blown head gasket

[kahng@nimo.com]

The 86 5ks 160K miles, (KZ NA engine) has been sucking coolant and blowing
white smoke for awhile.  I've been adding lots of coolant and living with
it but will be replacing the head gasket, hoses and lifters in the near
term.

Here's the latest complication.  The oil pressure indicator on the self
check system came in when when I drove it a few days ago when accelerating.
I assumed that my engine was toast, because I heard a bit of knocking, but
when I checked it, there appeared to be a good supply of oil making it up
to the head.  I conclude that one of my lifters has collapsed since it
doesn't sound like a rod knock, but I'm not sure.  I'm not a total fanatic
about oil changes, but  its never more than 4500 to 5000 miles.

I thought that maybe the coolant is making its way into the oil, creating a
milky goo which is plugging up the oil pump suction and starving the pump
so I used some engine flush on it (STP) and changed the oil and filter.
BTW, the oil didn't look like it had any water in it although I do have a
small amount of white goo under the valve cover cap lately. The engine is
much quieter since I changed the oil, but theres still a bit of knocking.
Also, I'm still seeing the oil pressure indicator at startup and
occasionally while driving the car.

Any recommendations besides don't drive the thing with suspect oil pressure
indications?  I've only been driving it several miles at a crack to my car
pool parking lot pending repair of the head gasket.

Any recommendations?  Should I pull the pan and check out the pickup screen
during the valve gasket repair?


Jerry