Head gasket

Oct 20, 2003 3 Replies

Yesterday when I backed up out of my driveway and then put it in 1st I smelled antifreeze. I have checked my oil and coolant and neither looks contaminated or milky. I put my hand over the exhaust pipe and I don't get any moisture or antifreeze smell. My engine is not running hot (not that I can tell, for what its worth my temp. gauge sits a little left of 12 oclock at operating temp). I just can't figure out why I'd smell antifreeze other than it came out of the exhaust. There is no apparent leak or loss of fluid that I can tell. Maybe its nothing, maybe I have a small head gasket leak, I just don't know at this point. Anyone out there have any suggestions?? I sure would like to know once-and-for-all that my head gasket is either good or bad. I've owned the car for about 10 days, its a '97, and maybe I'm just worrying too much.



John


It would help to know the mileage of your '97. Possible sources of the smell:

- leaking water pump

- leaking heater hose, caused by oil dripping from cam angle sensor O-ring

- leaking heater core

- spillage from overfilling radiator

- your neighbor has a coolant leak (!)

You could get a leakdown compression test, but before you bother just monitor your coolant level for awhile. And watch for drips under the car.

"John" wrote

My former OTM developed a small leak in the heater core that resulted in an anti-freeze smell, but no coolant left on the driveway and a very slow loss, like 4 oz every two weeks. As Lanny suggested, I'd watch the coolant level for a while before getting too concerned about the head gasket.

As soon as I posted I realized I didn't state the mileage...its 82k. Uggg, coming home from work, sitting at a bunch of lights started experiencing preignition. First time I ever heard it from this car. I listened with the hood open and there were very distinct/loud clicks as I begin to rev the motor. Last weekend I got the CEL for multiple misfires so I just ordered some NGK blue wires and plugs. Hoping that all my problems are bad wires/plugs. I did read that bad wires can produce an electrical induction on the closest wire and cause preignition. So I guess I'm not really asking a question, just talking.

John

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