Head Gasket Blown?

Does the fluid come out the overflow? If is coming out the overflow then the system is not cooling. Maybe a stopped up radiator or a fan problem or air in the system. A bad head gasket causing coolant to burn would be white smoke/steam coming out the exhaust I think.

When I park the vehicle after driving it, there is coolant coming out of the over flow and a trail of coolant behind the vehicle. I did notice while the engine warms up the heater hose is hot but the large hose from the radiator to the thermostat housing stays cool. Is this normal?

Kevin

A stuck thermostat can cause the engine to overheat blowing out a mess of the coolant.

I would try topping it up, then warming it up with the rad cap off to see if you have circulation. or not.

Mike

I did replace the thermostat AFTER this problem occured because this was my first impression. I have heard people removing the thermostat but it seems this would affect the proper operating temprature as well as not solving the actual problem.

Kev> A stuck thermostat can cause the engine to overheat blowing out a mess > of the coolant.

Removing the thermostat is an excellent diagnostic. Don't expect the heater to work in this mode, and you are right about proper operating temperature, but it will eliminate the head gasket as a source of the problem.

Earle

So far it looks like the head needs to come off. I removed the thermostat and drove to the end of the street. I checked under the hood and was hearing a random popping sound. I noticed the upper radiator hose vibrating when the sound occured. I gripped the hose and felt the jolt every time the sound occured. I also noticed pressure building and the overflow tank starting to fill and over flow. This looks like the head leaking and building pressure in the cooling system. Does anyone know of any other possibilities?

Thanks, Kevin

Nope, the good news is it's really not that big of a job, a couple new gaskets and the rest is all unbolting stuff and rebolting stuff...