Blown Head Gasket

[kendoggy24]

Posts: 3

Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:59 am Post subject: Blown Head Gasket

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I have a 02 2.4L that has been giving me problems. It has been overheating when running but when idle it won't overheat. I have changed the thermostat and noticed that it was good for a week, then started again overheating,topped off radiator then later on noticed that the radiator resevior was overflowing and bubbling. I recently noticed that coolant was leaking from the rear of the engine and then guessed it was the head gasket. I have added a Bar's head gasket fix product that just made it worse. What should be done next? THANKS

[crispone]

Your FIRST mistake was posting in the wrong section.


Second error was in GUESSING it was a blown head gasket.


You may well have a LEAK somewhere, but NOT a BHG. It's important to ascertain WHICH it is before you proceed. (BTW, THIRD mistake was correcting EITHER with a "stop-leak" additive...)


IF there is a LEAK somewhere... (a hose, etc...) it MAY be so subtle that coolant is "evaporating" off without any clear indication until AFTER enough has leak/boiled out to then cause OVERHEATING which will then precipitate BHG-like symptoms. Have the system pressure tested and if possible, BLOCK TEST it for BHG. One of those two will likely show the culprit, which can then be repaired without adding crap into your cooling system to try and "clog it".

Also, are you sure your water pump is okay? Is the belt tension correct? Several other considerations before jumping to BHG... even timing, etc...


More DETAILS on what occurred most recently or in the recent past would be helpful in trouble shooting.


G/L!


-crisp

[(K)]

Is your oil tainted with some radiator fluid as well? I mean if you really wanted to you can run a compression test and go from there. Check for the usual signs of a bad gasket (white smoke from the exhaust, check your spark plugs to see if there's any that are especially cleaner or wetter than the rest, etc.).

In the end though, if it's a blown gasket there's really no way around replacing it, no more diagnosis is necessary.

[solara90]

I'm not 100% sure where the freeze plugs are on that motor but it could be leaking from one of them. Or check your water pump.

[kaizer1911]

i have a leak from the freeze plug next to the oil filter thats right behind the radiator. Any one know where i can get that part, or ways 2 fix it?

[img=http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/2089/img1880large.th.jpg]

[Gregtrd]

The bubbling in the reservoir sounds like a BHG, let the car cool down, open the radiator cap(make sure the car is cool be for you open the cap) if it smells like gas you have a bhg. If your water pump is bad you'll be able to hear a grinding sound.

[02slera]

i have a leak from the freeze plug next to the oil filter thats right behind the radiator. Any one know where i can get that part, or ways 2 fix it?

[img=http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/2089/img1880large.th.jpg]

I know advance auto/auto zone carries freeze plugs, not sure if that is a "special" one or not. I replaced one a ford 3.0 one time and its pretty tricky, getting the old one out i managed to hit one side with a screwdriver/hammer combo and knock it sideways and then grab it with pliers and pull it out, it tried to disappear into the block, i almost lost it but finally got it out, next tricky part for me was getting the new one in, i took a large socket about the same size in diameter as the freeze plug and put in against the freeze plug and tapped it in with a hammer. it tries to go in sideways you gotta be careful, the socket should help keep in straight, also careful not to tap it in too far. -im no mechanic just had to replace a freeze plug before. there may be an easier way idk.