Ok, for about the past week and a half, I've noticed that it takes a couple seconds for me to build up any oil pressure on start-up. I was optimistic and just assumed it was the gauge going bad. Well, after popping the hood today, I found that I was rather low on coolant, and that I also had a rusty dipstick (which I didn't have before). What are the odds that this is only a blown head-gasket, as opposed to a crack somewhere in the block and/or head? Fortunately I never really need to drive anywhere (on a regular basis) that I can't walk, so that's not a terribly pressing issue, but it /is/ my only vehicle. The only thing I know to do is pull the head and see what I find. Any other suggestions? Also, should I bother changing the oil before while it sets, but before I tear into it? Between classes and work, it may be a week before I tear into it.

Chris

What color is oil? is it mucky like oil and coolant have mixed?
if it is , could try retorque head bolts.
they also sell block seal that can seal a small crack.

Using any kind of a dump-it-in-while-the-engine-is-in-the-car "block sealer" or "crack fixer" is absolutely begging for your problems to get a great deal more expensive and extensive.

Yes, it sounds like you might well be getting coolant in the oil. Probably a bad head gasket. Retorquing is not the correct fix, nor is pouring gookum into the cooling system; replacement of the gasket is (together with a careful cleanout of the contaminated crankcase).

Makapipip's question about the oil appearance is a good one. Also, what does the oil smell like?

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

TransX

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

...one day, I hope to have SlantSixDan down from Canaduh and we can go riding in a few of the junkyard specials that I have that are held together with gookum, JBweld and bailing wire and run like Swiss stink! I'm thinking of taking the Jolly Green Giant to the track after I swap in a 3.55... I still haven't broken $500 on that one, and it was sitiing in the boneyard from 1987 till 2004!

Doing stuff right is so boring!

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!