Is this a head gasket problem
Is this a head gasket problem this recently started, 2 out of every 10 times i drive, my car would slowly heat up. It would get to the 3/4 mark and then come down to the middle again. If i pop my hood after shutting it off, i see the DRIVER header smoking. My thought would be that its coming from the head gasket and burning off the header. But yet once i start it back up, it idles perfectly fine. I changed the thermostat and it idled and drove fine for a week. NO PROBLEMS. I was driving again today and it over heated. I checked the radiator and its not clogged and i doubt my brand new thermostat is broken. I dont see how it can be my head gasket because: 1) the head gaskets have only 800 miles on them
2) Car idles and runs fine some days..Im so confused
Unless my heads are warped but then again i baby this car..I dont see how this stuff happens
2) Car idles and runs fine some days..Im so confused
Unless my heads are warped but then again i baby this car..I dont see how this stuff happens
Last edited by razorclaw99; Oct 2, 2008 at 06:58 PM.
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Albany,Ga
I had the same thing happen to me one day i was sitting in a parking lot and I looked down and my cooling gage was maxed out. I popped my hood and let it cool down for a while crunk it back up and drove home fine the temp would climb a little but then I would coast and it would cool down. Anyways I replaced the water pump and thermostat and I have been fine ever since.
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Albany,Ga
Yea that might be a header gasket um have you tried jacking the car up and looking under the header to see any stains or water marks where hot water hit something around the area where the head gasket is? But keep in mind if the head got too hot one time being that it is aluminum it could have warped it whether you baby the car or not
ok ill do that but lets say it is a head gasket, why will it idle and run fine for the next week? Dont cars with head gaskets problem over heat until the point where u just cant drive it? Maybe mine tore a bit in a minor spot?
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Albany,Ga
To be honest man I don't know too much about this
Yea just because one blows out doesn't mean the car won't run. It might be that you have a piece of gasket that is still attached but is ripped causeing it to move around. So that sometimes it stays in and others it comes out but I doubt this because more than likely it would go ahead and fly out . It could also be that a piece of the gasket that blew fell into the water jacket holes clogging it up and when that happens the water has to go somewhere and that might just be out the crack between the head and the block you are talking about. Also keep in mind that just because you replaced the thermostat if something clogged it up (say a piece of that gasket that has been inside your jackets) it may tend to stick from time to time
Yea just because one blows out doesn't mean the car won't run. It might be that you have a piece of gasket that is still attached but is ripped causeing it to move around. So that sometimes it stays in and others it comes out but I doubt this because more than likely it would go ahead and fly out . It could also be that a piece of the gasket that blew fell into the water jacket holes clogging it up and when that happens the water has to go somewhere and that might just be out the crack between the head and the block you are talking about. Also keep in mind that just because you replaced the thermostat if something clogged it up (say a piece of that gasket that has been inside your jackets) it may tend to stick from time to time
sounds like you might have AIR traped in the system.You need to bleed it out. On the driver side of the Throtle body is a small hose,start the car let it heat up and pull the hose off and see if bubbles come out.Some times yo have too have the front of the car up in the air to get it all out.Air gets traped in the pass head.Try it a few times too bleed the air out.
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If water is disappearing out of the radiator you have a blown HG.
If not, putting the front on ramps and squeezing the top hose repeatably to purge air has worked well for me. Do this while the car is running and T-Stat open
If not, putting the front on ramps and squeezing the top hose repeatably to purge air has worked well for me. Do this while the car is running and T-Stat open
Yes coolant is disappearing everytime it gets really hot. What i dont understand is when it gets close to the 3/4 mark it slowly comes back down. Wouldnt a blown head gasket stay hot?
Good luck!!
