Need some help..

[Captain KRM P5]

Not exactly a Mazda question, but I figure the general car principles are the same enough that someone might be able to throw an answer my way ....

My brother just finished replacing the head gasket on his car, reconnected everything and fired it up. The boost gauge only reads 10 on the vacuum side at idle where it should be 18 to 20, it won't rev or gain power when one attempts to accelerate, and white smoke pours out around the intake manifold, smells like burnt glue. We're clueless - any thoughts?

 

[changedman]

sounds like he didnt fix it. any smoke is not good. it can mean a few things- water in combustion chamber (NOT GOOD) or something else, in either case, u better make sure he did it correctly, i mean, thats one thing i'd get done by a pro.

 

[mazdadan]

He may want to check the head for warpage/cracking. Also, if the mating surfaces were not machined, this could cause possible problems too.

 

[ForceFed]

I hope you used NEW head bolts or studs depending on which one it takes and you also torqued it to the proper specs in the proper order?????
If you did all of that,then it is possibble on some cars to install the gasket backwards or upside down which would cause it not to seal properly or let the coolant flow through the passages.I have seen this done many times before and you have to start all over again.
I do hope you did have the head checked for warpage and cracks as another member has said already because if not ,then this may have been the problem to begin with which caused the gasket failure.
Matt

 

[Captain KRM P5]

the head was not warped or cracked and new head bolts were indeed used to the proper torque specs as listed in the shop manual.