LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000) Discussion topics related to the 1990 - 2000 Lexus LS400

Time to replace the head gaskets

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Old 08-18-14, 02:00 AM
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Omen
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Default Time to replace the head gaskets

Hello everyone my name is anthony. First post big problem. Just bought the car 2 days ago and today the head gaskets blew. Thankfully I pulled over as soon as smoke appeared. The owners before did not keep any maintenance up to date as soon as I started a little tune up i started to realize how bad everything was. So basically any heads up or helpful info on changing them anything is appreciated! Lots of work ahead of me but will be worth it. Thanks again
Old 08-18-14, 02:15 AM
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PureDrifter
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uhh, smoke =/= bhg.

what makes you think the headgasket blew? How much experience do you have working on/with cars?
Old 08-18-14, 10:16 AM
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Omen
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Originally Posted by PureDrifter
uhh, smoke =/= bhg.

what makes you think the headgasket blew? How much experience do you have working on/with cars?
Well here's the story I saw the car for sale for 2000 I talked him down to 1300. When a friend and I test drove it, it was feeling a little "sluggish" you could say so when we were in the process of changing the spark plugs each one was oem and the cars odometer reads 212k so that made me a little upset on how it was maintained. Then my friends and I were driving to get food with the ac on and speed up to catch the light my friends said there was smoke coming from the vents so they thought pulled over checked electrical thinking it was that because we fixed the brake lights, popped the hood turned car back on an abyss of white smoke came straight from the heads and ran through the exhaust. My friend is the mechanic and luckily he was with us when it happened.
Old 08-18-14, 11:41 AM
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timmy0tool
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still doesn't sound like a head gasket.

these cars are notorious for having a power steering leak into the intake tract thus burning PS fluid. there is an air valve on the pump that cracks and allows fluid to enter. check your power steering fluid level.

seeing OEM plugs doesn't mean there were never changed. how did the plugs look?
Old 08-18-14, 01:31 PM
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Omen
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Originally Posted by timmy0tool
still doesn't sound like a head gasket.

these cars are notorious for having a power steering leak into the intake tract thus burning PS fluid. there is an air valve on the pump that cracks and allows fluid to enter. check your power steering fluid level.

seeing OEM plugs doesn't mean there were never changed. how did the plugs look?
Power steering is full there is a slight seep but not enough to cause anything
Old 08-18-14, 06:00 PM
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ok you need to go read the FAQ and stop assuming.

the PS leak timmy is referring to is not externally visible. it's due to a vacuum actuated valve that fails and causes the motor to suck up and burn PS fluid.

Also, the high pressure lines leak after time and can spray PS onto the exhaust manifold/cat, causing smoke.

unless you over heated the car to high hell, you don't have a BHG. get an exhaust gas test for your coolant if you don't believe us.

the FAQ is your friend.
Old 08-19-14, 07:14 PM
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Omen
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well took it to my mechanic and he diagnosed it as soon as he pulled out the spark plug
Old 08-19-14, 07:26 PM
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Just for kicks, put another set of plugs in it. That electrode looks worn to me.
Old 08-19-14, 07:50 PM
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Originally Posted by cobalt91
Just for kicks, put another set of plugs in it. That electrode looks worn to me.
Just replaced them the day it happened, I mean if anyone lives around la habra they can come help if they'd like
Old 08-19-14, 09:13 PM
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Sorry. I live in Detroit. How many cylinders look like this? Also what year is your car?
Old 08-20-14, 11:41 AM
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What side did the smoke come from? So whats on the plug in the pic other than what looks like carbon and oil wetting? If the valve cover gaskets leak you can have that smoking too. Do you have coolant loss?

Last edited by dicer; 08-20-14 at 11:45 AM.
Old 08-20-14, 01:55 PM
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i have yet to see any evidence of a bhg.

i've owned a 7m supra for some time. i know what a bhg looks like
Old 08-20-14, 04:01 PM
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Just do compression test. Your friend the mechanic should be able to handle it.
Old 08-21-14, 03:06 PM
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Omen
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Originally Posted by PureDrifter
i have yet to see any evidence of a bhg.

i've owned a 7m supra for some time. i know what a bhg looks like

well you can come by and give your full diagnosis on i it if you'd like
Old 08-21-14, 06:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Omen
well you can come by and give your full diagnosis on i it if you'd like
Or you can do the exhaust gas test for your coolant and a compression test like I and others have told you to.....


You can't afford me.


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