Questions and Answers

Buick Head Gasket Q. Dear Mr. Vincent, This is the second time I'm asking help from your wonderful web site. My previous question was on Century Engine Knock. Okay, I have a 1996 Buick Century, 80,000 miles, V-6, SFI.

The engine developed a noise sounds like lifter about two months ago. And the car is also losing power (does accelerate well), hesitates when at stop light (or completely stops in a few minutes if I don't drive it after engine started) and it was also consuming coolant. (Problems with O2 sensor and linear EGR valve was fixed after I got your advice last time) Then yesterday when I checked the engine oil, it looks white and has foam in it (I didn't noticed it before). There's not a lot oil in the radiator, but I can see trace of oil if I look close.

I posted a message in your forum under GM product, and another very nice guy told me it is cylinder head gasket or cylinder head. I then find something to read about head gasket and was convinced that it might be the problem.

I'm planing to change the gasket by myself, since it doesn't need any special tools. But I still want to hear your advice before I start. Do you think it's the problem with head gasket? Can I possibly do it by my self? (I'm been changing engine oil and cleaned the EGR valve by myself. I also has a repair manual for it.)

A. There is a test you can do to see what the problem is. You need a tool called a radiator pressure tester. Fill the radiator with water, pressurize the system and remove all the spark plugs. Wait until you see if any coolant/water is running out of any of the cylinder. If a head gasket is blown you will see something come out of one or more cylinders. Sometimes you may have to crank engine while watching for which cylinder is puffing out water. Then you remove the head and check the gasket. If gasket is not blown you need to have that head check'd for cracks.

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