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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / February 2007Question 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 > My GF has a 2001 Mitsubishi Galant with (apparently) a very slow > coolant leak. The mechanic says he suspects the head gasket. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Frank > 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 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view! Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590 (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page) 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.) >> My GF has a 2001 Mitsubishi Galant with (apparently) a very slow >> coolant leak. The mechanic says he suspects the head gasket. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590 >(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page) 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 > 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 [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] >> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590 >> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page) > My GF has a 2001 Mitsubishi Galant with (apparently) a very slow > coolant leak. The mechanic says he suspects the head gasket. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > could end up other than out the tail pipe or down the side > of the engine? 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. 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 >> My GF has a 2001 Mitsubishi Galant with (apparently) a very slow >> coolant leak. The mechanic says he suspects the head gasket. [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] >expensive leap of faith. Need to find where it's leaking to determine a >course of action. |
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