head gasket leak...any suggestions?

[Terry]

I just took our '00 Saturn wagon in to my local mechanic, 'add coolant'
light was on,
a little antifreeze on the garage floor. He put it up on the hoist & said
looks like it's leaking
out of the head gasket. -- He put some stop-leak liquid in, for a temporary
fix.
Has anyone on this NG replaced a head gasket on one of these? The car only
has 44K
on it, so I don't want to lay out a lot of $$in labor to let someone else do
it, but
I'd never torn down the engine on one of these....

Terry

 

[Art]

If it were me I would first try Saturn to see if they will pay a share for
the repair.

 

[Kevin M. Keller]

"Terry" <[email protected]> typed until their fingers bled, and came
up with:

Has anyone on this NG replaced a head gasket on one of these?

It isn't too bad of a job. takes me about 8 hours to do in my driveway.

 

[Terry]

Well I wish you were my neighbor, I'd have you help me do it!
I have a garage and tools, but I'm used to working on muscle cars,
I've never did engine work on a 4 cylinder--

Terry

 

[Terry]

I might just try that...I'm the second owner, so I have no warranty
info whatsoever...but any help that I'd get from Saturn would be great...


Terry

 

[Kevin M. Keller]

Well I wish you were my neighbor, I'd have you help me do it!

If you're anywhere near St. Louis, I'd be glad to help.

I have a garage and tools, but I'm used to working on muscle cars,
I've never did engine work on a 4 cylinder--

just think of it as working on 1/2 of a V-8.

 

[just another]

Well I wish you were my neighbor, I'd have you help me do it!
I have a garage and tools, but I'm used to working on muscle cars,
I've never did engine work on a 4 cylinder--

Hint: don't use much muscle! ;-)

 

[Nick Hull]

If it were me I would first try Saturn to see if they will pay a share for
the repair.

If it were me i'd first try re-torquing the head bolts and see it that
stops the leak. Pull them out one-at-a time and clean & oil them to
pull the gasket tight.

 

[Terry]

I might re-torque the head bolts, I did take the car to a mechanic I know,
he put in some stop-leak, said if the leak was real small that might stop
it.
They then pressure-tested it and it seems okay...I've put almost 1K on it
since, so far so good---

 

[jdoe]

Do NOT try retorquing. IIRC these are torque to yield bolts. You WILL do
more harm than good. Bite the bullet and replace the gasket.
Larry

I might re-torque the head bolts, I did take the car to a mechanic I know,
he put in some stop-leak, said if the leak was real small that might stop
it.
They then pressure-tested it and it seems okay...I've put almost 1K on it
since, so far so good---

 

[Terry]

Do NOT try retorquing. IIRC these are torque to yield bolts. You WILL do
more harm than good. Bite the bullet and replace the gasket.
Larry

I might re-torque the head bolts, I did take the car to a mechanic I know,
he put in some stop-leak, said if the leak was real small that might stop
it.
They then pressure-tested it and it seems okay...I've put almost 1K on it
since, so far so good---

Yes I would follow my mechanic's advice before trying some backyard
re-torquing...
Does it seem wierd that this would happen with only 45K on the car??

 

[regigi]

well i have a 94 saturn sl, I was told that I can just replace the gasket
seal, the seal cost about $22. anyone no any thing else different i can
do.