996.2 | Cracked head? Need help in diagnosis of video

[CarPlebs]

Hi all,

(youtube results linked below)

Well here I am again with a quick diagnosis based on experience.

(cap is new and expansion tank fairly new also)
(no intermix present)

I have noticed coolant disappearing, after which it was identified that some pipes were leaking and we proactively changed the water pump as well. Exterior leaks disappeared, however I have noticed that the coolant level keeps decreasing to MIN after longer (100km) drives. I keep refilling to the same effect. We checked radiators etc. and all seems to be fine. Pressure test as well.

Mechanik stated it's likely a cracked head. So I decided to buy the amazon head gasket kit to test.

As for the results, I let the engine get to nearly operating temperature. I did some revving and there are both bubbles and apparent vacuum which I do not understand.

In terms of the video.

Cold (6 celsius, 42 fahrenheit)

the beginning is just the end showing that there are no bubbles in the liquid whilst at near operating temp. Also for sanities sake I put the blue liquid on my hand and next to the exhaust to confirm that it works. Fluid only changes a bit in terms of color, please compare start to end.

6:55 1st rev

12:36 2nd rev

reaches near operating temp.

17:10 3rd rev

Is the head gasket blown? Why does the fluid keep going to the min mark after the refill?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Kxtn0Z8M5s&ab_channel=Carplebs

Thanks!

 

[Alex]

Have you visually checked your oil cooler?

 

[CarPlebs]

Have you visually checked your oil cooler?

hey there, the heat exchanger ? If yes then I have not. But the color of the liquid changed a bit.

 

[infrasilver]

I don't think I have ever heard of a 3.6 cracking a head and equally head gaskets don't usually leak, I had a leak on my near side rad this year and there were no tell tale signs but I was topping up quite often, it took a few weeks for the leak to get to a point that I spotted a bit of damp at the bottom of the rad.

I see you have pressure tested but mine only leaked slightly when I was on the move and the engine was pressuring the system more and was why it took a while to find the leak.

The heat exchanger could be leaking, as mentioned, losing coolant onto the top of the engine and then evaporating from the heat of the engine before anything drips onto the floor?

 

[Griffter]

Samcrac dealt with something similar: https://youtu.be/aFzWU0-2OPw