I was hoping to get an opinion on replacing my head gasket. I took my car to the shop, where the guy tested the coolant and found the hydrocarbons to be 30 part per million. He said this indicated the beginning of a head gasket leaking. He also performed two different pressure checks. I can't remember exactly, but I think it was while running the pressure was constant, but when he pressurized the system, the pressure leaked off. I'm not sure if that is correct, but the hydrocarbons is definetly right. My coolant level doesn't seem to be dropping very much, but I am having sporadic problems while driving with the engine temperature getting hot, but it will cool down almost immediately, while I'm still driving.
I plan on replacing the head gasket to be safe, unless somebody thinks there is something else that should be inspected.
Is there anything that is particularly difficult or would make the task easier to know ahead of time?
Thanks for any input

 

I guess I should provide some details on the car... it's a 94 DX 5 speed, 1.8 L SOHC with 84,700 miles on it.
Everything is stock as far as I know, I bought it off of some lady that used it as a commuter car.

 

Is there any oil in the coolant?

 

my sister had that same problem but with her dodge spirt, she ended up having a cracked head, but different car and all i hope its just your gasket!!

 

The coolant's dirty, but I wouldn't really say that there is any oil in it.
Yea, I really wish that it wasn't the gasket also, but it seems most likely that it is. I just had a mini-van that the head went, and the head ended up being cracked, then I got this car. The van was kind of a hand-me down in the family type thing. So it's a bad case of deja vu. Oh well, thanks for the help.