How do you replace the head gasket located on a 1994 Saturn?

Answer 1

1.disconect negative battety cable. 2.drain coolant 3.drain oil and remove filter 4.remove intake and exhaust manifolds 5.remove valve cover 6.remove timing chain 7.remove alternator 8.unbolt Power Steering pump and set it aside without disconecting hoses 9.label and detatch any remaing wiring or hoses that would get in the way 10.support engine with a jack and block of wood under oil pan. remove right motor mount 11.remove the head bolts in 1\4 turn increments until they can be removed by hand. do so in the reverse sequence of tightening. 12.lift head off. if stuck pry up at the transaxle side.

AnswerEverythings right above except there is no need to remove the alternator on a single cam 1.9, just leave it be. Dual cam engine may require it, I havent done one of those as of yet. The casting should be thoroughly checked for cracks, and the porosity of the casting makes checking it a nightmare. Usually, they will crack across the base of the cam tower, and leak oil into the coolant system. Most people find their overflow bottle full of oil or "chocolate milk" looking sludge. It is extremely important to flush the coolant system with detergent or heavy chemicals, to remove the oil that will ruin your hoses in a month. Saturn recommends changing the radiator, heater, bypass, basically all hoses when the cracked head is replaced. Dont bother trying to use JB weld on top of the crack, it will end up crumbled and stopping up the oil drain passages too. Plus, the way this aluminum is cast, the oil may very well find its way under or around the cold weld. Instead, replace the entire casting, which isn't as expensive as it sounds. I bought one for 350 bucks a month ago, completely built, and ready to bolt on. The head gasket is about 14 bucks if you can stand to wait in line at autozone, and the intake and exhaust gaskets are 7 a piece. Saturn usually charges about 1400 or more to do this job, and even if you do every hose, and new thermostat, water pump, valve cover, plugs, flush, oil change, gaskets, fluids and all, you can expect to spend about 600 bucks total. If you know how to do it yourself, that is. AnswerReplacing the head gasket on any vehicle is a long and complicated process, however if you wish to see basic step-by-step instructions go to the related question on the right side of the page "How do you replace a head gasket?"