Head Gasket?

mattyp · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-09, 11:39 PM

So I have a few questions, before I ask any question I will let you know that on a scale of 1-10 for being mechanically inclined I am a -5

So here is my problem, I have a 1999 STS seville with 57000 KM so thats about 36000 miles on it, I got it a little under a month ago and 2 weeks ago my check coolant level message came on, I checked and it was low, I thought hmm maybe it was low when I got it so I put some dex-cool in and never thought about it again until about 4 days and maybe 300 km's later the message came on again and it was down to the same level (2-3 inches from the full line) Now the car never over heats, it always stays in the 12 o'clock position, but I have now gone through 2 jugs of dex-cool in about 2000 km's. So my first question is, if it were the head gaskets, would it over heat or is it possible to not over heat and still have blown gaskets? second question is (it may sound stupid but some 2 bit "mechanic" told me this) would my car pass an e-test if it was burning dex-cool because of a blown head gasket? he said it wouldn't pass because of the chemicals that would come out of the tail pipe(my car passed the e-test fine), and he also said that you would smell preston from the tail pipe (i don't) I do however smell it close to the overflow reservoir like it was leaking there, I have never seen any drip marks on the ground and I check constantly, but this mechanic said that there is a plastic under the engine that could be catching it and stopping it from hitting the ground. I had this mechanic check for a leak and he said oh there was a small leak from a clamp on one of the hoses underneath and he replaced it, but it still loses prestone somewhere and I don't really trust him anymore, so I am asking here. Any help would be greatly appreciated

submariner409 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-13-09, 11:04 AM

To rule out a failed head gasket either find a NAPA store or go online and locate a block test kit which checks the airspace over the coolant in the surge tank for combustion gasses. A radiator shop may also be able to perform the same test. Some large car parts sales houses will rent out one of these testers for a fee.

Basically the kit bubbles the surge tank air through a liquid chemical which changes color if combustion gas is present.

Your first searches for the coolant loss should be for leaks - and hope.

**Ranger** · #3 (**permalink**) 10-13-09, 12:03 PM

1. Yes it is possible to have a bad HG and not overheat (in the early stages).
2. Not sure, but I think you could pass.

mattyp · #4 (**permalink**) 10-13-09, 12:40 PM

ok I will go to NAPA today and see if they can test it, Also I forgot to mention that when I remove the cap to the reservoir whether the engine is hot or cold air comes out, it does it a lot more when it is hot, but there is still some air that comes out when it is cold, is that a sign of a blown head gasket? Thanks for the responses guys

97EldoCoupe · #5 (**permalink**) 10-13-09, 12:50 PM

With that low of miles your engine probably has the original coolant. This is very, very bad. I would be checking the coolant crossover gaskets for cracks and moisture/corrosion around them. That is where a lot of coolant loss problems start. But it is possible your head gaskets are on the way out.

Check for leaks and corrosion and moisture around all hoses, seals, and gaskets and do what Sub suggested.

mattyp · #6 (**permalink**) 10-13-09, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97EldoCoupe

With that low of miles your engine probably has the original coolant. This is very, very bad. I would be checking the coolant crossover gaskets for cracks and moisture/corrosion around them. That is where a lot of coolant loss problems start. But it is possible your head gaskets are on the way out.

Check for leaks and corrosion and moisture around all hoses, seals, and gaskets and do what Sub suggested.

LOL call me stupid, but where are they?

tateos · #7 (**permalink**) 10-13-09, 01:35 PM

The coolant crossover bolts to both cylinder heads on the drivers side - there are at least 6 gaskets or leak points

submariner409 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-13-09, 02:22 PM

Coolant crossover - because the water pump is on the rear of the block, not the front - the most unholy murderous gasket changes you'll ever do.............

mattyp · #9 (**permalink**) 10-13-09, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by submariner409

Coolant crossover - because the water pump is on the rear of the block, not the front - the most unholy murderous gasket changes you'll ever do.............

lol that's nice to know, fortunately it won't be me doing it if that is the case, thanks a lot for the pics I will print them out and show them to the mechanic and see if he knows anything about it. I spoke to the mechanic and he said he thinks there is a lot of pressure and that it making the hoses leak and he is going to drain all of the prestone and re do everything. Hopefully that is the problem. He said he doesn't think it is the head gasket, but I don't know if I can trust him, I might just go and get a check done for $60 that will tell me for sure.

submariner409 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-13-09, 05:06 PM

Your 1999 cooling system runs either 16 or 18 psi, not sure when the change to 18 came in. - check the Stant radiator cap replacement book at a local parts store.

mattyp · #11 (**permalink**) 10-13-09, 09:04 PM

So I just pulled the rubber covers off of the spark plugs and looked down in and there was oil down around the spark plug in 2 of the 4 that I took off, I thought it was going to be prestone, but i stuck a paper towel down in and soaked some of it up and it smelled like oil and not prestone. I also forgot to mention that my prestone level goes down to about 2-3 inches from the top but never any lower than that.

**Ranger** · #12 (**permalink**) 10-13-09, 10:15 PM

That IS oil. It seeps from around the O ring seals in the cam cover.

Wait a minute. What do you mean "goes down to about 2-3 inches from the top"? That's about where it is supposed to be. you are not filling it to the top, are you?

submariner409 · #13 (**permalink**) 10-13-09, 10:28 PM

I'll bet he's filling it to the top, the engine heats up, the coolant expands and the coolant blows off. (Liquids are not compressible)

The coolant tank should be half full, cold. No more. The coolant needs a LOT of space to expand as it heats up. That's what pressurizes the system and raises the boiling point of the coolant.................

..............and the oil in the plug wells is normal, especially on a 10 year old engine. It's from the cam cover O-ring seals. They weep. Normal

tateos · #14 (**permalink**) 10-13-09, 10:36 PM

Sounds like maybe a happy ending. Hooray! And thanks to Sub for posting the diagrams of the crossover.

mattyp · #15 (**permalink**) 10-14-09, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger

That IS oil. It seeps from around the O ring seals in the cam cover.

Wait a minute. What do you mean "goes down to about 2-3 inches from the top"? That's about where it is supposed to be. you are not filling it to the top, are you?

ok so what I mean for the 2-3 inches is there is a black top on the reservoir and it has an arrow that points down to the clearer part and says full cold, I thought that that meant it has to be at that level when cold. If not then why would the check coolant level message keep coming on? glad ro hear that the oil around the spark plugs is normal. I really appreciate all of the replies guys, thanks a ton