Signs of a Blown Head Gasket

[murdoc_47]

Worked like heck today to get the timing cover on before the weather gets bitter cold later this week. Do yourselves a favor folks and follow the instructions in order. I got a little ahead of myself and had to re-do the timing chain three times! Here's the order:
1. line up the sprockets
2. put the chain on, it's going to hang off the crank sprocket, I used a zip-tie just above the sprocket to keep everything in place.
3. Install the guide on the right side, the straight-ish one.
4. Install the left, curved guide
5. Install the plunger, tensioner
6. Pull the pin on the tensioner

Hope this helps someone in the future.

 

[Odrapnew]

I paid about $750 to have 2 Ford heads (2 valve per cylinder) cleaned, valve job and surfaced, so $530 is right in line with that since you have same total number of valves and arguably a bit more complicated head design.

 

[ruthrj]

Thank you so much for the pictures and status updates. Reading this whole thread is making me feel completely lazy putting off a transmission fluid and filter change on the truck.

 

[murdoc_47]

Thank you so much for the pictures and status updates. Reading this whole thread is making me feel completely lazy putting off a transmission fluid and filter change on the truck.

Well you can be SUPER lazy like me and never change the transmission fluid! lol. 316K miles on this CX-5 and never had a fluid change. Yes, I'm knocking on all of the wood in my house!

 

[HyFlyer]

Well you can be SUPER lazy like me and never change the transmission fluid! lol. 316K miles on this CX-5 and never had a fluid change. Yes, I'm knocking on all of the wood in my house!

Ha! So there all you "change trans fluid every 30k miles" folks. Look! 316k on factory fill and hasn't blown up haha.

 

[murdoc_47]

Ha! So there all you "change trans fluid every 30k miles" folks. Look! 316k on factory fill and hasn't blown up haha.

Well to be 100% honest, we bought the car used at 22K miles but yeah, I'm pretty sure it's still the factory fill. I know I've never changed it. And my wife is a tough driver. She does not baby anything! As far as I can tell it is still working perfectly! Getting around 30 mpg , and is still snappy.