So...
>
> I had today off since there was no work (thank God or whatever deity you
> subscribe to, since it was a MISERABLE day!) and spent the day looking for > this:
>
>
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> to check for the presence of hydrocarbons in the radiator/coolant.
> Autozone had it listed but at the store they never heard of it! CarQuest
> didn't have it, either.
>
> I decided before dumping money into the car to get the inspection done. By
> state law it was supposed to be done today, and who am I to mess with
> state law concerning motor vehicles?! ;)
>
> I knew it wouldn't pass because of the one little rust spot and an exhaust
> leak, but where else can you get a complete check for $29?
>
> I mentioned the possibility of a BHG to the inspector, and told him to
> give it a good wringing out so I could decide to spend the $$$ fixing the
> motor. It passed everything but the rust and exhaust, and the emissions
> because the OBD-II didn't have enough driving cycles on it (battery keeps
> crapping out)
>
> They said they had a testing kit there, but didn't want to mess with it
> because they stopped doing repairs years ago. I asked if there was another
> way to check and he said we can put the analyzer on it. "How much?" He
> said, "Start the car!"
>
> We took the radiator cap off, and he took the Exhaust Gas Analyzer from
> the state's emissions tester and stuck it in the radiator filler neck!
> He said Rev it up! so I reached over the intake and hit the accelerator
> linkage and ramped it up to about 2500 RiPpeMs. We could see the screen
> from the front of the car, and in big black digits I watched the numbers:
> 51 at 900 RPMs, 125 at 1500 RPMS, and 172 at 2500 RPMS!!!! Yeah! I guess
> there are exhaust gasses in the radiator!
>
> What a cool check! Others wanted to charge me $50-90 for this check, and
> we did it using the inspection gas analyzer!
>
> So, obviously the bottom line is, there is a leak from the HG to the
> coolant. Autozone had this stuff "...guaranteed to repair BHG or double
> your money back!!" The only thing I'm wondering is, in addition to
> 'fixing' cracks in the HG, what else does it 'fix' besides? Cooling
> passages in the block and radiator?
>
> Other than a BHG, the engine appears in good shape. I got an estimate of
> $580 for labor and $34 each for the gaskets, and while you're there do the
> seals, belts, etc etc. This guy is a Subaru whiz, so I know it would be
> done correctly, but the total will probably be ~$900.
>
> Hmmmm...
I've used the liquid kits for head gaskets, but IF you have access to a 4 or
5 gas analiser that the best and most accurate way to look for exhaust gas in the rad.