Head gasket help

[Lawman_745]

Ok, I have a 91 ex, and the head gasket is done. I checked the oil today, and the cap had antifreeze on it and the oil looks like chocolate milk. It has also started using oil and antifreeze like mad. How long does changing a head gasket take, and what am I getting into when doing this?

[N9netwoAccord]

all depends on your skill level. you'll want to get the head resurfaced when you pull it off, so plan on at least a day for that... so i guess it could depend on your machine shop too how long they take

[lucid]

It could be a one day job if nothing is warped, but the biggest issue is you're supposed to check for warpage with a precision straightedge to make sure the bottom of the head and the top of the block are still flat enough to seal. Maybe that and definitely any head resurfacing work should probably be done by a machine shop, so you'll have to wait for them to get it back to you.
It will probably be two or three days realistically. Are you going to do the work yourself?
It is fairly inexpensive to rebuild a head if so, lap the valve seats by hand and replace the valve stem oil seals while you're in there, for less than 20 bucks.

edit: There was only one post when I started typing, dammit!


You'll need to take off the timing belt, thermostat housing, valve cover, I think (even on SOHC?) the camshaft to get to the head bolts, loosen them in order and lift the head off. You can take the intake manifold off after the head is out of the car.

[Lawman_745]

Well I'm going to school right now, so I'm doing all the work by myself. Also sounds like its going to be expensive too.....

[marquisdee1018]

With only hand tools and a chiltons, I had it done in two days. It was my first time doing a head gasket. I'm sure most people can do it in one day. As far as price, it's not that expensive at all.

[Gotz Cb7]

Definitely get it shaved. If your Oil looks like chocolate milk, and there's anti-freeze in your cap, it's been blown for quite awhile. No sense in pullin' the entire head, replacin' the gasket, and down the road, the same problem occurs because it was warped.

[lucid]

Well I'm going to school right now, so I'm doing all the work by myself. Also sounds like its going to be expensive too.....

Not necessarily, not near as bad as it would be to pay someone. The Carquest machine shop near me charges about $60 for resurfacing and hot tanking, which you don't even need if you're lucky enough and everything's flat.
You have to get a new head gasket, maybe $50-$60
I would get a new (timing side) camshaft oil seal, a new cam (plug) seal, a few bucks each
And a valve cover gasket set, with grommets and spark plug tube seals, maybe 35 bucks
You'll need an intake manifold gasket if you take that off, <$20
You might be able to reuse your exhaust manifold gasket, or $25 for a new one
Maybe you could do the machine shop work at school or use their tools if you want to check for warpage or resurface. You'll need to use a valve spring compressor to disassemble the valve and spring assemblies if you resurface.
Then you would need new valve stem seals, which are only about $15 a set from honda...and will keep you from burning oil for a long time.

I have put a resurfaced, rebuilt head back on a block that was actually still warped enough to let coolant seep out around the gasket. Make sure everything is flat or it will all be for nothing.

[Lawman_745]

Well im going to WVU, and I dont have the tools or money to pay someone to fix it right now.......................Barrs leak here I come!!!

[lucid]

Oh, sorry, I thought you meant school as in engine tech.
Good luck with the leak sealer, I don't know about all that.
Sorry you're almost 200 miles away.


The machine shop will do anything you can't do. You could just take the head to them as disassembled as you can get it with basic tools, and they can do the rest. It will cost money. More than $100 but maybe less than 200. If you're going to cut corners anyway, technically you could just buy a head gasket, leave the intake manifold on the head and slap it right back on with the new gasket...but you're throwing the dice on reliability. Some old school mechanics use sealant on head gaskets, which might give you an ok chance. That's a one day job with just basic tools and a couple torque wrenches. AutoZone has loaner tools you don't have to pay for...just make a refundable deposit.

[Lawman_745]

Thanks for the help man. My plan is right now to use that stop leak and save up to do it right. I would even like to do a rebuild at the same time.

[reaction360]

I'd rather pull the motor out and do it outside the car then in the car. its a pain. I'm putting an A6 in my 93 dx right now and I'm taking care of the head gasket, timing belt n water pump now! haha. good luck.

[lucid]

I'd rather pull the motor out and do it outside the car then in the car.

Me too, way more elbow room.

[N9netwoAccord]

I'd rather pull the motor out and do it outside the car then in the car. its a pain. I'm putting an A6 in my 93 dx right now and I'm taking care of the head gasket, timing belt n water pump now! haha. good luck.

so you'd rather pull a full motor rather then half? sounds like a horrible idea.

pulling a head on these cars should take no more then an hour, thats being generous. my friend and i had the head off his integra in less than 20 minutes before.

[lucid]

I'd pull the whole motor on my ride, prob. not a customer in a hurry.
Of course I don't care about time so much as doing it right.
It should only take a couple hours to pull the whole motor.
You could then take the complete block to the machine shop and have them check to make sure the deck is flat.
With the engine on an engine stand and not in the bay, it is way easier to assemble everything...Especially installiing the intake manifold, doing the timing system and adjusting the valves.

I think maybe I just like to pull motors tho

[Lawman_745]

Well tore into the head today. Warped and it also broke a valve which burnt to the piston in cylinder 1. Currently looking for a h22.