Car over-heats, bubbles in radiator, but no white smoke.

[iisST1TCH]

So it seem obvious that I am some how losing compression into the cooling system, but there is no antifreeze draining into the engine. Can anyone make sense of this, because I sure can't...

[alfadoc]

Simple physics. Pressure in combustion chamber ~150 psi. Pressure in cooling system ~15 psi.

For the same reason, when oil and coolant intermingle in internal combustion engines, you generally get oil in the coolant before you get coolant in the oil.

I would imagine if you wait long enough, you'll have a complete void in the head gasket and get migration both directions!

PS put the year and model of your car in your sig. Makes it easier for those interested in helping you.

[JRMock]

Head gasket is leaking.

This can pressurize the cooling system. If you have the radiator cap off, and the engine running is will probably shoot water up and out of the overflow. Time to fix.

good luck
JM

[AA_Ezra]

Head gasket, recently hapend to my younger brothers car. Car runs great when its cold without any problems but as it get closer to temp or at temp is when the this kinda stuff happens

Basicaly when the engine gets hot enough whatever hole,crack,seal is open gets worse when the car gets hot so the gasses in the piston chamber find there way out and they are hot gasses so eventuraly you're Rad cap will blow.


You cold do a leek down test and im sure you will find bubbles going into you're cooling sytem too.

IF it gets any worse watter will start to get into the piston chamber and if you don't turn on the car in a few days you wont be able to start it of have a very very hard time trying to with all the water in there.

Regards
J

[iisST1TCH]

Originally Posted by alfadoc

Simple physics. Pressure in combustion chamber ~150 psi. Pressure in cooling system ~15 psi.

For the same reason, when oil and coolant intermingle in internal combustion engines, you generally get oil in the coolant before you get coolant in the oil.

I would imagine if you wait long enough, you'll have a complete void in the head gasket and get migration both directions!

PS put the year and model of your car in your sig. Makes it easier for those interested in helping you.

Sorry, new :P.

The thing is, I have neither, the coolant I drained recently was still clean, I also changed the oil at the same time and it was "clean" in the sense that it had no coolant in it... that's what's confusing me the most...


Also, while changing the head gasket, how important is it that I change the timing belt also?

[AA_Ezra]

They go hand in hand. might as well as it's all going to be apart anyway.

And you oil and coolant would remain clean as right now only exhaust gasses are entering you're system. so you are lucky in the sense that only that part of the head gasket is gone.

On these cars when you get milkshake a.k.a Water in the oil its usualy a failed oil cooler seal. That's the big box looking that that you're oil filter attaches too :P

[iisST1TCH]

Thanks good to know, this is not going to be a fun week... >.>

[iisST1TCH]

Gots me a new issue... battery died after I left the door open about a week ago, finally decided to charge it... now its just not starting... turning over and everything but wont fire up. Is this because coolant has leaked in through the gasket?

[phoenix_iii]

Didn't someone.e say that's what happens next? Reread above.

[wild man]

Latest issue aside, it almost sounds like a breached HG that is exhibiting some sort of "check valve" effect!

[alfadoc]

I strongly urge you not to attempt to run this vehicle any more until the head gasket issue is resolved. Oil/coolant migration is a big mess to clean up. Coolant is also corrosive to rod and main bearing material. It's just time to pull the head.

[robm-951]

Originally Posted by iisST1TCH

Sorry, new :P.

The thing is, I have neither, the coolant I drained recently was still clean, I also changed the oil at the same time and it was "clean" in the sense that it had no coolant in it... that's what's confusing me the most...


Also, while changing the head gasket, how important is it that I change the timing belt also?

Did you properly bleed the coolant system after you changed it. i.e. nose high and bleed air out of system through bleed screw?

[AA_Ezra]

Originally Posted by iisST1TCH

Gots me a new issue... battery died after I left the door open about a week ago, finally decided to charge it... now its just not starting... turning over and everything but wont fire up. Is this because coolant has leaked in through the gasket?

Most likely, that's what happened to me.

I guess if you wanted to check you could Remove the sparks plugs and stick a wooden dowel down there on each pistion and see if its wet. The pistons are at an angle as you can see by looking at the cam tower to the water will tend to lean/settle on that side. Im sure you could use somthing else to see if you dont have a woden dowell that will fit no need in spending the money for it. Perhaps maybe a tree branch or fresh vine of some kind?

[alfadoc]

Originally Posted by AA_Ezra

Most likely, that's what happened to me.

I guess if you wanted to check you could Remove the sparks plugs and stick a wooden dowel down there on each pistion and see if its wet. The pistons are at an angle as you can see by looking at the cam tower to the water will tend to lean/settle on that side. Im sure you could use somthing else to see if you dont have a woden dowell that will fit no need in spending the money for it. Perhaps maybe a tree branch or fresh vine of some kind?

Pull the plugs out and spin it over. If there's water in there, you'll see it real quick!

[wild man]

On the contrary, hiz situation is the converse.

The mentioned symptom of no white smoke would indicate no coolant in cylinders.

Conversely speaking, the mentioned symptom of bubbles in the cooling system would indicate cylinder pressure going into it, but NOT visa-versa. That's why I said check valve effect.

[BobbyD]

I had similar symptoms. bubbles in coolant. No white smoke an no oil in coolant.

It was a blown head gasket, but at that point it was only exhaust gasses migrating into the coolant.
Here's a video what it looked like.
YouTube - ‪radiator - blown head gasket?‬‏