Shop Saturn Head Gaskets

I am a bit confused, i have an 04 Saturn ion2 with a 2.2 Liter Dohc engine. It has a blown head gasket, i have been told that there is an O-ring somewhere in the engine that will also make it act like a blown head gasket? Is this true? The car has approx. 173k mi.
If this is true where would this O-ring(s) be located?

Well, I guess that depends on what you mean by "act like a blown head gasket". What symptoms are you describing?

Water in the oil, and steam out of the exhaust. I already have the head off ( Not warped even!) but i have heard people say " oh, yeah it's just a 20 cent o-ring" any validity to this claim?

No, not really. Did you send this head to a machine shop? These Saturn heads are pretty prone to cracks. What you are describing are really 2 different issues. A breach between an oil port and coolant wouldn't necessarily cause steam in the exhaust and vise-versa. They also have issues with leaking engine oil coolers but again, no steam in the exhaust. Something is not adding up here.

Will send to machine shop next week. I will ask them to check for cracks. I noticed a spot on the #4 cylinder wher it looks as if the head gasket was broken but, did'nt think about a cracked head 'till you mentioned it.

File in Section: 06 - Engine/Propulsion System

Bulletin No.: 03-06-123-001

Issue Date: November, 2003

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BULLETIN

Subject:
Slight Loss of Coolant or Low Coolant Light Coming On with No Signs of External Leaks (Perform Service Procedure in this Bulletin)

Models Affected:

2003-2004 Saturn VUE and ION
2004 L300 Vehicles
with 2.2L Engine (VINs D, F - RPO L61)

Attention:
Parts Manager and Technician

Condition:

Some customers may comment that the low coolant light is coming on and/or the coolant level is low with no external leaks visible. Low coolant may be accompanied by one of the following when the engine is cold:

^ engine being difficult to start

^ engine misfire for several seconds

^ white smoke or coolant odor from the tailpipe

Cause:

This condition may be caused by porosity in the aluminum of the cylinder head casting.

Correction:

Follow service procedure in this bulletin.

Service Procedure:

Diagnostic Checks

1. Verify low coolant level.

2. Inspect all coolant hoses and connections for coolant leaks.

^ If leaks are found, replace hoses and/or tighten clamps as necessary and return vehicle to the customer.

^ If no leaks are found, check engine oil for signs of coolant contamination. Add black light dye (SA9176NE) to the cooling system and start engine. Run engine until it is at normal operating temperature 180°F (82°C) to allow the dye to circulate through the system.

3. Pressurize cooling system to 25 psi (172 kpa) and monitor gauge for pressure loss during remaining inspections.

^ Inspect complete cooling system hoses and connections for visual signs of external leaks using the black light (J42220).

^ Remove spark plugs and inspect threads for wetness from coolant and check with black light (J42220).

^ Using a flashlight, inspect combustion chambers for any sign of wetness from coolant.

4. If no pressure loss and no signs of internal or external leaks, return vehicle to customer.

5. If pressure gauge shows loss of pressure and there is evidence of external leakage from hoses or other external cooling system components, correct the leak using the appropriate service manual procedures.

^ If coolant is present on any spark plug thread or visible in a combustion chamber, replace the cylinder head. (Refer to the "Cylinder Head Replacement" procedures in the appropriate 2.2 (L61) Engine Mechanical Service Manual for the vehicle being repaired.)

^ If pressure gauge shows loss of pressure and no external leaks, remove cylinder head and inspect cylinder liner height to block deck surface for flushness.

- If a cylinder liner is not flush with the block (lower than block surface), replace the cylinder block. (Refer to the "Cylinder Block Replacement" procedures in the appropriate 2.2 (L61) Engine Mechanical Service Manual for the vehicle being repaired.)

- If all cylinder liners are flush with he block surface, replace the cylinder head. (Refer to the "Cylinder Head Replacement" procedures in the appropriate 2.2 (L61) Engine Mechanical Service Manual for the vehicle being repaired.)

6. Verify leaks have been corrected.

Ok thanks, I hope i don't have to replace the cylinder head. I am getting the tell-tale white smoke from the tailpipe. Also the milky oil contamination so i guess i might have to replace the head.

I have a 1995 saturn sl.( 120,000) it starts to overheat with out the ac on and when at an idle. with the ac on it ok. it does have coolant. the fan turns on with ac but seems to turn off with out it. I checked the relays and fuses. all ok.

No, assuming the cap is holding pressure as it should, you could have a blown head gasket pumping combustion gases into the cooling system.

Hey guys!

Total newbie here. First off:

2000 Saturn SL1
4 Cyl/1.9 L Engine, 168,000 Miles

For about 3 years now my head gasket was leaking up top but not enough to justify a full on repair (I was only about 1/4 quart low when changed at 3000 miles).

Finally 3 months ago my coolant light went off and I noticed it was a tad low so I refilled it. 3 days later, the light went on again and now the tank was empty. I panicked and hunted for a well rated body shop. I found someone near my house and this is what I was told:

My coolant was mixing with my oil and my head cylinder (?) was cracked.

After a very costly repair, I was told that they replaced the cylinder, the head gasket, did an oil change (obviously), and they did a "quick flush" of the coolant. They did tell me after that I should probably flush it again in a bit to get out any residule oil that makes its way out of the engine over time. I figured this was all done and now I wouldn't have the leak anymore, right?

So this weekend, 3 months later, I stop to get my oil changed. The mechanic there says there is a "good amount" of oil still in the coolant resevoir (goo is coating the cap). My head gasket it also leaking majorly and I was down a quart.

My issue is this: I am not a car person. I know that. I am very ignorant on the workings of my engine but I am trying. How do I get them to fix this problem? What if they say this wasn't their fault and it will cost me another $1700 to fix? I don't know enough to refute anything they say...

How do I handle this? I do my own minor repair work but this is far from minor.

Please help.

C

Go back to the shop that did the head gasket job if there's still time under their warranty of their work. In general try not to nurse problems along till they become much harder and more expensive up to hopeless sometimes. It's near impossible to know every possible problem that might have been caused by the original loss of coolant into the oil,

T

Did they replace the head? If not did the original head get tested for cracks? These were terrible engines for cracking heads.

As Tom said, you shouldn't have left that original issue be for 3 weeks, let alone 3 years. They tend to be like a fine wine, they get way more expensive with age.

I replaced the oilcooler, and head gaskets, 158,000 miles. not sure I got the coolant lines right at the block. hoses from and to heater core, and the coolant fill tank- Its over heating, and boiling back into overflow tank. does the overflow tank connect at one of the two side by side inlets below the crossover housing? and the heater hose on the crossover?

Is this your thread?

http://autoforums.carjunky.com/Automotive_Repair_C1/Engine_Fault_Codes_F29/engine_fault_codes_P126059/gforum.cgi?post=122865;t=search_engine#122865