1998 Ford Taurus Is it a head gasket or exhaust valve

DN4192

MEMBER
1998 FORD TAURUS
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
129,700 MILES

How can you tell if the problem with your engine is a damaged head gasket or a burnt exhaust valve? The "only" signs my engine has issues is that I am getting air out the radiator overflow jug. Besides that the car is running fine. I am getting no white smoke out the tail pipe, I have no loss of oil, I have no white gunk on the oil stick. I am getting about 20-21 mpg in the city. There is no fluid coming from the engine. I do have low compression in the No. 1 cylinder but the engine runs very well. How do I tell without tearing down the entire engine?

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 AT 5:26 PM

1 Reply

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there, a wet comp test will prove a faulty valve, this is when a small amount of oil (enough to cover the rings only, a few squirts with an oil can) with the oil sealing the rings, if the comp is still low the valves are at fault, if the comp increases the rings are at fault, you can have a head CO test done, this is a chemical test of the cooling system gasses, if Co is detected you will have a gasket problem.

Mark (mhpautos)

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Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 AT 5:55 PM