Blown Head Gasket - Common after 60,000?

[nitrouspt]

Anyone know if the PT Cruiser engine in general is known for blowing head gaskets after about 60,000 to 65,000 miles? I recently put a NOS system on my 2003 Turbo PT, and he mechanic said he would do it, but that he worked on that engine, the normal PT Cruiser non-turbo engine, and said that after about 65,000 miles, that you start leaking coolant, and the head gaskets blow. He game me 20 minutes of technical information why (something related to clearances on gaskets, openings, etc) (I'm not a mechanic), and said for that reason he did not recommend putting NOS on top of the turbo. So, was just wondering if anyone has ever heard of this being the case of PT Cruiser engines in general? The mechanic said he had worked on that engine for many years.

[SuGamer]

No, no, no! Damn the unknowledged mechanics and rumors on the internet! [:0]I have heard of no one blowing head gaskets on the 2.4L engine! And a lot of PT owners are already past 65k. Some of the SRT-4 guys are boost as high as 26psi with new turbos! Wouldn't that blow a head gasket? I know a few guys that are running N20 on a PTGT, and one of them is a DC tech! The turbo'ed 2.4L is an extremely well built engine that can go up to close to 500hp with the stock internals, and the n/a engine is basically the same engine with weaker internals and can be made as strong or stronger than the turbo'ed version. And it's kinda funny that he has worked many years on this engine when the engine was redesigned to get more power and hold it and then some, and to be more efficient than previous versions. Get a better mechanic who knows what he's talking about.[:0]

[Espresso]

The 2.0L NOT the 2.4L are notorious for blowing head gaskets. A headgasket failure with N20, isnt uncommon. It does happen. That is just part of the horsepower game.

BUT, you have a MLS( multi-layered steel) gasket. ALL 2.4L DC engines use them. So if you blow one of those you have problems.
You need to look for a warped head &/or block. I have been building 4g63 & 4g64 engines( the famous turbo engines used in the Talson, Eclipses & Lazers, for years). I use Stock mitsu MLS gaskets in them all & they hold WELL beyond 30 PSI...Because they are steel & they DO NOT blow. I also use them in almost every engine I build( GM, Ford, ect..)

[SteelBlueGT]

The answer to your question is no for your engine. [?]

[quicksilverdon]

Some of the very early 2.4L engines in Stratus & mini-vans did blow head gaskets, but that was cured before the PT came about.
I did hear of 1 PT that MAY have blown a head gasket, but it is far from common.

[iowabucks]

My daughters car is in having the head gasket and head replaced. It is an 01 PT. 83,000 miles. It was blowing all the coolant into the overflow. The shop, (not dealership) has had it for 2 weeks so far. It also ruined the heater core. I was hoping it was just the gasket but the head was warped 3 times more than what could be planed.
I know i am a new member here but i started a thread on my daughters car and was told it is not uncommon for them to blow head gaskets. Maybe it's just something the older PT's did.



Geeez. I spent all this time replying to this topic and realized it's 3 years old.... Sorry everyone.

[Mean Green]

And still after seven years blown head gaskets have never been a issue.

[soonercruiser]

Head gasket, or warped heads!!
Wonder which came first?
The chicken, or the egg?

[quicksilverdon]

Originally Posted by soonercruiser

Head gasket, or warped heads!!
Wonder which came first?
The chicken, or the egg?

Exactly. With a cooling problem, a head can warp. When it does, a head gasket is sure to fail. Sounds like a cooling problem was the root cause - because why else would heater be shot?

[Gottasmilealot]

Oh boy. I have 63,500 on mine, and I'm losing coolant with no logical explanation. I have a 2002 pre-turbo model.