non benz: PT cruiser head gaskets? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 05-22-2006, 04:24 PM

so anybody know if they are putting better head gaskets on the pt cruiser four cylinder engine now? my wife loves her pt and we have just put on a new head gasket but she would like a new one maybe. so i wouldn't want to get a new pt if it means in three years i will be doing the head gasket.

and anyone know if the turbo motor is ok while on the pt subject?

any chrysler tech's out there? or just someone in the know?

tom w

t walgamuth · #2 05-23-2006, 07:57 AM

bump

come on now somebody must know about these littel devils

tom w

t walgamuth · #3 05-23-2006, 08:22 PM

bump

while on the subject of pts, anybody know of an excellent aftermarket plug wire set for these beasts?

tom w

t walgamuth · #4 05-26-2006, 08:46 PM

bump

help!!!!!

tom w

TheDon · #5 05-26-2006, 08:53 PM

did you try looking for a PT cruiser forum.. i found a forum for the chevy equinox's.. so there is bound to be one for the pt loser.. i mean cruiser

what engine is in this thing. the same as a neon? if so then you can probably get away with the same aftermarket plug wires.. nology makes some good ones.

t walgamuth · #6 05-26-2006, 10:04 PM

it is a bored or stroked or both neon motor.

so the nology wires prob will work fine.

thanks

tom w

t walgamuth · #7 05-28-2006, 12:03 AM

so today i picked up some autozone wires and some bosch plugs. did the job. and it wasnt as bad as i imagined. the worst moment was when my cell phone fell down the front of the motor and i couldnt see where it was. then i spotted it and pulled it out with my grabby tool.
i was prepared to be totally discusted with the plastic intake manifold but it was ok and the job wasnt too bad.

the most aggrivating thing was that the first place i went sold me plug wires and plugs that neither would work at all!!!! for petes sake this an 'merican car, cant you get it right? this was the local former napa store which supplies all the pro shops.

and i ended getting the right stuff from the zone.

and it started right up. (and no left over parts that i have found ...yet)

tom w

BobK · #8 05-28-2006, 09:15 PM

Maybe go to studs instead of head bolts to keep the gasket intact? Did that on my kids turbo Eclipse (what a POS). Seemed to help. Used to be the hot trick to keep head gaskets on diesel VWs.

TheDon · #9 05-28-2006, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobK

Maybe go to studs instead of head bolts to keep the gasket intact? Did that on my kids turbo Eclipse (what a POS). Seemed to help. Used to be the hot trick to keep head gaskets on diesel VWs.

why bother butting head bolts on a PT cruiser.. its not a 9 second strip car....

what turbo eclipse was it? 4g63t w/ 6 bolt flywheel or a 7 bolt flywheel.. those 7 bolts sure could crank walk...

t walgamuth · #10 05-28-2006, 09:25 PM

tough crowd.

tom w

TheDon · #11 05-28-2006, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

tough crowd.

tom w

do what you think feels right

t walgamuth · #12 05-28-2006, 10:44 PM

hey, i agree studs on the pt is a waste.

but some really tall slicks on back would look really cool.

heh heh

tom w

BobK · #13 05-29-2006, 12:20 AM

'97 GSX seven bolt. Yeah, they had all kinds of trouble. Finally got the kid in a diesel pickup and a 201 MB. Don't ever want to see another MItsu. Heck, I even told my folks I didn't want to work on their Hondas anymore.
If ya have to buy new head bolts, studs can be an option. I have little faith in the new age elastic head bolts. Now if ya really wanna talk lousy head gaskets, my buddy had a Ford wagon with the 3.8l V6. Actually, I watched Neons race for years. Little things could go pretty good. If they use the same motor in the PT, not too bad.

t walgamuth · #14 05-29-2006, 07:43 AM

yeah, but i bet they dont use the stock head gasket in the ones they race.

tom w

BobK · #15 05-29-2006, 09:11 PM

I don't know. They were all SCCA guys. Few years ago they were a fun class to watch. Sort of a Triple-A farm team for Nascar with all the paint trading. Still, they did improve my opinion of them. Same thing happened with the Honda (I hate Hondas) CRX. Little guys got out there, ran all day and did well. I figured they'd explode or something ten laps in. Might actually want to find an SCCA chapter near by and track down some of the guys that race with those motors. I suspect you are right that they use something better than the stock gasket. Iif anybody knows how to keep those motors together, they will.