[Matt88S]

My car had been exhibiting traditional head gasket failure symptoms for some time. So today I pulled the head off. I am tired, bloody, bruised, and my hands and arms look like I’ve been in a cat fight. But I got the head off. However, examining the head gasket I cannot find any problems. It looks like a 17 year old head gasket, but there are no obvious failures. I’ve even looked at it with a light behind it.

After tearing myself to pieces getting it off that is not what I wanted to see, I wanted to see a gasket with a huge blown out spot. Then I could have put the new one on it, put everything back together, and screamed off down the highway of life. lol

One thing I did take note of though, was the coolant passages. #1 was pretty much clear. However #2,3 and 4 were either almost plugged or totally plugged. :suprised; :suprised;

What do you think of my situation? I know head gaskets can be deceptive. Perhaps the head is warped a bit or something, I’ll know more when the machine shop looks at it. But till then any opinions or advice is more than welcome.

 

[900t]

Take a straightedge and check the head and block.

Then check for pitting on the head or block, JB Weld can fix this.

Then put in your new headgasket. I've never seen a blown gasket without clogged coolant passages. I did have separation of the compression ring and the gasket however.

Don't worry be happy :lol:

 

[900t]

How many miles do you have?

 

[Matt88S]

How many miles do you have?

Hmm, thats a really good question. :cheesy:

The odometer was broken when I bought the car. It reads 135,000. However there's a oil change reminder in the corner of the windshield that dates from 2002. It has the same odometer reading, 135,000. :cheesy: :cheesy:

So it has been broken for at least 3 years now and probably longer. The motor runs perfectly though, starts and runs like a dream. Doesn't seem to use oil. Idles perfectly, a rare thing on a saab. Drivers seat showes some usage, but the passenger and back seat are almost perfect. (leather) Carpet is not the best and the car has some rust issues. A daily driver but probably not worth fixing up. I'm waiting for a nice SPG to come along then I'm going all out.

Cheers


I would guess its got between 150-175,000 on it.

 

[900t]

Interesting.

My 1990 900 S blew a headgasket at 153 241 miles. Or rather, I replaced the HG at 153 241.

My 1990 900 turbo came to me with a bad HG at 135 412 mi indication. PO said speedo was replaced, and milage should be about "150k".

So... all these 900's blow gaskets at 150k miles / 250 k km? I know on both cars the timing chains were also due for replacement.

So is this the 250 000km "Major Service"? Timing chain, headgasket, clutch too probably, if you can't drive... :lol:

 

[900t]

How the HELL do I remember the exact milage on my cars down to the precise number? I even think it was 153 241 and three tenths.

 

[Matt88S]

I'm kind of surprised that your S blew at 153 241 and three tenths. The N/A's are usually not subjected to as extreme of treatment as the Turbo models are. Consequently they keep going and going and going. My S has 200,000+ and to my knowledge has never had the gasket replaced. Though I suppose it might have been done earlier in its life before I acquired it. Then again it was a autobox and probably never saw high rpm's in its life.

I think age has a lot to do with it too. As well as people do not change their coolant as often as they should. It's one of those things that works fine so is ignored. But deep inside your engine things are building up and dissolving away, primarily I guess because the coolent's pH balance gets out of whack.

I’m going to do the timing chain too, It would be idiocy not to, considering I’ve gotten the engine torn apart right now.

I’m tossing around the idea of having the head rebuilt. It wasn’t making noise or giving any indications of needing it but...... I’m also tossing around the idea of adding a redbox and maybe a 9k intercooler so it might be best to have a strong head. We’ll see how much it would cost, that and whether I can find anyone around this area who I would trust to rebuild a saab head properly, those will be the deciding factors in whether I do it or not.

Cheers

 

[woywitka]

ahhhhhhhhh mine has 300,000kms, 89 900t16, original gasket!

 

[RoccoH]

between 300,000 km (approx. 180,000 miles) and 310,000 km a former owner had to replace the head gasket (and totally flush the whole engine and replace cooling hoses because he had been driving for another 20 km after a blown head gasket was diagnosed... :roll, the gear box and the evaporator of the LPG system...