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Topic: I have a dieing headgasket i think... (Read 1927 times) previous topic - next topic

I have a dieing headgasket i think...

I have bubbly coolant, but it could also be that it's low and it needs to be flushed, but it doesn't seem like I'm getting coolant in my oil. I do get a bit of smoke that comes from the back passenger part of the engine bay when my car is driven for a while. But that may be the tranny fluid dripping on the exhaust and burning.

I do have a lot of white smoke when I first start my car, but that could be just the cold, it goes away after the car has warmed up.

Am I looking at a blown head gasket in the future? How much would one cost?

Re: I have a dieing headgasket i think...

Reply #1 –
Is the car low on power?, does the engine cut off? It may be just like what you said... low coolant that is being boiled quicker becuase there is not alot in the raditor...and the smoke is coming from tranny fluid on the exhuast. Try to get under there and see if the tranny fluid is dripping on the exhuast, if so try to fix it. Also add some 50/50 mix to your raditor and see if the bubbling stops, if so then keep an eye on the radiator levels.

Re: I have a dieing headgasket i think...

Reply #2 –
if its not overheating, i would not worry about it.  if the overflow tank bubbles when you shut off the car then you do have a flow or temp problem.

white smoke on start up?,, pretty common on all cars.

smoke on pass side may as well be writtin off to a leaking rear intake gasket or rear side of valve cover.

lots of folks forget to flatten out the valve cover holes which get bevel'd when the bolt is tightened.  flattening out the valve cover holes allow the cover to mesh up more to the gasket and seals better all the way around. 
same applies to rear end cover, tranny pan ect ect.

Re: I have a dieing headgasket i think...

Reply #3 –
Yeah I have tranny oil on the precat, and the coolant is pretty low and I keep forgeting to buy coolant when I'm at pep boys. there's nothing in the overflow.
The radiator was low when I first got the car, I added like 1/4 gallon of coolant, like it was so low i couldn't see the coolant. Now I can, but it's still low.
I plan on buying a lot of oil and tanny fluid stabalizer and leak sealer, and fluid this tuesday. I plan on flushing my coolant whenever it's above freezing, it's got a lot of gunk in there.

Re: I have a dieing headgasket i think...

Reply #4 –
if youre REALLY worried, pull the plugs and see if there are any that looks completely spotless, if so, theyre getting coolant
It's Gumby's fault.
 

Re: I have a dieing headgasket i think...

Reply #5 –
When I pulled the old plugs they were heavily excrusted with soot and what not. But I'll see if I can get out this weekend and pull them and check them.