FOXRACER91

Alright guys I'm in need of some advice. Im about 99.9% sure ive got a blown head gasket in my 03 GT. For starters it has a few bolt ons...cold air, throttle body, throttle body spacer, intake manifold, and exhaust. However, a couple of months ago i starting having problems with my coolant system. First it was my upper radiator hose, then my lower radiator hose, then my radiator, and now one of my heater core lines. I also had a problem with a vacuum leak/idle air control valve in the midst of all this. And today i noticed a miss in the engine, so i ran the codes on it and it came back as a number 2 cylinder misfire and running lean. After switching coils around to see if i had a bad coil i also noticed that im starting to get an oil leak out of the valve cover grommet near the number 4 cylinder (and is more obvious and bubbles while the engine is hot and still under pressure). I'm also losing coolant now and i don't notice any obvious leaks, but there is also none coming out of the exhaust. Oh and i can also hear what sounds to be like an exhaust leak coming from the right side of the engine as well (maybe just a coincidence and more money out of my pocket?). So the real question is...do i have a head gasket blown? and if so while im tearing it down to replace it what should i go back with (new head studs? etc).

Doyon

Losing coolant with no real notice of a leak says head gasket to me, thats what was happening to mine. I had a #2 misfire as well, it had coolant in it.

Best of luck to you!

FOXRACER91

Did you replace it yourself?

Doyon

No, I had no place to do it at, plus I needed it ASAP. So to the shop it went.

FOXRACER91

Update: Took it out for a spin to see if there was any difference, but this time it had a real rough miss until it warmed up, then it was virtually gone. However, the check engine light would flash periodically while i was driving it.

russellthelovemuscle

to be sure if you have a blown head gasket 1st. check your oil dip stick. if your oil comes up milky brown like coffe, your boned. if regular oil comes out, your most likely in luck. after that do a compression check, that will tell you for sure. if you want to skip that and build up the antisipation, pull out your spark plugs, check to see if there burning coolant. if so i believe it will be a reddish color, but i could be wrong on that last one.

russellthelovemuscle

also, i wouldn't drive it around until you are sure whats wrong with it. a blown head gasket in a running motor will only lead to horrible things happening to your baby. if its just a blown head gasket, $300 for arp head studs and fel pro heavy duty gasket.

russellthelovemuscle

it will be way cheaper then say. a new long block worst case senario

FOXRACER91

I have been checking the dipstick daily but i checked it today and the worst came true. Looked like rotten milk all over the dipstick, so it looks like im gonna be tearing the heads off and driving the darn old ford ranger for a couple days. and do you advise the felpro gaskets? or go back with the pi oem ones? and ive been considering the arp head studs seriously.

FOXRACER91

The stang is torn down all the way to the intake manifold. Yet to pull heads or valve covers. I noticed there was coolant on top of my intake valve for cylinder #2. This has me second guessing. Is my intake cracked (which was replaced about 8 months ago along with cold air and throttle body) or is my head gasket still gone and just pushing coolant up on top of my valve?