OMG totally Awesome INFO Im a single mom of two and bought a used Equinox (2005) back in October and in March thermostat was replaced, Two weeks later my gaskets go out! I was QOUTED $1500 with labor to replace but $3000 if they have to send parts out to be resurficed!!!! By no means is this in my budget this boosted my confidence alil bc i found someone who is a experienced retired Mechanic with great referals to do it at cost plus only $300 for labor!
Hey Pete, just wanted to say- thank you very much for taking the time to document and share this! I bought an 05 and soon discovered a host of problems. Broken EGR pipe... ABS madness.. crazy oil leaks... heater core leak and so on. No differential bearing failure thankfully. I'm parting up and getting ready to tear everything apart and fix it all, clean the plenum just like you did. May not have to do the HG. Seeing it all opened up in this video is extremely helpful!
I changed the head gaskets on my 05 Equinox last weekend. This video was a good starting place for tips. It took me 9 hours to get it apart, 15 hours to put it back together. I took great caution cause I did not want to break any bolts (broke one on the top end exhaust exchange, easily fixed). Good news was, I put it back together and it started right up like it was brand new. The fuel line tool was a good tip, definitely needed that little tool. This original post is older, my car has many more years and miles on it. This job was physically harder that what I was expecting but I stuck with it. Another tip, WD40 those exhaust/manifold bolts and they will fight you less on the way off. I flagged all my loose bolts/odd parts with masking tape and a sharpie, saved a ton of thought. I took a lot of pictures in stages as the top of the motor came apart, helpful guide when reassembling. Change your spark plugs while the heads are off. Some plug wires pulled apart, had to get new plug wires. There is a ton of great info in this thread. It takes a while to go through it all but it paid off. Good work, good thread people!
Petes Garage Pete, Hi I just seen your video on the head gasket replacement. I have changed the radiator and thermostat and the car still overheats and loses fluid. It an 07 equinox. I am going to get the gasket kit and start tearing it down. I mechanic my cars a lot but not by choice repairs are super expensive. I am a little scared to attempt this. I read on the thread you said I don't have to anything to the timing is this correct? Also with some gaskets you need sealer and some you don't how will I know when this applies. I am scared about the valves and rocker arms in your video. I have never gone that in-depth. Do you think I will b able to get this all back together without having done it. One more unrelated thing. I get a constant code for her cable. I have replaced it twice. After a couple days the check engine light comes on again and it starts jerking on acceleration. Code still says she valve. Do you know what else I can change. Thanks for your videos and your help for people like me. We have to this work ourselves to keep the bills paid and the kids fed. Thanks again. And thanks for your time. Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
I ordered a Felpro head gasket kit. It came with a little tube of sealant. As the top end comes apart you will see that the factory used a bit of sealant around two of the little orange gaskets that meet at each end of the block. Just mark all rocker arms and push rods and make sure you get each one back where it came from. I was nervous about that too but I matched it all to thier cylinder and put them back and it was pretty easy. I put sealant on all the head bolt threads cause some of them go into or pass through the water jacket. The exhaust bolts were the toughest ones I fault. The heads and gaskets were the easy part. Its all that other stuff above it that took so long. I spent probably 2 hours cleaning the old gaskets off heads and block before putting it all back on. Im glad I did it. PS. no timing issues. Its all electronic. I flagged my plug wires per cylinder but they are also numbered on top of the distributor.
You should do both, the gasket set is complete to do both plus the valve guide seals. You can borrow a valve spring compressor from Auto Zone to change the valve guide seals. Doing the other head only adds another couple hours and maybe an hour to change the seals. Do it all at once and you will have no problems....good luck!
No problem, I value all of your input, it helps everyone. I rebuilt a Chrsyler 3.8 for a client. It cracked a rod and the owner did not want to pay for a complete head job even though I strongly recommended it. It dropped a valve after 4,500 miles. Being cheap upfront never pays. There is only way to do the job, the right way as you describe. You are a great resource, you should start a page and share you expertise like I am trying to do. Thank you so much for your help
Thanks for the vid, I changed mine just before Christmas 2011. It went exactly as you described, and I had it done cleaning and all in about 12 hours total.Dealer quoted me $2300 I almost choked as I have done this type of work before. Thanks for the confidence booster.
That is exactly why I mage the video....to help people save money and understand what the job entails. I am so glad it helped you...good luck and thanks for watching!
I was a cylinder head machining engineer for Powertrain, on the iron L29-454/502, & the aluminum I4/5. Actually the aluminum is harder then you think. Carbide fly cutters for valve seat inserts and valve guide bores needed to be changed every 150 cuts. I agree with you no doubt, clean up any part exposed to high heat. According to the design drawings the head surface could vary .005" over 6". The gasket makes up for that variance. Thank you for your expertise. Post your shop name if you'd like.
You just made my day! The entire purpose of my videos is to help people learn and enjoy working on their cars and save some money in the process. I am so happy you were able to do the job yourself and save $2,000....that is awesome. Thanks for the feedback and thanks for watching.
I use it full strength. Buy a 5 gallon pail and just drop the head or part in. Soak it at least an hour. I leave heads in over night. Remove tough carbon with a brass wire brush. The next day a hose rinses them spotless. Dry it off and a minute or two in the bead blaster and they are like new.
I have a pontiac aztek, and i have a head gasket replacement in the very near future. I appreciate your breakdown of what is to be expected. Great video, thank you for taking the time to share it.
Ya figured my mechanic said he believed it was gone to. Thanks man car was given to me after I started loosing coolant. Now she doesn't have heat half the time through the vents and will just climb in temp
Coolant in the cylinders is causing the misfire. You can rebuild it, but checks the torques for your model year. It is happening on the side that usually fails.you should have no problem.
The shop can take the valves out....but it will add a couple hours and maybe $200 to the job. You do not need to have the heads milled unless you know they are warped or damaged. Aluminum will bend and flex quite a bit when being torqued. Save the $ if you can.
Hey Peter, Just want to say thank you for the video and the help that you gave me (See comments below from the past months) I finally got everything back together and the engine is running great!! Only thing that happen right as I started the engine for the first time was the oil sending unit failed right away, but changed that out and bingo!! back in business,
Excellent point raceace. Dex-cool becomes acidic over time and actually chemically weakens gasket material. Always change to the green stuff after rebuild. You have a great amount of expertise, thank you for sharing with everyone. How can people contact you for machine work? I would recommend upgrading to the dual stainless gaskets instead of the single filament coated gasket. Aluminum expands different so mating surfaces should be flat as possible. Measure with a straight edge and feeler gages.
Aluminum does not distort like that under a clamped load. Once it cools down it will bolt back in position when you torque it back down. You can have it cleaned up if you like, but it's not necessary.
A month ago, I noticed a swishing of water when I left in the morning. It sounded like water moving from one end of the front to the other end. This lasted for a few stop and goes, and then it stopped for the rest of the trip. I checked the expansion tank when it was cold. The level looked full until I unscrewed the cap. Many bubbles came up and lowered the level. I added a lot of anti-freeze so that it was back to full. Then one day while sitting in a line of cars, the temperature guage began to climb, the fan came on, and it began to overheat. Replaced the thermostat and flushed the anti-freeze. It didn't help. A mechanic tested the head gasket with the blue water test. It turned green. The car is a 2005 Equinox with 107,000 miles on it. I traded it in and got $2,000 off a new car.
It really is not that bad. Soak the bolts with some PB blaster and they should come out ok. I did not break or strip any. I'm glad the video helped....just wish I were retired too : )
A thorough, high pressure wash and hand wash in soapy water followed by a quick bead blast and some alumicast spray makes them good as new. 40,000 miles on mine and they still look new.
The 3.4 L LNJ is a 204-cubic-inch (3,350 cc) modified version of the normal 3400 engine. It includes a modified intake manifold, oil pan, engine cover, and fuel system as well as electronic throttle control. It is built in China and imported to Canada for use in the Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent. The LNJ makes 185 hp (138 kW) and 210 lb·ft (285 N·m).[3]
I think everyone is missing the point. Head gasket failures have nothing to do with where the engine is built; it is a design flaw. This engine is a bit too small for this vehicle. Modifications were made to get more power out of it. That resulted in a narrow gap between the cylinder wall and water jacket. The fire ring for the gasket straddles both causing a hot spot. Heat combined with the acidity of DexCool causes the gasket to break down. The problem is solved with better stainless gasket.
For $200 in parts and $100 in tools you can do it yourself. I think it took only 5 different sockets, a torque wrench. a fuel line release tool and a couple different screwdrivers. If you have any mechanical ability you can save a ton of money. If not, $1,000 is a pretty good price...but I would get both head gaskets changed....it's already apart and easy to do and well worth the money.
Just ran in to this problem on my 2005 Equinox. Presented the same way. Over heating. Took out the thermostat, replaced the water pump. Now white smoke out and water coming out of the exhaust. Start head gasket this week. Hope mine runs great like yours afterward.
***** pete...great video. .having same problem w my 2005 Equinox. ..i have 109 000 miles on it and love the car...it's very clean...always stayed on the suggested maintenance schedule. ..I'll keep you posted. ..Douglas Owens. ..Pennsylvania
I'm glad it's not my fault....lol. Don't use a grinding wheel on aluminum. You can use acetone, but use a single edge razor blade and go real slow. Use a shop vac to make sure nothing falls in the engine. Start early and you'll have it running after lunch!
Thanks. I was pretty sure the PP was great for the other bits. Bead blast is my method too. Interesting how GM moved many the problem areas of the 3.4 to the other side of the engine in later years.
thanks Pete i have an 05 same symptoms. i did the thermostat the water pump the hoses still overheating looks like i will be changing the head gaskets. thanks for posting
The main thing about a blown head gasket is why it happened..you narrow down all the suspects like the thermostat ,radiator,fans,temp sensor or harmonic balancer (most don't check) it can run hot one day & be fine the next day..it slips when the engine gets hot or at high speed..you will notice power steering fades in & out like water on the belt..check alignment of the pulley if belt is not centered then balancer is sliding out
That is absolutely true. The reason this one happen so much is poor design. They took a 3200 block and bored it out for a 3400 making the wall between the piston and water jacket too narrow. The gasket fails as a result. It is a very common problem with this engine and it always happens in the same spot.
All I can tell you is this; I lived overseas for awhile and worked on junk from Mercedes, BMW, Fiat and Jaguar...they just don't sell it in the US. No auto maker is immune from defects. If you want to pay $70k for a Mercedes go ahead. I am not defending any brand, but for the price I have been satisfied with the value of the Equinox. Everyone has their preference. Since you are able to express your opinion freely...thank a veteran.
You can get Alumiblast at Auto Zone or Advance Auto. Get the better Fel Pro gaskets with the Stainless head gaskets. The side with the bare metal between the cylinders goes towards the block.
Dealership told me that in the case with the riveted PCV valve, that the entire valve cover needs to be replaced, which is a $50 part. I'm just going to Dremel cut the metal band and replace it that way.
My head gasket went bad, had it replaced and the cylinder heads needed shaved .003 because they were warped. 2 months later the head itself cracked. Replaced the whole engine. The new engine lasted a month and now it's bad. Paid all of this money for this dang car and it's a 2 ton driveway ornament because the engines are crap. They don't make an engine for only 2 years because it's such a great engine!
The engine will have a sticker on it with the serial number and 3 large letter like AXW or CBY or something like that. If the 3 letters are the same, they will be a direct swap. If you find the letters off each engine, tell me what they are and I can find out if they are a direct swap. If you can't find the stickers, there is a pin stamp on the block right next to the transmission.
@CoolCarsHotGuitars @CoolCarsHotGuitars Cool video. I have a 96 3100 and I'm wondering if the intake gaskets are going bad - Very slow loss of coolant but occasionally when I start it I get the unmistakable burning coolant smell. Also has a very slight idle random misfire that could (in my mind) be tiny amounts of coolant getting pulled in at high vacuum Would I be able to pressurize the cooling system and listen thru the throttle body to verify the intake leak diagnosis?
Excellent vid. Thank you so much. PS can you maybe add a list of tools for the replacement job? Perhaps in the description or pinned comment? That would really help. Thanks!
***** I think I am going to fix it. I got this one guy saying how pro he is at fixing stuff and how he used to work for a dealer, blah, blah, blah. Wanting to put a used motor in it. A few hundred dollars in parts and I will be good to go i think. Any truth to the bottom end going out because the top in is new?
Mark Jones Not really. The bottom end could go much longer if you rebuild the top. Changing the top parts does not put extra stress on the bottom end. Great question.
***** Okay, my next question is. I want to diagnose to make sure it is not tranny fluid. The trans lines attache to the bottom of the radiator. I know I can pull them off, how would I keep tranny fluid from squirting all over the place? By pass hose of some sort?
Aluminum heads are not like the old cast ones...they won't crack like that. You car has a safe mode which prevents it from catastrophically over-heating. I am 99.9% positive it's the head gasket.
Thanks for the info. Did you dilute the purple power or use it at full strength? Also, approximately how long did you leave your components soaked in them to get such an amazing result?
ive replaced the thermostat and water pump and coolant reservoir, and my car is still overheating, how will i be able to tell if its a cracked head or blown head gasket?
Hola Peter qué tal. Le escribo desde El Salvador. Tengo una equinox 2006 3.4 l que hace un para de días tiene una fuga en en lado izquierdo inferior del radiador. Estoy preocupado porque en marcha llegó hasta el rojo límite la aguja del marcador. La velocidad bajó ostensiblemente. el depósito del refrigerante quedó vacío. Se habrá dañado la culata?
La culata es pequeña para que no se dañe. Es fácil de comprobar. Si va a cambiar la junta del cabezal, compruebe la planitud de la culata con un borde recto. No creo que sea un problema.
How many miles did it have on it when the gasket blew?I have one with 144000...so far its held up....i did swap out the coolant from dexcool to Prestone or supertech...green 5 year (same thing) at about 77000 miles....had read dexcool can eat gaskets and make them more prone to blow....so far..so good...also does your equinox use oil?Mine does and has ever since I got it at 47000 actual miles...had read they all do....bout a quart every 2200-2500 miles.i use 10w30....i like it better than 5w30...more stable...less vi improvers. Great video...thank you.
What did you cleaner the parts with I have a 07 equinox doing the same thing so getting ready to do the head gasket soon couple days any info would be great. Thanks
Since the PCV valve is riveted to the valve cover, I assume that removing that cover is necessary to replace the PCV value. Is that the correct procedure for PCV valve replacement?
Keep the coolant overflow tank filled to "full hot" when the car is cold. This extra insurance makes sure the cooling passages never suck in an air pocket, and cause a hot spot in the #1 cylinder that eats awY the head gas,et.
Good video. I'm looking for an Impala, and half the ones in the years I'm looking at have 3.8L v6's and the rest have the 3.4L v6. They both seem prone to have the lower intake manifold leak. But head gasket I guess could hit any car. The 3.4 probably gets a little better gas mileage than a 3.8. But they seem similar in maintenance. But look quite a bit different.
I have a 2005 chevy equinox lt 3.4 engine it has 107000miles on it when it hit 92 thousand I had both cylinders replaced $1600 was the cost for this now less than 15000miles later it has water passing in to the engine the oil looks milky . It did not overheat so im not sure what happen . I was told it was because the ac /heater control had got stuck on AC blowing cold air all the time and i wasnt able to turn it off so i took of the dash bezzel and noticed the wiring and a plug were smoking i disconnected it all leaving my car without ac/ heater . Im not sure if thats possibly the reason the coolant stop circulating and eventually everything just fail. The coolant does pass through the hoses but instead of going into the radiator it makes its way out through the end of small hose right before it hits the radiator . Really bummed out . I just dont know if i will have enough money for this type of repair
I'm having the same problem. I don't have all the right tools and I don't think I can do this myself. I can do all the basic stuff, I change my own oil. One shop told me it will cost atleast $1000. He said the cost is mostly all labor, does this sound right or can I do better?
As I understand it, the coolant reservoir cap will relieve pressure over 15 psi (radiator house will not blow). I would caution your viewers that for someone who has never done engine repair work that it is not as easy as you make it sound. Certainly doable, just take your time. It took me 2 months and 40+ hours because I'd never done anything this major and wanted to make sure I did everything by the book and replace as many gaskets as I could while I was in there.
Hi Pete, Im attempting this job on my mothers equinox. im fairly adept with alot of this type of work, but im curious as to if you could walk me through reinstallation of the push rods and rocker arms. Thanks.
I'm looking at the top of the motor right now and I've got a question. My leak is visible and looks to be coming from the plentem on top of my head will I need to mess with my head's at all or can I just replace the plentem gasket
hay man i got a 06 pontiac torrent with the 3.4L im sure the head gasket is blown only 70000 miles getting ready to do the job.have not started yet but how bad was getting to the back exaust man. bolts? thanks a very worried retired mech. jimmy by the way thanks for vid eased my mind a bit.
Great advice, not sure you're still reading these comments, but I have a 2005 Pontiac Montana in near mint condition with 105K miles. I replaced the intake manifold 4 years ago, never thought of the head gasket going on it, but now it's leaking (confirmed with chemical combustion kit). The engine never overheated but now the valve lifters (i think) are loud when the engine is cold , the noise goes away after it warms up. If I do this job can i just replace the gasket or do the heads need to be rebuilt? any advice would be appreciated.
Pete, holy cow man, I am impressed with this video. I'm no mechanic, but I've started dabbling on my wife's 08 3.4L Equinox, and it looks like I need to replace the front valve cover gasket. Is this job as simple as any other car? It looks like there is a junction of 3 metal parts that the original gasket is wedged into, could you suggest if there is anything special required to replace this?
It's a pretty simple job John. The gasket is shaped to the opening with the wedge. You just need to put a couple small silicone beads at the bottom of the V. Keep the parts clean and you'll do a great job.
my head gasket is blown on my 2000 impala with 152300 miles on it the way i found out i changed the thermostat to a fail safe one because of over heating was filling it back up and noticed the coolant was making bubbles rev the engine and bit and the bubble pored out. so im just going to pull the engine and rebuild it new rings and bearing and gaskets all around.
I bought a engine 2010 and auto trans 3.9 will it work in 2005equinox with 3400 motor is now if i strip 3900to long block can i put parts off equinox motor on it and put this in car
Well, the head gasket has been replaced. Now the tensioner pulley is "shaking"/not running smooth while idling. Give it a little gas and the engine runs a little smoother. Check engine light still reads a misfire even after the plugs where changed, head gasket and coil pack. And not the TC light comes on too and the car just shuts off randomly. Any thoughts?
Believe it or not the tensioner pulley can shake because of a broken motor mount. Change the passenger side. Did you clear all of the codes with a OBDII reader? Are you sure the pushrods are back in the right order? The intakes are a tad longer.
Pete, right now I'm doing this repair on my 05 Equinox as well for the same problem. I haven't really done a repair likes before, but I have a question about the timing. I'm not taking off the timing chain or the cam so do I need to set the timing, like cylinder #1, if so can I just turn the crank pulley until cylinder #1 is at TDC? before I put the heads back on? any help would be great, again great video definitely is helping me. thanks, Eric
great video, did you replace the heads too or did you have to machine them or was there no warps? I called around to some shops and they want 3k-3.5k to do this job. Is that really all labor? i got an 06 with 175k on it and i'm debating attempting to do it myself or try and trade it in. thoughts?
I did not have to replace the heads. They are pretty short so they're not really going to warp. 3k does sound like too much. They should be able to do both gaskets for under $2k. You can do it yourself.
Hey Petes Garage... This Sunday I'm taking the heads off my 07 Torrent 3.4 L... Having the heads rebuilt at a pretty decent price BTW... My question is, when torqueing the rocker arms are you setting it at 44 or 45 ft lbs then a 90 degree after and of course doing in sequence.
Pete ... I'm just getting ready to do this to mine. Before I order parts, do you have any suggestions as to which kit you recommend / don't recommend? The prices are all over the place. Yitamotor kit with bolts $45 ... Evergreen $110 - $118 with bolts, second one with lower kit ... ECCPP kit $50 no bolts .... MAHLE $106 no bolts - MAHLE bolts $25 .... Victor Reinz $155 no bolts ... Felpro $127 no bolts .... UGH!! Any suggestions would be helpful. I don't want to go through all of this only to have the parts be inferior and fail quickly.
@@PetesGarage Just started tearing it apart today ... Thanks for your help. I'll let you know how it goes. Gonna take my time. The hardest part for me will be remembering where everything goes when I put it back together. It's a little cramped for me (I'm old and don't move as well as I used to) I'm assuming I need to drain the oil too, right (which ticks me off since I just had it changed ... I guess I'll be doing that myself from now on too) What did you clean / soak everything in? I went with the Felpro kit as you suggested. It looks good and complete. Where can I find torque settings and order for the head gasket bolts? Thanks again ... btw, I'm a guitar player too ...
Hi Pete had same problem. Mechanic says blown gasket but cant find cause. Pressure test was fine. Shouldnt we find cause of overheating before fixing. 1800 bucks! Should we replace waterpump? Yhays what they suggest
+Thomas Brothers The water pump does not fail like that. Pull the thermostat, drain the coolant, start the engine and smell right in the thermostat opening. If you smell gas or exhaust, it's a blown head gasket. That is a quick way to check
I was having similar symptoms and was lost. I opened up the vent and I had pressure coming out. Problem is I broke off the vent when I tightened it back down. I believe it is sealed. Is this a replaceable part? I had one fan that was not working, somehow the relay came loose both fans run now but still running hot. Sitting it still over heats, no hot air and when it does overheat the a/c does not get as cold. Going to flush the radiator tomorrow. Any way to check the thermostat? Any sugges
OMG totally Awesome INFO Im a single mom of two and bought a used Equinox (2005) back in October and in March thermostat was replaced, Two weeks later my gaskets go out! I was QOUTED $1500 with labor to replace but $3000 if they have to send parts out to be resurficed!!!! By no means is this in my budget this boosted my confidence alil bc i found someone who is a experienced retired Mechanic with great referals to do it at cost plus only $300 for labor!
Hey Pete, just wanted to say- thank you very much for taking the time to document and share this!
I bought an 05 and soon discovered a host of problems. Broken EGR pipe... ABS madness.. crazy oil leaks... heater core leak and so on. No differential bearing failure thankfully.
I'm parting up and getting ready to tear everything apart and fix it all, clean the plenum just like you did. May not have to do the HG.
Seeing it all opened up in this video is extremely helpful!
Do you still have this vehicle, or still see it occasionally? Curious how it's running over the years.
I sold it to a friend and he still drives it. Still running strong.
I changed the head gaskets on my 05 Equinox last weekend. This video was a good starting place for tips. It took me 9 hours to get it apart, 15 hours to put it back together. I took great caution cause I did not want to break any bolts (broke one on the top end exhaust exchange, easily fixed). Good news was, I put it back together and it started right up like it was brand new. The fuel line tool was a good tip, definitely needed that little tool. This original post is older, my car has many more years and miles on it. This job was physically harder that what I was expecting but I stuck with it. Another tip, WD40 those exhaust/manifold bolts and they will fight you less on the way off. I flagged all my loose bolts/odd parts with masking tape and a sharpie, saved a ton of thought. I took a lot of pictures in stages as the top of the motor came apart, helpful guide when reassembling. Change your spark plugs while the heads are off. Some plug wires pulled apart, had to get new plug wires. There is a ton of great info in this thread. It takes a while to go through it all but it paid off. Good work, good thread people!
That is some awesome work. Thank you very much for sharing with everyone.
Petes Garage Pete,
Hi I just seen your video on the head gasket replacement. I have changed the radiator and thermostat and the car still overheats and loses fluid. It an 07 equinox. I am going to get the gasket kit and start tearing it down. I mechanic my cars a lot but not by choice repairs are super expensive. I am a little scared to attempt this. I read on the thread you said I don't have to anything to the timing is this correct? Also with some gaskets you need sealer and some you don't how will I know when this applies. I am scared about the valves and rocker arms in your video. I have never gone that in-depth. Do you think I will b able to get this all back together without having done it. One more unrelated thing. I get a constant code for her cable. I have replaced it twice. After a couple days the check engine light comes on again and it starts jerking on acceleration. Code still says she valve. Do you know what else I can change. Thanks for your videos and your help for people like me. We have to this work ourselves to keep the bills paid and the kids fed. Thanks again. And thanks for your time.
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
I ordered a Felpro head gasket kit. It came with a little tube of sealant. As the top end comes apart you will see that the factory used a bit of sealant around two of the little orange gaskets that meet at each end of the block. Just mark all rocker arms and push rods and make sure you get each one back where it came from. I was nervous about that too but I matched it all to thier cylinder and put them back and it was pretty easy. I put sealant on all the head bolt threads cause some of them go into or pass through the water jacket. The exhaust bolts were the toughest ones I fault. The heads and gaskets were the easy part. Its all that other stuff above it that took so long. I spent probably 2 hours cleaning the old gaskets off heads and block before putting it all back on. Im glad I did it. PS. no timing issues. Its all electronic. I flagged my plug wires per cylinder but they are also numbered on top of the distributor.
gilmore4real did u poor any oil in the top to lubricate or just get it all back together and then fill oil like normal
I did not poor any oil in the top. When the motor starts back up, it will take care of itself.
You should do both, the gasket set is complete to do both plus the valve guide seals. You can borrow a valve spring compressor from Auto Zone to change the valve guide seals. Doing the other head only adds another couple hours and maybe an hour to change the seals. Do it all at once and you will have no problems....good luck!
No problem, I value all of your input, it helps everyone. I rebuilt a Chrsyler 3.8 for a client. It cracked a rod and the owner did not want to pay for a complete head job even though I strongly recommended it. It dropped a valve after 4,500 miles. Being cheap upfront never pays. There is only way to do the job, the right way as you describe. You are a great resource, you should start a page and share you expertise like I am trying to do. Thank you so much for your help
Thanks for the vid, I changed mine just before Christmas 2011. It went exactly as you described, and I had it done cleaning and all in about 12 hours total.Dealer quoted me $2300 I almost choked as I have done this type of work before. Thanks for the confidence booster.
That is exactly why I mage the video....to help people save money and understand what the job entails. I am so glad it helped you...good luck and thanks for watching!
You still around? I got a 2012 equinox. How much should I get charged for labor in this. I'm in upstate NY btw. Thanks
15yr mechanic good job I have do head on my own equinox it's best to rebuild those are some good chevys
It's easy to do
@@PetesGarage No, it is no walk in the park, just finished mine. Had a hell f a time rebolting the rear exhaust manifold.
I was a cylinder head machining engineer for Powertrain, on the iron L29-454/502, & the aluminum I4/5. Actually the aluminum is harder then you think. Carbide fly cutters for valve seat inserts and valve guide bores needed to be changed every 150 cuts. I agree with you no doubt, clean up any part exposed to high heat. According to the design drawings the head surface could vary .005" over 6". The gasket makes up for that variance. Thank you for your expertise. Post your shop name if you'd like.
You just made my day! The entire purpose of my videos is to help people learn and enjoy working on their cars and save some money in the process. I am so happy you were able to do the job yourself and save $2,000....that is awesome. Thanks for the feedback and thanks for watching.
I use it full strength. Buy a 5 gallon pail and just drop the head or part in. Soak it at least an hour. I leave heads in over night. Remove tough carbon with a brass wire brush. The next day a hose rinses them spotless. Dry it off and a minute or two in the bead blaster and they are like new.
Thank you my friend. I don't make a video a day becaus eI like to make sure they are interesting and informative. Rock on!
I have a pontiac aztek, and i have a head gasket replacement in the very near future. I appreciate your breakdown of what is to be expected. Great video, thank you for taking the time to share it.
Good luck...it's not that difficult
Ya figured my mechanic said he believed it was gone to. Thanks man car was given to me after I started loosing coolant. Now she doesn't have heat half the time through the vents and will just climb in temp
I hope it works out for you
I have exactly the same problem. She runs fine I can see the coolant coming out from that same corner on both. Good job.
Glad to help
Coolant in the cylinders is causing the misfire. You can rebuild it, but checks the torques for your model year. It is happening on the side that usually fails.you should have no problem.
Mine just failed. Coolant in the oil. No other engine damage. Glad it was running full synth oil. We were able to limp to get help.
The shop can take the valves out....but it will add a couple hours and maybe $200 to the job. You do not need to have the heads milled unless you know they are warped or damaged. Aluminum will bend and flex quite a bit when being torqued. Save the $ if you can.
That makes sense....I never noticed it was riveted in...thanks for the update
Hey Peter, Just want to say thank you for the video and the help that you gave me (See comments below from the past months) I finally got everything back together and the engine is running great!! Only thing that happen right as I started the engine for the first time was the oil sending unit failed right away, but changed that out and bingo!! back in business,
+Eric Aschenbrenner That is AWESOME!! Great feeling to know you did it yourself
Excellent point raceace. Dex-cool becomes acidic over time and actually chemically weakens gasket material. Always change to the green stuff after rebuild. You have a great amount of expertise, thank you for sharing with everyone. How can people contact you for machine work? I would recommend upgrading to the dual stainless gaskets instead of the single filament coated gasket. Aluminum expands different so mating surfaces should be flat as possible. Measure with a straight edge and feeler gages.
I soaked them in Purple Power.....works awesome and washed off with water.
Aluminum does not distort like that under a clamped load. Once it cools down it will bolt back in position when you torque it back down. You can have it cleaned up if you like, but it's not necessary.
A month ago, I noticed a swishing of water when I left in the morning. It sounded like water moving from one end of the front to the other end. This lasted for a few stop and goes, and then it stopped for the rest of the trip. I checked the expansion tank when it was cold. The level looked full until I unscrewed the cap. Many bubbles came up and lowered the level. I added a lot of anti-freeze so that it was back to full. Then one day while sitting in a line of cars, the temperature guage began to climb, the fan came on, and it began to overheat. Replaced the thermostat and flushed the anti-freeze. It didn't help. A mechanic tested the head gasket with the blue water test. It turned green. The car is a 2005 Equinox with 107,000 miles on it. I traded it in and got $2,000 off a new car.
Good job Pete I like to watch these type of videos keep on truckin....
It really is not that bad. Soak the bolts with some PB blaster and they should come out ok. I did not break or strip any. I'm glad the video helped....just wish I were retired too : )
A thorough, high pressure wash and hand wash in soapy water followed by a quick bead blast and some alumicast spray makes them good as new. 40,000 miles on mine and they still look new.
The 3.4 L LNJ is a 204-cubic-inch (3,350 cc) modified version of the normal 3400 engine. It includes a modified intake manifold, oil pan, engine cover, and fuel system as well as electronic throttle control. It is built in China and imported to Canada for use in the Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent. The LNJ makes 185 hp (138 kW) and 210 lb·ft (285 N·m).[3]
I think everyone is missing the point. Head gasket failures have nothing to do with where the engine is built; it is a design flaw. This engine is a bit too small for this vehicle. Modifications were made to get more power out of it. That resulted in a narrow gap between the cylinder wall and water jacket. The fire ring for the gasket straddles both causing a hot spot. Heat combined with the acidity of DexCool causes the gasket to break down. The problem is solved with better stainless gasket.
For $200 in parts and $100 in tools you can do it yourself. I think it took only 5 different sockets, a torque wrench. a fuel line release tool and a couple different screwdrivers. If you have any mechanical ability you can save a ton of money. If not, $1,000 is a pretty good price...but I would get both head gaskets changed....it's already apart and easy to do and well worth the money.
I did not. However, if your motor overheats for an extended period it would be a good idea to get them checked.
Just ran in to this problem on my 2005 Equinox. Presented the same way. Over heating. Took out the thermostat, replaced the water pump. Now white smoke out and water coming out of the exhaust. Start head gasket this week. Hope mine runs great like yours afterward.
Take your time and you'll have no problem.
***** pete...great video. .having same problem w my 2005 Equinox. ..i have 109 000 miles on it and love the car...it's very clean...always stayed on the suggested maintenance schedule. ..I'll keep you posted. ..Douglas Owens. ..Pennsylvania
Hey did you find out if that was the problem ?
Yes...head gasket. ..2,100$...and just put 1,000 into front shocks/struts.
Thanks for asking! !!!
I'm glad it's not my fault....lol. Don't use a grinding wheel on aluminum. You can use acetone, but use a single edge razor blade and go real slow. Use a shop vac to make sure nothing falls in the engine. Start early and you'll have it running after lunch!
Thanks. I was pretty sure the PP was great for the other bits. Bead blast is my method too. Interesting how GM moved many the problem areas of the 3.4 to the other side of the engine in later years.
Thanks for the video just started on my wifes 06
thanks man got my gasket set today so this weekend is d-day lol thanks again also thanks hotrod pete
Yeah...gotta love those imports from Ohio. I believe the accord is built in Marysville.
thanks Pete i have an 05 same symptoms. i did the thermostat the water pump the hoses still overheating looks like i will be changing the head gaskets. thanks for posting
Glad to help, it's a very common problem.
The main thing about a blown head gasket is why it happened..you narrow down all the suspects like the thermostat ,radiator,fans,temp sensor or harmonic balancer (most don't check) it can run hot one day & be fine the next day..it slips when the engine gets hot or at high speed..you will notice power steering fades in & out like water on the belt..check alignment of the pulley if belt is not centered then balancer is sliding out
That is absolutely true. The reason this one happen so much is poor design. They took a 3200 block and bored it out for a 3400 making the wall between the piston and water jacket too narrow. The gasket fails as a result. It is a very common problem with this engine and it always happens in the same spot.
All I can tell you is this; I lived overseas for awhile and worked on junk from Mercedes, BMW, Fiat and Jaguar...they just don't sell it in the US. No auto maker is immune from defects. If you want to pay $70k for a Mercedes go ahead. I am not defending any brand, but for the price I have been satisfied with the value of the Equinox. Everyone has their preference. Since you are able to express your opinion freely...thank a veteran.
You can get Alumiblast at Auto Zone or Advance Auto. Get the better Fel Pro gaskets with the Stainless head gaskets. The side with the bare metal between the cylinders goes towards the block.
Great info...thanks for sharing! I hope it helps allot of people!
An easy way to check for intake leaks is to spray starting fluid around the area where you think the leak is. If the engine speeds up there is a leak.
Thank you!
Dealership told me that in the case with the riveted PCV valve, that the entire valve cover needs to be replaced, which is a $50 part. I'm just going to Dremel cut the metal band and replace it that way.
My head gasket went bad, had it replaced and the cylinder heads needed shaved .003 because they were warped. 2 months later the head itself cracked. Replaced the whole engine. The new engine lasted a month and now it's bad. Paid all of this money for this dang car and it's a 2 ton driveway ornament because the engines are crap. They don't make an engine for only 2 years because it's such a great engine!
Great informational video. I'm curious, what did you use to clean the heads?
You can buy it at Auto Zone or Advance Auto Parts.....it is just a degreaser.
They were in pretty good shape. The head gasket was the only one that looked really bad.
The engine will have a sticker on it with the serial number and 3 large letter like AXW or CBY or something like that. If the 3 letters are the same, they will be a direct swap. If you find the letters off each engine, tell me what they are and I can find out if they are a direct swap. If you can't find the stickers, there is a pin stamp on the block right next to the transmission.
@CoolCarsHotGuitars @CoolCarsHotGuitars Cool video. I have a 96 3100 and I'm wondering if the intake gaskets are going bad - Very slow loss of coolant but occasionally when I start it I get the unmistakable burning coolant smell. Also has a very slight idle random misfire that could (in my mind) be tiny amounts of coolant getting pulled in at high vacuum
Would I be able to pressurize the cooling system and listen thru the throttle body to verify the intake leak diagnosis?
I don't recall but they are in the video if you watch it again.
also had a bend contacting rod bend on #1 when the water seeped in. repalcement was easy but did it again 30,000 miles later.
Make sure you have them torque correctly. For 2005 it's 31 ft pds and 2006 & up it's 24 ft pds. No lubricants or sealants on the studs or in the holes
This is a great video,thanks so much!
Thank you my friend
Yes...but I would use a soft wire wheel so you do not scratch the aluminum. You should use a 400 grit sandpaper and finish wet sand before installing.
I repaired many of these and they all fail in the same location. If it were an assembly problem the gasket would fail at random locations.
Excellent vid. Thank you so much. PS can you maybe add a list of tools for the replacement job? Perhaps in the description or pinned comment? That would really help. Thanks!
My wife's 05 Equinox has oily sludge in the coolant. I am tempted to take it to the scrap yard.
Fix it!
*****
I think I am going to fix it. I got this one guy saying how pro he is at fixing stuff and how he used to work for a dealer, blah, blah, blah. Wanting to put a used motor in it. A few hundred dollars in parts and I will be good to go i think. Any truth to the bottom end going out because the top in is new?
Mark Jones Not really. The bottom end could go much longer if you rebuild the top. Changing the top parts does not put extra stress on the bottom end. Great question.
***** Okay, my next question is. I want to diagnose to make sure it is not tranny fluid. The trans lines attache to the bottom of the radiator. I know I can pull them off, how would I keep tranny fluid from squirting all over the place? By pass hose of some sort?
Aluminum heads are not like the old cast ones...they won't crack like that. You car has a safe mode which prevents it from catastrophically over-heating. I am 99.9% positive it's the head gasket.
Thanks for the info. Did you dilute the purple power or use it at full strength? Also, approximately how long did you leave your components soaked in them to get such an amazing result?
ive replaced the thermostat and water pump and coolant reservoir, and my car is still overheating, how will i be able to tell if its a cracked head or blown head gasket?
Fantastic vid ... thanks for all your hard work
+CarsRcool Thank you for watching
***** yes. .indeed ! Great detail ..
and crisp clear camera work !
I used Purple Power, available at Auto Zone or Advanced Auto
Hola Peter qué tal. Le escribo desde El Salvador. Tengo una equinox 2006 3.4 l que hace un para de días tiene una fuga en en lado izquierdo inferior del radiador. Estoy preocupado porque en marcha llegó hasta el rojo límite la aguja del marcador. La velocidad bajó ostensiblemente. el depósito del refrigerante quedó vacío. Se habrá dañado la culata?
La culata es pequeña para que no se dañe. Es fácil de comprobar. Si va a cambiar la junta del cabezal, compruebe la planitud de la culata con un borde recto. No creo que sea un problema.
OK, before I do alot of work for nothing, how do I know if its a blown head gasket or a cracked head? Will the crack be visually obvious?
How many miles did it have on it when the gasket blew?I have one with 144000...so far its held up....i did swap out the coolant from dexcool to Prestone or supertech...green 5 year (same thing) at about 77000 miles....had read dexcool can eat gaskets and make them more prone to blow....so far..so good...also does your equinox use oil?Mine does and has ever since I got it at 47000 actual miles...had read they all do....bout a quart every 2200-2500 miles.i use 10w30....i like it better than 5w30...more stable...less vi improvers. Great video...thank you.
I think it was around 64,000. That vehicle has sold twice since I did it, but I hear it still runs fine
@@PetesGarage thx
What did you cleaner the parts with I have a 07 equinox doing the same thing so getting ready to do the head gasket soon couple days any info would be great. Thanks
Oven cleaner and regular parts cleaner
Since the PCV valve is riveted to the valve cover, I assume that removing that cover is necessary to replace the PCV value. Is that the correct procedure for PCV valve replacement?
nice job peter im about to start mine i might be calling you lol take care
Keep the coolant overflow tank filled to "full hot" when the car is cold. This extra insurance makes sure the cooling passages never suck in an air pocket, and cause a hot spot in the #1 cylinder that eats awY the head gas,et.
Excellent comment, thank you
Thank you. From what you have shown. I belive I might be able to save the family car.
You can do it!
What about the aluminum warping from the heat is that a big possibility?
My HG failed in the exact same spot. Others have had the same problem in the same spot. Clearly a design issue. Maybe the passage is too big.
i'm pretty sure that's the problem with my 2005 equinox, how much does it cost to get it fix?
Should cost no more than $1400
Peter, just wondering, did you have to have the heads milled for straightness or anything? Thanks and it is a great video.
Good video. I'm looking for an Impala, and half the ones in the years I'm looking at have 3.8L v6's and the rest have the 3.4L v6. They both seem prone to have the lower intake manifold leak. But head gasket I guess could hit any car. The 3.4 probably gets a little better gas mileage than a 3.8. But they seem similar in maintenance. But look quite a bit different.
If I want to just change the valve cover gaskets can u do that without removing the alternator?
Yes I believe you can
Why wldnt he of just opened the bunker rez and took a smell.
I have a 2005 chevy equinox lt 3.4 engine it has 107000miles on it when it hit 92 thousand I had both cylinders replaced $1600 was the cost for this now less than 15000miles later it has water passing in to the engine the oil looks milky . It did not overheat so im not sure what happen . I was told it was because the ac /heater control had got stuck on AC blowing cold air all the time and i wasnt able to turn it off so i took of the dash bezzel and noticed the wiring and a plug were smoking i disconnected it all leaving my car without ac/ heater . Im not sure if thats possibly the reason the coolant stop circulating and eventually everything just fail. The coolant does pass through the hoses but instead of going into the radiator it makes its way out through the end of small hose right before it hits the radiator . Really bummed out . I just dont know if i will have enough money for this type of repair
That is unfortunate. It does not sound like there is a cheap or easy way out of that
I'm having the same problem. I don't have all the right tools and I don't think I can do this myself. I can do all the basic stuff, I change my own oil. One shop told me it will cost atleast $1000. He said the cost is mostly all labor, does this sound right or can I do better?
As I understand it, the coolant reservoir cap will relieve pressure over 15 psi (radiator house will not blow). I would caution your viewers that for someone who has never done engine repair work that it is not as easy as you make it sound. Certainly doable, just take your time. It took me 2 months and 40+ hours because I'd never done anything this major and wanted to make sure I did everything by the book and replace as many gaskets as I could while I was in there.
Do rocker arms have to come off to get to the head bolts? Also did you have to remove timing chain?
Yes the rockers come off, the timing chain stay on
Hi Pete, Im attempting this job on my mothers equinox. im fairly adept with alot of this type of work, but im curious as to if you could walk me through reinstallation of the push rods and rocker arms. Thanks.
Sure, text me or call when you're ready
will do, probably be tomorrow when my parts show up. thank you so much
I'm looking at the top of the motor right now and I've got a question. My leak is visible and looks to be coming from the plentem on top of my head will I need to mess with my head's at all or can I just replace the plentem gasket
Take off the plenum and have a look
Thanks! Gives me confidence to dive in. Uh oh... 🤣🤙
You can do it!
replaced the head gaskets since then i have had two rocker arm bolts come loose any advice on this
hay man i got a 06 pontiac torrent with the 3.4L im sure the head gasket is blown only 70000 miles getting ready to do the job.have not started yet but how bad was getting to the back exaust man. bolts? thanks a very worried retired mech. jimmy by the way thanks for vid eased my mind a bit.
Great advice, not sure you're still reading these comments, but I have a 2005 Pontiac Montana in near mint condition with 105K miles. I replaced the intake manifold 4 years ago, never thought of the head gasket going on it, but now it's leaking (confirmed with chemical combustion kit). The engine never overheated but now the valve lifters (i think) are loud when the engine is cold , the noise goes away after it warms up. If I do this job can i just replace the gasket or do the heads need to be rebuilt? any advice would be appreciated.
You can just replace the gaskets, but it doesn't hurt to check the heads for flatness while you have them off
Pete, holy cow man, I am impressed with this video. I'm no mechanic, but I've started dabbling on my wife's 08 3.4L Equinox, and it looks like I need to replace the front valve cover gasket. Is this job as simple as any other car? It looks like there is a junction of 3 metal parts that the original gasket is wedged into, could you suggest if there is anything special required to replace this?
It's a pretty simple job John. The gasket is shaped to the opening with the wedge. You just need to put a couple small silicone beads at the bottom of the V. Keep the parts clean and you'll do a great job.
@@PetesGarage Orange RTV high temperature gasket maker found at your local Walmart or parts store for about $5.00
my head gasket is blown on my 2000 impala with 152300 miles on it the way i found out i changed the thermostat to a fail safe one because of over heating was filling it back up and noticed the coolant was making bubbles rev the engine and bit and the bubble pored out. so im just going to pull the engine and rebuild it new rings and bearing and gaskets all around.
Ii would be great to see every step for removing all parts cleaning and replacement.
That would be a very long video. I think I cover the major steps.
How long did it take you to pull everything apart and rebuild it. My 05 equinox started over heating a week ago and im pretty sure it the head gasket.
I did the whole job in about 10 hours.
I bought a engine 2010 and auto trans 3.9 will it work in 2005equinox with 3400 motor is now if i strip 3900to long block can i put parts off equinox motor on it and put this in car
I'm not sure, I've never tried
Well, the head gasket has been replaced. Now the tensioner pulley is "shaking"/not running smooth while idling. Give it a little gas and the engine runs a little smoother. Check engine light still reads a misfire even after the plugs where changed, head gasket and coil pack. And not the TC light comes on too and the car just shuts off randomly. Any thoughts?
Believe it or not the tensioner pulley can shake because of a broken motor mount. Change the passenger side. Did you clear all of the codes with a OBDII reader? Are you sure the pushrods are back in the right order? The intakes are a tad longer.
Pete, right now I'm doing this repair on my 05 Equinox as well for the same problem. I haven't really done a repair likes before, but I have a question about the timing. I'm not taking off the timing chain or the cam so do I need to set the timing, like cylinder #1, if so can I just turn the crank pulley until cylinder #1 is at TDC? before I put the heads back on? any help would be great, again great video definitely is helping me. thanks, Eric
+Cody Aschenbrenner You don't need to do anything with the timing. Just changing the head gaskets will not affect it at all.
great video, did you replace the heads too or did you have to machine them or was there no warps? I called around to some shops and they want 3k-3.5k to do this job. Is that really all labor? i got an 06 with 175k on it and i'm debating attempting to do it myself or try and trade it in. thoughts?
I did not have to replace the heads. They are pretty short so they're not really going to warp. 3k does sound like too much. They should be able to do both gaskets for under $2k. You can do it yourself.
Hey Petes Garage... This Sunday I'm taking the heads off my 07 Torrent 3.4 L... Having the heads rebuilt at a pretty decent price BTW... My question is, when torqueing the rocker arms are you setting it at 44 or 45 ft lbs then a 90 degree after and of course doing in sequence.
Yes
@@PetesGarage ..... Thanks Pete...
Wrong 14ft 30 degrees I'm sure u stripped it lmfao
right now I'm working in my pontiac torrent but I don't know what is the correct torque for heads, rocker arm's, intake manifold.
thank you.
Should be the same for the same model year
Pete ... I'm just getting ready to do this to mine. Before I order parts, do you have any suggestions as to which kit you recommend / don't recommend? The prices are all over the place. Yitamotor kit with bolts $45 ... Evergreen $110 - $118 with bolts, second one with lower kit ... ECCPP kit $50 no bolts .... MAHLE $106 no bolts - MAHLE bolts $25 .... Victor Reinz $155 no bolts ... Felpro $127 no bolts .... UGH!! Any suggestions would be helpful. I don't want to go through all of this only to have the parts be inferior and fail quickly.
Hope it worked out for you
@@PetesGarage Just started tearing it apart today ... Thanks for your help. I'll let you know how it goes. Gonna take my time. The hardest part for me will be remembering where everything goes when I put it back together. It's a little cramped for me (I'm old and don't move as well as I used to) I'm assuming I need to drain the oil too, right (which ticks me off since I just had it changed ... I guess I'll be doing that myself from now on too) What did you clean / soak everything in? I went with the Felpro kit as you suggested. It looks good and complete. Where can I find torque settings and order for the head gasket bolts? Thanks again ... btw, I'm a guitar player too ...
Hi Pete had same problem. Mechanic says blown gasket but cant find cause. Pressure test was fine. Shouldnt we find cause of overheating before fixing. 1800 bucks! Should we replace waterpump? Yhays what they suggest
+Thomas Brothers The water pump does not fail like that. Pull the thermostat, drain the coolant, start the engine and smell right in the thermostat opening. If you smell gas or exhaust, it's a blown head gasket. That is a quick way to check
Thank you for the help brotha loved the video 🤘
And you are the man for offering people help if they need it. Seriously 🤘
Any time!
I was having similar symptoms and was lost. I opened up the vent and I had pressure coming out. Problem is I broke off the vent when I tightened it back down. I believe it is sealed. Is this a replaceable part? I had one fan that was not working, somehow the relay came loose both fans run now but still running hot. Sitting it still over heats, no hot air and when it does overheat the a/c does not get as cold. Going to flush the radiator tomorrow. Any way to check the thermostat? Any sugges