Blown head gasket - Lose coolant?

[kdog_x]

After replacing upper/lower radiator hose, T/B hoses, heater core hoses, heater core, overflow, radiator, water pump, and any other cooling hoses I could find. I still can't seem to figure out where my coolant is going. The only thing I can think is that I usually get some water that comes out of the exhaust when I start it in the morning. Is this indicative of a blown head gasket, or would I also be experiencing power loss if this was the case? The car runs great, except for the dreaded 1800 RPM misfire which everyone else seems to have as well. I'm just getting sick of refilling the overflow every week when it goes dry. The radiator never drains below the cap, but the overflow is always bone dry. This is really driving me nuts, anyone know about the head gasket part?

 

[squeeeg]

You can loose coolent throgh a blown head gasket. It can be either going into your cumbustion chamber or worse yet into your oil. If it is going into your oil you need to fix it need change your oil

 

[iapexl8r]

take a close look at your freeze plugs (they tend to produce hidden leaks). usually a blown head gasket assoiciated with loosing coolant will be accompanied with milky oil. . the first thing I would do is check freeze plugs, then do a compression check. also when you loose coolant through the exhaust you can smell it. hope this helps chris

 

[NOSLO5.0]

Going thru the same thing right now myself. Just put a set of Thumper heads on and finally got everything together. Took a couple short trips with the car to get it broke in. Noticed the temp would rise. Thought I just had air in the cooling system to get out. Kept topping off the coolant. Still was loosing it and it was getting hot. Finally decided to drain the oil and do an oil change. Ya, chocolate shake colored oil came out! Did a pressure test of the cooling system. Will not hold pressure! Is it possible to put a head gasket on wrong? Looks like I will be taking everything apart to see what happened.

 

[kdog_x]

I've changed the oil since this problem has started happening, doesn't seem to be any milkshake problems. just can't seem to hang on to my coolant. I took a look at the freeze plugs, but the block was pretty dirty. I cleaned it up a bit, so I guess I'll have to wait and see if anything shows.

Also, Has anyone changed the seals that the driveshaft goes into before (both ends)? I've got a slow trans fluid leak from the front one and same thing at the rear end. I checked the Haynes manual, but there was no info on replacing these seals. Can this be done with the rear end and tranny still in place in the car?

 

[darthcual]

No one has mentioned the fact that you might have a leak in your overflow tank which is a common problem. Take it off the car, fill it w/ water and leave it in the up right position for a day or two. Hope this helps.
DC

 

[UnderPressureGT]

You WILL know if you blow a headgasket. trust me, take it upon the expert at blowing headgaskets...

If its in your oil, it will look like a milkshake... Otherwise if its getting burned in your combustion chambers, you will have an assload of white smoke and the car will be studdering at any constant driving rpm..... the water you are talking about in the morning is just condensation..

 

[7upstang]

I would do as darthcual suggests and check your overflow tank/bottle. Another suggestion is to replace your radcap. If a radcap goes, it will vent coolant. At 5 bucks, it's a cheap check/replacement. I would also check the Rad very closley. Small pinhole leaks can get rid of a lot of coolant and still not leave any telltale wet marks on the driveway.

There is also a fluid available that you can dump in your rad that flouresces under a black light. Basically, you clean your engine and then dump a container full into your rad. Drive around for a couple days, and then take a black light and look under the hood at nightime. You can buy it at pep boys. It can help you trace a coolant leak. I'll try to find the name of the stuff.

Finally, check the carpets in the passenger footwells to see if they're wet. If they are, you may have a heater core leak.

Hope this helps

Cheers