NationStates Jolt Archive

i blew the headgasket friday. i've already driven it about 175 miles. i can go about 15 miles at a time before it overheats and i have to add more water.

the oil looks like chocolate milk. when you first start it up water actually trickles out the tailpipe, and after going a full 15 miles it so hot it snaps crackles and pops really loudly.

the car already needed about 500 dollars worth of strut and front end work and the door bottoms are jagged frilly rust art, so i'm just going to drive it till it seizes up then pull a few parts off and send it to the junkyard. any guesses on how far i can go?

I'll buy that chocolate milk off ya for 2 cents

i blew the headgasket friday. i've already driven it about 175 miles. i can go about 15 miles at a time before it overheats and i have to add more water.

the oil looks like chocolate milk. when you first start it up water actually trickles out the tailpipe, and after going a full 15 miles it so hot it snaps crackles and pops really loudly.

the car already needed about 500 dollars worth of strut and front end work and the door bottoms are jagged frilly rust art, so i'm just going to drive it till it seizes up then pull a few parts off and send it to the junkyard. any guesses on how far i can go?

This sounds like a challenge to me.

lol buy a new car......if you cant buy a new engine....cant well I guess your screwed :wink:

lol buy a new car......if you cant buy a new engine....cant well I guess your screwed :wink:

i've got the guy who sold me this one looking for another one like it at the dealers auction. i paid 1100 for it and drove it 30,000 miles in a year, i've got no complaints about the car. i blew the headgasket because i couldn't stop fiddling with stuff and put bars leak in the radiator but didn't/couldn't get the stupid cap to seal up again. i really need to not try to fix things that aren't technically broken on my vehicles, i screw myself every time.

If you keep heating it up (especially with so much water in your oil) I don't think you have much time before you get that loud knocking that will end in a squeal or a bang. The exact milage depends on just how much you push it while it's hot. I wouldn't drive it anywhere I couldn't walk home from :wink: . What type of car and engine?

I think you risk warping the engine head, which will then require expensive machining to make it fit properly again. It's far cheaper just to get the gasket replaced.

If you keep heating it up (especially with so much water in your oil) I don't think you have much time before you get that loud knocking that will end in a squeal or a bang. The exact milage depends on just how much you push it while it's hot. I wouldn't drive it anywhere I couldn't walk home from :wink: . What type of car and engine?


94 plymouth acclaim with a 2.5 with about 132,500 on it. those motors are pretty tough, but they do always blow headgaskets, well maybe i always manage to blow headgaskets on them. this is the 3rd 2.5 i've blown and one 2.2 as well, and a 2.6 but that doesn't really count(not the same engine family, and that blew on the way how from buying it cuz i didn't realize the water pump was seized).

I think you risk warping the engine head, which will then require expensive machining to make it fit properly again. It's far cheaper just to get the gasket replaced.

its just going to the junkyard, its a 600 dollar car that needs about 1200 in work, plus i kinda assume i've already cracked or warped the head.

I second what the Lost Planet said--don't drive it anywhere you can't walk home from. Or at least can't catch a cab or take a bus from.

Oh, and buy AAA so you can get it towed to a junkyard when it does die on you.

210 miles and counting but it is getting crankier about starting.

Keep us abreast of the situation, Ernst. Maybe we ought to start a pool for how many miles you can get out of it. :lol:

Thats pretty tough cause i measure things in kilometres (admit it, they're easier) but 200 miles already is pretty good. My old car overheated too many times when i tried the same thing you're doing and the engine seized completely after about 200 kms.

a friend of mine who manages an autoparts store told me, it doesn't matter how i try to keep it from getting to hot, or how well lubricated the engine stays, the water in the oil will eventually wash some protective(i forget what he called it) coating off of the bearings and the engine will seize.

i put some slick 50 in it cuz it was on sale and i figured it couldn't hurt, but he just laughed and shook his head, he knows how bad i am in all ways with cars.

i wreck them, i drive 30,000 miles a year and all my attempts at working on my own vehicles have a very large chance of actually making things worse, a passing chance of having no effect and virtually no chance of actually helping things.

I got about 300 miles out of a 74 Chevy van before I sent it to the junkyard. About half of those miles were with a full load in it. It still ran when the junkyard came to get it but I was moving so it had to go. I miss my old van. :(

a friend of mine who manages an autoparts store told me, it doesn't matter how i try to keep it from getting to hot, or how well lubricated the engine stays, the water in the oil will eventually wash some protective(i forget what he called it) coating off of the bearings and the engine will seize.

i put some slick 50 in it cuz it was on sale and i figured it couldn't hurt, but he just laughed and shook his head, he knows how bad i am in all ways with cars.

i wreck them, i drive 30,000 miles a year and all my attempts at working on my own vehicles have a very large chance of actually making things worse, a passing chance of having no effect and virtually no chance of actually helping things.You need to make friends at your local tow company. No, not because you need their services but because they sell vehicles. Until you can take care of a vehicle properly, I suggest driving what I call 'throwaways', cars that are basically not worth the tow and/or impound fees on them and not recovered by their owners. Tow companies file liens and sell off such vehicles, most ending up at wrecking yards. But you can find runners for 100-200 dollars, cheap enough that when they break down you just junk 'em and buy another. And your friend at the AP store is right, it's what I was trying to tell you earlier, the water in the oil is what's gonna make the engine fail. Good luck.

ernst is a dumbass, who can't drive and adjust the radio at the same time :twisted:

232 and counting since the big blow. i discovered an interesting fact today. if i'm just taking a short drive, less than 5 miles, its better not to put any more water in the car. when the radiator is filled up, it misses pretty bad and generally runs like crap. no water it gets hot fast but it actually runs pretty good.

I have driven many cars into the ground. In fact, there isn't a car yet where I wasn't the last owner. Nothing to be proud of, but such is being a broke ass sucker.

My brother, however, takes the cake. He managed months out of a chevy van that had the same problem by alternating oil, water, and no smoke. The oddest moment is when he took me to my grandmothers burial and we parked far away from the cemetary. When our aunt asked why we pointed. She still didn't understand so we turned around and reallised that the van was completely obscured by white smoke. "Oh, that's the van."

As such, I'll call 450-500. If I had a car to replace it with already I would be charging down an empty street with my foot to the floor to see if I could get a piston to shoot through the hood.

thats not true. I never did that and i had plenty of opportunities. I just wish I had.....

I have driven many cars into the ground. In fact, there isn't a car yet where I wasn't the last owner. Nothing to be proud of, but such is being a broke ass sucker.

My brother, however, takes the cake. He managed months out of a chevy van that had the same problem by alternating oil, water, and no smoke. The oddest moment is when he took me to my grandmothers burial and we parked far away from the cemetary. When our aunt asked why we pointed. She still didn't understand so we turned around and reallised that the van was completely obscured by white smoke. "Oh, that's the van."

As such, I'll call 450-500. If I had a car to replace it with already I would be charging down an empty street with my foot to the floor to see if I could get a piston to shoot through the hood.

thats not true. I never did that and i had plenty of opportunities. I just wish I had.....

Had a close friend in high school who drove a 76 Plymouth Duster that started to knock. When he decided to ditch it after upgrading to a 84 Olds, he stuck it in his backyard and stomped it while in neutral. No piston through the hood, but he knocked a rod through the side of the engine and blew a six inch hole in it.

i knew a kid once, the son of a former boss of mine, who actually grenaded a tranny. i think it was a turbo350. it was in a full sized pickup truck with a built 454 for a motor, appearently he was doing close to 100 up a very steep grade when it let loose. they said it scattered parts all over the road. that's the only time i've ever heard of that being done with a transmission.

i've now hit 250 miles, therefore the first poll answer was wrong, we'll see where we go from here. i may by a new(used) car on monday so we probably won't make it to 1000 no matter what.

261 miles and still rolling, thats 420km for the rest o' the world

I'd say you get about 100-150 more miles until you throw a rod.

I'd say you get about 100-150 more miles until you throw a rod.

its definitely getting harder to start, and i can tell i have less and less compression, really have to step on it to get it to accelerate, also i think the tranny is shifting weird, might have something to do with the amount of vaccuum, maybe not.

:?
I was wondering if this car had blown a head gasket before.

It sounds like it's too far gone now to re-do the head, but if this was the first time for such an occurence on this engine, then a re-engineered head probably is cheaper than another car.

You also must figure in your cost the change over of license plates, inspection sticker/tags and insurance.

Sounds like you're planning on junking the thing. Make sure you get those license plate(s) off the thing when you do. If you're located in a state/province like Louisiana, your personal driver's license will be flagged for not turning in your plate(s).

:?
I was wondering if this car had blown a head gasket before.

It sounds like it's too far gone now to re-do the head, but if this was the first time for such an occurence on this engine, then a re-engineered head probably is cheaper than another car.

You also must figure in your cost the change over of license plates, inspection sticker/tags and insurance.

Sounds like you're planning on junking the thing. Make sure you get those license plate(s) off the thing when you do. If you're located in a state/province like Louisiana, your personal driver's license will be flagged for not turning in your plate(s).

i would have fixed the head gasket, but it needs 500 bucks in struts, and other front end parts, and its getting pretty rotted out. i think it could use at least one half shaft too(not included in the 500). probably more than a grand in a 500 dollar car, better to just by another 1000 dollar car and run it into the ground. i got 30,000 miles out of it for 1100, that's like getting a half million miles out of a new car.

273, but i've been abusing the hell out of it today, it may never start again once it cools down. when i both to put more water in it , it gets that cool smoke screen effect, and its not especially sure it wants to turn over now.

273, but i've been abusing the hell out of it today, it may never start again once it cools down. when i both to put more water in it , it gets that cool smoke screen effect, and its not especially sure it wants to turn over now.

Soon.

Soon your car will be in Used Car Hell.
Ive got a few there as well.

Honestly you keep pushing it and you'll need a whole new car not just a headgasket.

Every mile you put on that car that engine gets riskier and riskier. Your engine is going to seize with so much foreign substance in the oil. If you're looking for another car that gets decent mileage and has a solid engine, I recommend looking for a mid-90s Buick LeSabre. You can get one for about 3 grand and if you keep the engine well maintained you won't have a problem with it. I drove my last one to 198,000 miles and would have gone farther until a drunk driver hit me last Labor Day and totalled it. I bought another, only a 93 instead of a 92. Great car, easy engine to fiddle with, and lots of comfort.

Honestly you keep pushing it and you'll need a whole new car not just a headgasket.


i'm definitely junking the car. i probably shouldn't blow it up though, i should probably drive it out to my inlaws place(about 15 miles away), they have one just like it, and let them use it for parts. i'll probably wait to long to decide and just end up having the junk yard come and pick it up.

Every mile you put on that car that engine gets riskier and riskier. Your engine is going to seize with so much foreign substance in the oil. If you're looking for another car that gets decent mileage and has a solid engine, I recommend looking for a mid-90s Buick LeSabre. You can get one for about 3 grand and if you keep the engine well maintained you won't have a problem with it. I drove my last one to 198,000 miles and would have gone farther until a drunk driver hit me last Labor Day and totalled it. I bought another, only a 93 instead of a 92. Great car, easy engine to fiddle with, and lots of comfort.

i had an 89 olds delta 88 once, it was a pretty good car, until i pulled out in front of someone and totalled both vehicles(my only really bad at fault accident). i think its probably the same basic gm platform, mine was a 3800 car and got really decent gas mileage. i put a fair amount of money into repairs, unfortunately i think i had just gotten it sorted out when i wrecked it.

Honestly you keep pushing it and you'll need a whole new car not just a headgasket.


i'm definitely junking the car. i probably shouldn't blow it up though, i should probably drive it out to my inlaws place(about 15 miles away), they have one just like it, and let them use it for parts. i'll probably wait to long to decide and just end up having the junk yard come and pick it up.Another option is to check around for local charities that take old cars as donations--they'll take them whether they run or not because they can sell them for scrap if nothing else, and they'll even pick them up in some cases. I did that with my Jeep last year.

285 miles, it learned a new trick today, it actually blew the radiator cap off while i was driving , then though i stopped as soon as i heard the noise i couldn't find the damn thing, i think car parts germlins stole it. surprisingly enough it runs much better without the radiator cap, or any coolant, for how long i don't know.

296 but the compression is just about gone and with a radiator cap on, its starting to blow water back through the throttlebody

299, and i think that's all she wrote, no compression, blowing oil out the back of the engine, rattling to beat the band and it can barely get out of its own way. i doubt it will fire up again, but maybe, i'll giove it a shot tomorrow.