I think I have a bad head gasket
 

My coolant has been slowly diappearing. I've changed the radiator, thermostat, water pump (which hasn't quite sealed right), heater core, hoses, and radiator cap. Now my car isn't pulling any coolant from the overflow bottle. The level will stay the same in the bottle, but the level in the radiator will go down. I used to get a few bubles in the overflow bottle about the size of a dime after driving. My oil pressure guage does fluctuate sometimes. It will hold steady in the middle and then bounce up a little bit and come back down. That could also be the guage itself though. I don't burn much oil, less than a quart between changes.

Other observations I've made:
- I get no white smoke, or any other color of smoke
- no water in the oil
- my compression when I've checked is around 155 for all cylinders
- my plugs all look good
- I don't leak any coolant on the ground

I'm going to change my heads soon anyways, but does this sound like a head gasket?

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1989 lx notch
89,000 miles
bolt-ons,stock heads/cam
60'- 2.07, 8.90@78, 13.93@99

[This message has been edited by TJR (edited 08-11-2001).]

just cause it doesn't leak coolant on the ground doesn't mean the cooling system is intact. you could just be leaking when under pressure (ie, running) and therefore you wouldn't see it when you parked. take the radiator cap off and run the engine, look for bubles in there.

How long do I have to run it with the cap off to look for bubbles? Also, do the size of the bubbles vary or are they really tiny. I ran it for a minute or two yesterday with the cap off and didn't see any.

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1989 lx notch
89,000 miles
bolt-ons,stock heads/cam
60'- 2.07, 8.90@78, 13.93@99

Anyone?

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1989 lx notch
89,000 miles
bolt-ons,stock heads/cam
60'- 2.07, 8.90@78, 13.93@99

dinomite is right. If you did a compression check and didn't find anything and there are no signs of oil in the coolant or vice versa I'd say you have a leak. Do a pressure test on your cooling system to see where the leak is. Check every hose connection, the seal around the thermostat housing and water pump, etc.

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Gunning for 12's!
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Thanks, I'll see if I can borrow a pressure tester.

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1989 lx notch
89,000 miles
bolt-ons,stock heads/cam
60'- 2.07, 8.90@78, 13.93@99