jacket.
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Sounds good. I am unable to tear the motor down again until after labor day and I worry about water in one of the combustion chambers that long.
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Drain the radiator and save the coolant. Pull all the plugs and the coil wire. Crank the engine for at least 10 seconds. This should pump any water out of the cylinders. Then fog the cylinders with oil and replace the plugs.
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Ran it a while and the steam cleared out. My only issue is the motor dies when I get timing to around 12 deg btdc.
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Do you have the ALDL jumpered? Trying to set it at 12* without it jumpered will surely make it stall. Are you sure your degree ring on the balancer hasn't slipped?
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Ran it a while and the steam cleared out. My only issue is the motor dies when I get timing to around 12 deg btdc.
As Fierofool posted, you will have to have the ALDL jumpered when you set the timing, or it will be waaaaay off. To the point that it will barely run.
Also... in order to set the IAC properly, after major work has been done, the car will need to be warmed up and driven for a few miles, at speeds of over 35 MPH, or so.
If your steam went away, I'm guessing that it was just water or condensation that had gotten into the exhaust system. Or maybe even oil smoke from when the engine was reassembled. (Just a wild guess, here.) But as long as it runs okay, your oil and coolant stay clean, and it doesn't steam any more, you should be good.
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I am waiting for a brake line and need to do a bleed to get it road worthy. I smoked a ground wire too so I have some electrical to sort. The check engine is flashing too. I have also found period correct wheels for $75. I just have to drive to Charlotte to get them. If I can I may try to do the RFTH thing. I found the pay membership and did my thing. Could I still come even if I am in a Challenger?
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All sports cars are welcome for RFTH, but even club meetings, and other events.
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Cool, sounds like a good time.
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Yeah...