sr20det redtop head gasket question

[GL Chrillz]

So I just bought a 1990 s13 coupe with a sr20det redtop 2 days ago, and this morning white smoke started coming out of the exhaust when i started it up. It was also sputtering through every gear. When I got back to my house I popped the hood and there's no coolant at all, and I remember seeing some in it the day before. The oil looked to be a chocolate color, but I only checked it on the dipstick so far. Am I looking at a blown head gasket? If so should I go with a cosworth or apexi? And what size for stock motor on 10 or 15 psi? I'm on some what of a budget, but is there any other things i should replace/upgrade while the head is off?

[daryl337]

Well, check your bearings now too... not sure how far you were driving with coolant in your oil, but you can cause premature bearing failure running it like that.

[GL Chrillz]

wasn't very far and I took it real easy, but I'll check them. Anything else I should be checking?

[GL Chrillz]

today it was blowing black smoke out, but only if i rev it. could it possibly be a boost leak or the maf?

[fufanu180]

Was the car overheating? You have all the symptoms of a blown HG. I have an apexi metal HG and haven't had a problem. Since you ran it without coolant it is likely that you warped the head. When you pull it off be sure to get it decked, and since you'll do this you'll need to get a HG that's a little thicker. I would say 1.1mm

[boost addict]

1.1 is stock so if he gets it decked it would need to be thicker i just had my block and head decked, im running a 1.5 apexi hg

[GL Chrillz]

i had a guy come over and look at it, he said that its not the head gasket that its just running super lean and i just need a tune. whats your opinions? could it just be i need a tune or maybe the injectors or maf are bad?

[fufanu180]

It could be that but it could also be bad piston rings or a bad turbo.

CenTex240

[codyace]

Check for vacuum leak/boost pipe leak. To me the sputtering and junk sounds more like that more than anything. Check that first, as it may clear up all smoking.

Also, whoever checked your car out...I wouldn't trust them again. Stock stuff isn't super lean, ever. It may not be ideal but it's not wrong/off.

Lastly, search for some of your answers. I know you're probably freakin out as your car is brokedick, but it's no excuse to make a new thread...especially when there are countless 'oh my new car smokes bad and backfires and spits or sputters' threads.