Head gasket question
08-11-2009, 01:14 PM
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Head gasket question Is it possible to have a blown/cracked head gasket and not have coolant in your oil? Or vice versa? I know I need a new radiator, but the car overheats even when I've topped it off.
08-11-2009, 01:16 PM
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Yes, but there's a whole host of other things that will cause it to overheat, too. Why do you say you need a new radiator? If true, why would you think you have a head gasket problem?
08-11-2009, 01:31 PM
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^^^Exactly. How do you know you need a new radiator? If your radiator is cracked, your cooling system will lose pressure, making your cooling system inefficient and it will cause your car to over heat or boil the water out of your overflow tank.
If you want I can come check out your car sometime.
If you want I can come check out your car sometime.
08-11-2009, 01:36 PM
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The radiator is cracked and sprays out water when it gets hot. So from what you're saying, I can't tell anything until I replace the radiator?
My friend is going to do a cylinder leakdown test with me tomorrow. The engine got real hot when I was stuck on a freeway and the radiator sprung a leak. Real hot. I'm assuming something bad happened.
My friend is going to do a cylinder leakdown test with me tomorrow. The engine got real hot when I was stuck on a freeway and the radiator sprung a leak. Real hot. I'm assuming something bad happened.
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08-11-2009, 03:33 PM
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If your radiator popped, you can't tell anything at all until it's fixed, not even with a leak down test. you have to eliminate the known problems before a leak down test will even work, much less tell you anything definitive. If you do the test with a broken radiator, it won't hold pressure....so you won't know if you've lost a head gasket or not.
08-11-2009, 03:45 PM
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Preventive maintenance pays HUGE dividends.
If your radiator popped, you can't tell anything at all until it's fixed, not even with a leak down test. you have to eliminate the known problems before a leak down test will even work, much less tell you anything definitive. If you do the test with a broken radiator, it won't hold pressure....so you won't know if you've lost a head gasket or not.
If your radiator popped, you can't tell anything at all until it's fixed, not even with a leak down test. you have to eliminate the known problems before a leak down test will even work, much less tell you anything definitive. If you do the test with a broken radiator, it won't hold pressure....so you won't know if you've lost a head gasket or not.
08-13-2009, 08:39 PM
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I think this is my problem. I replaced the thermostat, and it still gets high in the temps. Also while driving some coolant bubbled up on out of the overflow tank, and spilled everywhere. So maybe a radiator or Head Gasket, not sure. And yes my coolant level is topped off.
08-13-2009, 09:03 PM
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Well, if you replaced the thermostat, and it's still having a problem, that's strange. Are your fans kicking on? When I pulled off my fan sensor it was covered in gunk. Maybe you need to do a flush.
08-14-2009, 11:00 AM
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Ok. While I'm driving, the temp does not go high. Its only when I'm Stopped or in traffic. Then when I start driving again the temp goes back down. Maybe the fans are not turning on? or coolant temp switch?
08-14-2009, 11:54 AM
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A compression and leak down test is independent of the cooling system. You can perform the test to see if any of the valves are not sealing or if he is getting blowby or a loosing compression elsewhere. The fact that he has a broken radiator has no effect on the test results.
I understand all of that, but the leakdown test combined with a bad radiator and a possible bad head gasket is a waste of time until the obvious is fixed.
08-14-2009, 11:55 AM
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I think this is my problem. I replaced the thermostat, and it still gets high in the temps. Also while driving some coolant bubbled up on out of the overflow tank, and spilled everywhere. So maybe a radiator or Head Gasket, not sure. And yes my coolant level is topped off.
08-14-2009, 11:59 AM
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If you have a bad head gasket, you'll have your leakdown test leak into the cooling system. Combined with a bad radiator already (I know, he already changed it.). After the radiator repair, all is once again equal, and I agree with you.