Bad Head Gasket??

You guessed it. Post your technical questions or solutions about your boat's engine and transmission here.

Moderator: KenKrawford

Post Reply
zman18
Posts: 60
Joined: Mon Sep 30, 2013 11:37 am

Bad Head Gasket??

Post by zman18 »

My engine started reading higher than normal. After much investigation we determined that air is getting into the coolant. Is this the sign of a bad head gasket?
Thanks
John Zoda
Compass Rose
Hull# 484
R.B.
Posts: 233
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2006 2:04 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Bad Head Gasket??

Post by R.B. »

It could be. To test do a leak down test ie . pressurize a cylinder at a time with air and see where the air leaks out. There are several how to videos on you tube.
Ralph

WOLFHELM
C350 #342
wolfe10
Posts: 587
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:58 pm
Location: Ft Myers Florida

Re: Bad Head Gasket??

Post by wolfe10 »

Air getting into coolant or combustion gas getting into coolant. Very different beasts.

And, if air, was the closed cooling system worked on lately-- if so, quite likely the water heater part of the closed cooling system was not bled out properly.

Also, what evidence do you have to support the theory that this is causing (I assume coolant temperature) to be higher than normal?

If high coolant temperature is the primary issue, there are a number of routine Preventive Maintenance steps that will address the most common ones.

Lastly, what year model (so we know age), how many hours on the engine and when was the cooling system last serviced?
Brett Wolfe
C350 #180
"Vindaloo"
Ft Myers FL
Post Reply