Replaced water pump, now head gasket kaput!

[romcad]

Hey there, I've got a 97 Monte Z34 with appr. 140 thou km on it. Anyways, I developed a coolant leak awhile ago, took it in, had to have the water pump changed, no big deal right?..... So I leave the garage and 20 min later the temp guage is in the red, so I bring it back, they bleed the air out and I leave with it......20 min later, I'm back, again temp gauge in red, but when I turned on the heater fan, it went down, it also went down pretty quick after coming to a standstill.................So they bled the system but the next day I was back again, now they started testing, check fans, check sensor, everything seems to be working fine................they tell me after taking the car for a drive that their scanner isn't showing the same temp as what's showing on the car gauge???? Well, now I've been told that the head gasket is kaka and that the car was pumping white smoke out the back while they were doing their tests.....I kind of remember sitting in the car a couple of weeks ago and noticing some white exhaust, but it was minimal, hardly noticible...........................Anyone have any ideas about my situation, much appreciated, thanxs.

[bud36light]

To start off with the system wasnt bled right when refilling. Look in your owners manual. It explains the proper fill procedure. Yes not using this procedure can and will result in a blown head gasket. As you have found out. These engines are real touchy about head gaskets keeping saeled up.

[dohcfiend]

ya know that might be what caused my head gasket(or crack) in my last motor it let go soon after i replaced my rad.

what is the procedure anyway cause i have my other engine in now and don't want to blow a gasket on that one either.

i am assuming it has something to do with the bleeders on the lim and the heater core hose. i am not blessed with a manual(book not the tranny) either.

[bud36light]

from my manual. Open both bleeder screws. Remove rad cap. fill rad slowly. Then fill the recovery tank. Close both bleeder screws. Leave rad cap off. Start engine(motor ). Let upper hose get hot.Add coolant as needed to top it off. Install cap. Watch coolant tank for awhile and maintain the level in recovery tank as needed from there on. Hope this helps.

[romcad]

Hey thanxs for the input, the only good thing coming out of this situation is that I'm getting a bunch of other work done at the same time, oil leak fixed, spark plugs etc......for what I'm paying I'm not sure I want to keep the car for too long.......afraid about the tranny crapping out on me, but I love driving it and the looks I get from pussy whipped middle aged guys driving minivans......oops my bad.....from what I hear, these cars are all about regular maintenance, but which aren't? I went on automotive forums and found people bitching just as much about their 2 and 3 year old Altimas, something about engine failure on the road....

[romcad]

Hey, well got a call today that my heads are .010" off (warped) so they need to be machined, is it ever going to end. Manager said everything else is ok.......looks like my engine is coming back to me in like new condition, now for the bill.......going to have to eat only twice a day for awhile.