Head gasket?

[59ghia]

Hello fello Zers

I think my headgasket is on its way out. Or possibly warped or cracked head. Heres the scenario.... Start car in morning, no problem. Engine reaches operating temp no problem. Stop engine to get something from the store lets say 10 minutes. Start car, idles rough, and 10 sec. later I'm a stanley steamer! Were talk'in locomotive type steam out tailpipe! This lasts about 2 min, while its steamin' the idle has smoothed out. after the two minutes of steamin' all is well again. WTF! Here's some more to ponder. If upon getting to the store, I release the pressure in the cooling system, when I start the car after the 10 min in the store scenario, the car does not smoke, and idle is smooth! Question 1) am I running to high of pressure in cooling system? I'll be pulling the head this weekend to check it out but thought I would throw my situation out there and see if anybody could tell me something I'm missing.

Thanks Dave

[Victor Laury]

I think my headgasket is on its way out

From what you described, It's long past out!

[Dave Sommers]

I also think that you have got a bad head gasket. Usually there is also a great deal of compression gas in the cooling system seen as bubbles in the radiator when the cap is off. You can also have some coolant in the oil pan - but not always. You can also run it to the condition that causes the fault, then take out the plugs and look for the coolant.

Trouble for you is it never stops at just a new gasket as since the head is off, might as well freshen up the valves and since the top end will be so strong might as well throw in some new rings....

Godd luck on it.