Pressure test the cooling system with the sparkler from 4 removed. I believe drowssap is thinking it's traveling either down the intake flange or a cracked intake runner..... don't know for sure.

 

That's what I recommend.

 

I'm planning running a pressure test again this week. My brother in law works for Prestige Rover in North Jersey. He suggested removing the plug and sticking a camera in there. He is coming by one day and we are gonna mess around with it.

 

Little update. Since I had time I figured I would change the belt and replace the large idler.. also ran a combustion gas check on the coolant. It came up negative(a positive thing... ). does this sound like something that can happen?

I'm procrastinating the pressure test. Might run a compression check for the hell of it considering the 146311 on the clock.

 

if it is not in your coolant, then you need to redo your pressure test you missed something.
pressurize the system to 18 psi and pull and tog on every hose, it has to go somewhere.

 

I have every intention of that drowssap. By any chance, will it hurt to overpressurize the system? Just wondering as I feel that may show the leak. I plan on testing it cold and hot. I know opening that reservoir hot is not an inviting proposition... and more than likely a messy one.

Took it around the block.. I'm gonna add that I don't smell coolant in the exhaust or at all for that matter. Yet there is a trace of that ridiculous fishtail noise behind The dash.

 

ive gone to 20 psi with no problems

 

I figured a little extra pressure couldn't hurt.

I did take it for a short drive out to lunch at noon. No smoke on startup, no pending misfire code. Just the usual 02 codes I'm dealing with. No smoke or anything on the way there either for that matter(3 mile drive one way).

Stayed with some friends for about 2 hours. Started the engine, 02 codes, pending 300,304. Smoke. Its 56* or there abouts. This is what I see coming out of the tailpipe. I cannot smell anything except for rich eye burning exhaust. I did find this under the Oil filler neck as well.

little video of the smoke. You can hear me trying to get a good sniff..

 

If you're intermittently getting a misfire on #4 WITH coolant loss, your head gasket is more than likely leaking into that cylinder. I am guessing that the block is not cracked because it would overheat very quickly. What was the cause for the head gasket failure? What were the symptoms when the gasket, or gaskets, went bad?

 

It wasn't actually a headgasket failure. I bought a full top end gasket kit due to extreme coolant loss. Turned out the lower intake manifold gaskets where completely gone. I replaced the HG purely because I had the engine torn down that far. When I did the repair I went into it thinking I lost the HGs. It has yet to overheat. I'd love for it to be as simple as a headgasket failure. I really would.