Do I have to take my engine out to replace a head gasket? And is hard to replace on my own?

Hi Jose:
I'd be looking for a bad head gasket. If the coolant is getting into the engine oil, the oil level will get higher, and the oil will be milky coloured from the coolant. Have you done a compression test? Is there a lot, and I mean A LOT of water vapour coming out of the exhaust? Head gaskets can fail in different places and give different symptoms, but the bottom line is that the engine will need to be dismantled and the head gasket replaced. If the engine has overheated during this problem, the head may be warped. Your engine is not happy.

Are you sure its a head gasket? The coolant cross over gaskets on the intake manifold are famous for blowing out and simulating a head gasket failure. 9 out of 10 times this is the problem. Good part is you have to pull the intake to do a head gasket, so id pull off the intake first, its not that hard on this motor. If they are blown you wont have any problem telling it.

I’m happy to help further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/david_c087e4b7d13c0163

with great difficultry, It is verry time consuming end verry costly to have it (Replaced)

It is possible that bad engine timing could cause overheating, enough to cause a head gasket failure, but you would notice that happening.

It is also possible that backfiring and engine pinging (which are symptoms of engine timing being out) could contribute to head gasket failure, but again you would notice.

If you have not been aware of these symptoms, or hard starting (the most common sign of engine timing being out) then I think there is no relationship in your car.

In any case if the head gasket needs replacing, part of that job is reassembly and resetting of the engine timing. Ask the mechanic what tests were done to decide the head gasket has failed. These are a compression test, a leak-down test, and looking for water in the engine oil.

If the mechanic has said the head gasket "is failing" I would ask how he knows, because they don't do that imperceptibly, they are either OK, or they leak.

For leaking head gasket it has to be replaced.For head gasket leaking and other troubleshooting,there are help links provided.Its suggested to click the link below and go through the troubleshooting procedure to confirm the issue :-----Leaking head gaskets? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/leaking-head-gaskets.html
-----------Water in engine oil? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/water-in-engine-oil.html
-----------How to replace head gasket on car?http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-replace-head-gasket-on-1994.html-------------How to know what is faulty Cylinder head or Head gasket?http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-know-what-is-faulty-cylinder.html
-------------- Can I just replace Head Gasket on 1991 Buick Century?http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/can-i-just-replace-head-gasket-on-1991.html Location of Head Gasket ?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/location-of-head-gasket-on-1994-grand.html

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HOW TO REPLACE A HEAD GASKET

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-replace-head-gasket.html

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How to replace Exhaust Manifold?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-replace-exhaust-manifold-on.html

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How to replace Intake Manifold?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-replace-intake-manifold-on-acura.html

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How to replace Cylinder Head ?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-replace-cylinder-head-on-acura.html

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Is it Easy to replace head gasket?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/is-it-easy-to-replace-head-gasket-on.html

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Should I only replace head gaskets or complete head gasket assembly?http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/should-i-only-replace-head-gaskets-or.html

---------This will help.Thanks.

For leaking head gasket it has to be replaced.For head gasket leaking and other troubleshooting,there are help links provided.Its suggested to click the link below and go through the troubleshooting procedure to confirm the issue :-----

Leaking head gaskets?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/leaking-head-gaskets.html
-----------Water in engine oil? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/water-in-engine-oil.html
-----------How to replace head gasket on car?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-replace-head-gasket-on-1994.html-------------

How to know what is faulty Cylinder head or Head gasket?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-know-what-is-faulty-cylinder.html
--------------

Can I just replace Head Gasket on 1991 Buick Century?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/can-i-just-replace-head-gasket-on-1991.html

-----------

Location of Head Gasket ?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/location-of-head-gasket-on-1994-grand.html

------------------------
HOW TO REPLACE A HEAD GASKET

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-replace-head-gasket.html

----------------
How to replace Exhaust Manifold?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-replace-exhaust-manifold-on.html

-------------------
How to replace Intake Manifold?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-replace-intake-manifold-on-acura.html

---------------
How to replace Cylinder Head ?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-replace-cylinder-head-on-acura.html

---------
Is it Easy to replace head gasket?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/is-it-easy-to-replace-head-gasket-on.html

------------
Should I only replace head gaskets or complete head gasket assembly?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/should-i-only-replace-head-gaskets-or.html

---------This will help.Thanks.

The head gasket (in your case gaskets) is located on the top of the engine block under the engine cylinder head which is under the Camshaft cover which is the very top of the engine. This car is a V8 engine so it has 2 heads and 2 head gaskets, one on each side of the engine. It is a very expensive job to replace head gaskets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL9QjN7AcW8&feature=player_embedded

or

you can go to autozone.com and become a member. they have a turorial on how to remove the heads to replace the head gasket.

FIRST IF IT IS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET IT IS RIGHT COMPLICATED IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO...ME PERSONALLY.. YES I WOULD DEFINATELY GET THE FULL GASKET KIT..DON'T EVER DO ONE HEAD DO BOTH.. HAVE HEADS ONCE OF ENGINE TAKEN TO MACHINE SHOP TO GIVE FULL BATTERY OF TEST...

This would depend on how long you actually ran this vehicle with the failed head gasket. if the temperature was hot enough, it could have warped the heads and replacing the gasket in this case wouldn't fix it. it would still leak.

NOw, if the block head is not warped and it didn't get to hot during the ruptured of the gasket(s), you may not have serious damage to the internals and replacing the gasket would be feasible at this point.

This job can take time and is not easy at all. it will take you and another assistant to complete and it can be hard work. not easy. remember, if your Engine reached a temperature that was really high and it was driven while the gasket was ruptured, it may have done considerable damage to the internals.

You will have to break down the engine to accomplish this repair if you choose to actually replace the gasket(s).

Please rate and god less:)