My 87 GL 1.8 L 4 wheel drive manual is running underpowered and leaking coolant internally, I beleive it is through the head gasket. The engine has 139000 on it, and has had some overheating issues but nothing extreme. The pistons on the passenger side are the ones that are underpowered, I can disonnect them and I can barely notice a difference at idle, however when I drive it I do notice a difference in power, but it is less than I would expect. If I disconnect a piston from the drivers side it makes a huge difference and the engine looses rpms and will almost die. I am going to get a compression test but was wondering if the head gasket problem could have anything to do with theses pistons being underpowered. Also there are no signs of a cracked head such as coolant in the oil, but i suppose that is possible.

Thank You

My 87 GL 1.8 L 4 wheel drive manual is running underpowered and leaking coolant internally, I beleive it is through the head gasket. The engine has 139000 on it, and has had some overheating issues but nothing extreme. The pistons on the passenger side are the ones that are underpowered, I can disonnect them and I can barely notice a difference at idle, however when I drive it I do notice a difference in power, but it is less than I would expect. If I disconnect a piston from the drivers side it makes a huge difference and the engine looses rpms and will almost die. I am going to get a compression test but was wondering if the head gasket problem could have anything to do with theses pistons being underpowered. Also there are no signs of a cracked head such as coolant in the oil, but i suppose that is possible.

Thank You

 

I've never experienced a lack of power from a blown head gasket, but I supposed it could be if it's bad enough. How much coolant are you using? See what the compression test says. Also, have you checked the plugs for that side -- if they are fouled differently than the other side, it's a good sign something is not right over there. If the passenger side timing belt is a tooth or two off, it could cause that side to not really work.

 

Zeke

Sounds like a head gasket and maybe a timing belt. I agree head gasket does not make a sooby loose power, but overheating it sure will. Engine may be tired.

 

 

nipper

Definitely check the timing belt. Since the distributor is driven by the drivers-side belt, the passenger side could have slipped and the engine could still run, but it would lose compression. A compression test won't be accurate if the belt is slipped, either, so check that first.

check the intake gasket on that side