Question About Head Gaskets and Coolant Loss

My GF has a 2001 Mitsubishi Galant with (apparently) a very slow coolant leak. The mechanic says he suspects the head gasket. The engine runs fine, no evidence of stumbling. It's my understanding that, if it's the gasket, the breach in the gasket, depending on whether it is located on the inner edge or the outer edge if the gasket, could let the coolant run either into the cylinder or outside. Here's my question: Is there any other place the coolant could end up other than out the tail pipe or down the side of the engine? Thanks for your help! Frank

Reply to
frank1492
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My GF has a 2001 Mitsubishi Galant with (apparently) a very slow coolant leak. The mechanic says he suspects the head gasket. The engine runs fine, no evidence of stumbling. It's my understanding that, if it's the gasket, the breach in the gasket, depending on whether it is located on the inner edge or the outer edge if the gasket, could let the coolant run either into the cylinder or outside. Here's my question: Is there any other place the coolant could end up other than out the tail pipe or down the side of the engine? Thanks for your help! Frank

Reply to
frank1492

It can get into the oil and it can hydrolock a piston, either of which which can destroy the engine....

You can check the dipstick and oil cap for white foam which indicates water and you can check the spark plugs looking for a clean one which would indicate water there.

Mike

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Reply to
Mike Romain

Thanks Mike. What I was getting at is, assuming there is a breach in the head gasket, and there are no performance issues, then that would indicate an external leak as opposed to an internal one, correct? (I mean coolant could be running down the outside of the engine in which case the engine couldn't be damaged, only coolant could be lost very slowly. I think that's what he was suggesting.)

Reply to
frank1492

From the head gasket it could leak into the cylinder, into the oil, or to the outside of the engine. A leak into the cylinder will steam clean the inside of the cylinder if small, destroy it if too big. A leak into the oil will show milky oil or oil in the coolant. A leak to the outside will drip on the pavement if large, and be a tiny trace if small, if even visible.

What reason other than the expense of doing the job is the head gasket suspected? With so many hoses and clamps, radiator, heater core, etc that could be the source of a tiny weep jumping to the head gasket is an expensive leap of faith. Need to find where it's leaking to determine a course of action.

Reply to
Brent P

No, the engine destroying leaks can have no effects other than the loss of coolant until the big bang happens....

The coolant wrecks the bearings when it gets into the oil.

They have a paste you can buy at the auto parts stores that you put on the dipstick to check the oil for water and another type to check the coolant for hydrocarbons. You can also open the rad cap and start it up to look for exhaust coming out the rad.

Mike

frank1492 wrote:

Reply to
Mike Romain

Thanks to all for your great replies, but especially to Brent for giving me the exact answer I was looking for. I am not sure what led him to the gasket. He didn't have time to do a complete check today, will do a complete check next week. This guy has always been pretty honest and I wouldn't expect he would try to cheat us. Nevertheless, I'll make it clear that we hope he won't ignore the less expensive possibilities! Thanks again! Frank

Reply to
frank1492

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