[s-cars] LONG: failed head gasket causing excessive oil blowby?

[Elijahallen92 at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/28/2004 10:34:09 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
ray at s-cars.org writes:


> Patient:  95.5 S6, 149k miles.  RS2, Garrett hybrid.
> 
> With only small K&N crankcase breather (direct vent to atmosphere) installed
> and daily driving, no measurable crankcase blowby.  At the track, however, I
> would "preserve" the EM with a nice misting of Mobil 1 (here, here, Brian
> and Trevor . . .).
> 
> About 2 weeks ago, I install a GReddy catch can (15mm) with sight glass.
> Normal driving with bursts of heavy boost, no track time, absolutely NO oil
> registering in the sight glass (tube, actually).  Even with GReddy catch
> can, still venting to atmosphere.
> 
> First day at track (yesterday), I am running the car hard.  Real hard.
> Catch can registers about 75% in one session (about 1/2 quart), with another
> 1/2 quart blowing all over the damn engine bay out of my trusty breather.
> Check dipstick - 1 quart low.  I have never noticed this quantity of blowby.
> To further compound the situation, I notice that the damn nipple on the
> radiator expansion tank decided to give up the ghost, but a ziptie and
> racer's tape will fix anything.  (okay, the racer's tape was simply for
> effect).
> 
> I empty the catch can and replace the expansion tank.  Head back out on the
> track.  Climbing up the hill out of Turn 3 at NHIS, I look behind me to see
> thickest white smoke known to man, filling the entire turn.  Sure, I was
> working the tires, but this seemed ridiculous.  Crowd cheers.  A quick
> glance at the gauges shows normal water temps and moderate oil temps, but no
> coolant smell.  After the crest of the hill, no more smoke.  Good throttle,
> boost and brakes.  Pull into the hot pit, (worthless) coolant light is
> blinking at me.  Pull into the paddock, coolant tank about 1/2 full,
> bubbling, below min, but visible in tank.  At no time did the car overheat,
> and both electric and viscous fans operational.  Car has lumpy idle, and
> obvious lifter chatter.
> 
> Catch can AGAIN has about 1/2 qt. of oil in it.  Dipstick reads about 1
> quart low.  I'm beginning to think that my PCV valve is stuck, or something
> is causing excess crankcase pressure.  Car was running like a champ, so no
> reason to believe low compression in one or more cylinders.
> 
> Quick shout to NEA, and a new expansion tank is on the way, along with some
> more coolant, thinking that "if I have it, I won't need it."  Wrong.  After
> the car is cool, I replace the expansion tank and drain the catch can.
> Start car - lumpy idle, LOTS of white smoke.  Blip throttle - still white.
> Coolant level doesn't drop, temps come up to normal, smoke disappears.  Shut
> car off, cool down for 2 hours.  At end of day, start car.  Lumpy idle, lots
> of white smoke.  Exhaust doesn't smell rich with coolant.  I begin to think
> fouled plug, faulty injector or failing coil/POS.  After car is warm, smoke
> disappears and idle smooths out somewhat (7A exhaust cam is a little lumpy
> with the big turbo).  Decide that test drive is in order.  Shut car off for
> a few minutes while I clean up my mess.  Car starts hard (barely), lumpy
> idle, and lots of white smoke.  Idle for 20 minutes or so, drive around
> paddock, no coolant loss or usage, but I did not get into the boost.  Smoke
> disappears, idle smooths out.  Everyone agrees that I am simply paranoid.
> Maybe they were right?  WRONG.
> 
> Leave track for drive home.  Despite lumpy idle, car pulls just as strong as
> always and holds boost.  Turbo sounds fine.  Under heavy boost on the road,
> I see the same rich puff of smoke that I have always seen with this turbo
> and Uncle Bob's RS2 software.  NO oil blowby registering in the catch can,
> but I only got into the boost twice, and for brief spurts only.
> 
> Trip back from NHIS to Boston takes about 1 hour 15 minutes while observing
> MOST traffic laws.  After 3o minutes, coolant light comes on.  Reservoir is
> again at 50%, just enough to trigger the switch.  I grab a burger and allow
> car to cool for 2 minutes.  I top off the coolant, fire it up.  Lumpy idle
> and misfire immediately returns on startup, plenty of white smoke.  After
> warm, misfire, lumpy idle and white smoke disappear.
> 
> NO, I have not YET performed a leakdown or compression test.  Car pulls like
> hell.  NO, I have not YET pulled the plugs.
> YES, it drinks coolant (1/2 gallon in 1 hour).  And YES, I can now smell
> coolant in the exhaust.  NO, I am not seeing any coolant foaming on the
> dipstick.
> 
> I'm thinking that a blown head gasket is causing coolant to fill one or more
> cylinders, causing the lumpy idle.  Assuming that the head is still fine,
> any reason to believe that a blown headgasket is causing excessive crankcase
> pressure sufficient to push 1 quart of oil out of the head in 30 minutes of
> track time, or is it possible that my PCV is stuck or otherwise faulty???
> (Yes, I will check the valve's operation when I have the head off the car).
> 
> Aside from tearing down the motor, am I missing anything obvious?  Tomorrow
> is a new day (for some people, that is).
> 
> TIA,
> 
> Ray Tomlinson
> 

Ray,
 When I blew my head gasket I looked at it as an opportunity to do the things 
I never thought I would like port and polished head, pauder rods, multi layer 
steel head gasket, ARP studs, piston rings, and all the gaskets I could get 
my hands on. I bought a head that was already port and polished so I do have an 
extra head if you end up needing one. Good luck,

Elijah