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OT: Sunbird Head Gasket? Cheap Fix?

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green fever

05-05-2005 14:38:08




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My 1990 Pontiac Sunbird convertible with 2.0L engine started smoking (more like steaming) out the exhaust on my way home from work the other day. I got home from the 5 mile drive and the radiator was 1/2 empty. Most likely the head gasket gave away I assume. No water in the oil just vapor out the exhaust. The car has not been hot so I don't think the engine is hurt. Has anyone tried a quick easy fix with success such as "liquid glass" poured in the radiator to seal cracked heads and such. An estimate to repair it with a new gasket set was $400-500 for parts and labor. The car is worth about that much as it sits. Any thoughts on a cheap fix? It is not our main vehicle just a runabout. Too good of gas mileage to get rid of but not worth fixing for that price.

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lucasss

05-07-2005 09:03:13




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 Re: OT: Sunbird Head Gasket? Cheap Fix? in reply to green fever, 05-05-2005 14:38:08  
i have to wonder about leak sealers. if they can clog a leak ,wont they also clogg up the small passageways in the radiator and heater core?? lucas



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MarkB_MI

05-05-2005 19:29:01




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 Re: OT: Sunbird Head Gasket? Cheap Fix? in reply to green fever, 05-05-2005 14:38:08  
Green,

Can you buy another car as good as your Sunbird for 500 bucks? If the answer is "no", then bite the bullet and get it fixed.



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rockyhawaii

05-05-2005 19:23:28




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 Re: OT: Sunbird Head Gasket? Cheap Fix? in reply to green fever, 05-05-2005 14:38:08  
I've done a couple of head jobs on Sunbirds in order to sell them. I'd say it's worth it because it's a convertible, and I could sell them all day long. The hardtops aren't worth much. Be sure to have the head re-done by a competent machinist and you should be ok.



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Ron in Nebr

05-05-2005 18:14:44




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 Re: OT: Sunbird Head Gasket? Cheap Fix? in reply to green fever, 05-05-2005 14:38:08  
I don't think any of the "quick fixes" are gonna fix your problem. Most all of them are made to seal leaks from the cooling system to atmospheric pressure only. Average cooling system runs around 15psi.

Since you have smoke out your exhaust you are most likely leaking from the cooling system into the cylinder, and the pressures of combustion inside the cylinder produce over 120psi.

Have you considered getting a manual and changing the head gasket yourself? It really isn't that bad of a job. Or find some kid in a high school shop class and see if he would fix it for less than the shop estimate is.

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caseyc

05-05-2005 15:16:15




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 Re: OT: Sunbird Head Gasket? Cheap Fix? in reply to green fever, 05-05-2005 14:38:08  
when i've needed to get by mendtite has always done the job. i get it at my local carquest. it has sealed more than one head until i could get around to fixing it. don't know how long it will last. had one go for a year before i fixed it and it was still holding..... .

casey in SD



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Eddie in MI

05-06-2005 17:37:28




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 Mendtite? what is that? in reply to caseyc, 05-05-2005 15:16:15  
Never heard of it. Can you tell me a little more? Is it a putty or a liquid? Sounds like something that could come in handy. How expesive is it?

TIA



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caseyc

05-07-2005 05:57:01




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 Re: Mendtite? what is that? in reply to Eddie in MI, 05-06-2005 17:37:28  
it is a liquid. comes in about a pint size bottle. i have best luck dumping it straight into the engine ie. the thermostat housing. i have a chevy 6.5 diesel with 200k on it. it was useing antifreeze at the rate of a gallon a week(about 400 miles). i was not in position to fix it and my local carquest said to try it. that was last june. i hav"nt added any antifreeze since. it cost about $8.00.

casey in SD

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Matthew G

05-19-2005 15:11:28




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 Re: Mendtite? what is that? in reply to caseyc, 05-07-2005 05:57:01  
I used it on my Ford eXploder, which had a very slowly leaking head gasket. That was two years ago. it stopped the leak or slowed it way down. Now, after two years, it is slowing leaking again and I am going to dump another bottle of medtite.

Good stuff.

Matthew (formerly in SD)



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Larry E

05-05-2005 19:35:23




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 Re: OT: Sunbird Head Gasket? Cheap Fix? in reply to caseyc, 05-05-2005 15:16:15  

Barrs leak is best,can get Walmart.



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