To me the way I think if I have to take the head off I might as well do a rebuild top and bottom and throw a new clutch on just for good measure.

Still thinking.

 

Rebuilding the head is one thing, bottom end, best leave it alone if it's in decent shape.

You have a bad head gasket if you, overheat the engine, have low compression somewhere, usually adjacent cylinders but not always. If you have coolant in the oil, or vice versa, or if you're billowing out white smoke, and your heater doesn't work. If none of these symptoms fit for you, chances are you're fine, and something else is causing your rough idle.

 

What you say makes sense.

What the mechanic said also made sense. They said there's coolant leaking into combustion chamber. They inspected plugs only it appears.

After the news from them I started car and stood their looking at tailpipes and no smoke.

Never seen over three bars on temperature. Heater works.

Still thinking...

 

If you are losing coolant into the combustion chamber, your coolant level would slowly decrease after driving. Have you ever needed to top off your coolant?

 

This problem just started. I am not driving the car. So no have not checked recently.

I'm waiting to drive the car up to Ballade Sports. Just gonna have them figure it out.
They are top notch and specialize in S2000. That way if the head does need to be removed, I may have some extras done to the head while its off.

The place I took the car to I actually believe them. They have been very honest in past with me. I just don't want them working this problem.

Ballade Sports is my best bet in my area.

Maybe try that timing correction gear who knows.

Thanks for all the help! I will update soon as the leakdown is done. May be a week or two. Not in a hurry.

 

What kind of oil do you use?

 

Castrol gtx 10-40.

Found evidence of oil in coolant today. I let the car sit all week with no startup.

Yesterday I started it up and observed faint white smoke out tailpipes and small pools of water/coolant the diameter of a dime pool up at edge of tailpipe. I drove car with long warmup and car drove fine.
Added a tad like a cup of coolant.

Today noticed what is oil in my coolant plastic overflow reservoir. Checked oil and is full with no signs of coolant on dip stick.
Changed oil 1250 miles ago.

Still looking like the beginning of a head gasket failure.

Any more advice welcome. Thanks for the help!

 

Are you sure it's not morning condensation being blown out of the exhaust?

 

No I'm not sure it could be condensation.
But there was a small amount of oil at top of coolant reservoir pretty positive about that. Driving the car now waiting on my fast food. Car runs good no codes.

Smooth valves quiet pulls like it always does.

 

I feel like I am having similar problems as you Bliss. How did you end up going?

Did you find out the issue?