Constricted cooling system = head gasket failure?
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From: Calgary, Alberta
Constricted cooling system = head gasket failure?
The saga continues.. the last while I've noticed the vans runs rough when first started up on a cold morning. The heat issues have been on again/off again. Previous issues can be found here: https://dodgeforum.com/forum/dodge-c...-2003-dgc.html
Yesterday I just happened to be paying more attention to the van when it was running in the driveway, noticed an abnormal amount of white exhaust when looking from my living room window. When I went outside and walked through it, I could immediately smell the sweet smell of coolant! Posted on here on another thread asking if it was the head gasket, and got a couple replies confirming this.
I'm guessing this is probably due to the fact that the cooling system was constricted for so long.. too much pressure = blown head gasket?
The strange part is that the other symptoms aren't there... the van isn't overheating, the coolant and oil are both completely normal looking and don't look as if they've mixed together at all. In fact, I just changed the oil yesterday and it was completely normal "old oil" color (solid black), and topped off the coolant and it was completely "new green" looking. In hindsight, we've been driving the van like this for a number of months now with no other issues... However I've seen so many threads talking about how you can't drive with a blown head gasket because the engine will overheat and cause other major issues??
After doing some Googling, i've heard mention of different severities of head gasket problems. Sometimes they're just 'cracked' (vs blown), and the leak is very minor and the symptoms aren't as bad. Could this be what is happening in my case?
Either way.. I'm confused. Also stumbled across a product called "Steel Seal" last night.. some people swear by it, others say to avoid it like the plague because it is just a temporary fix and cause other problems.
I do have a friend who is a mechanic by trade.. how big a job is replacing the head gasket by a mechanic and a DIY'er?
Yesterday I just happened to be paying more attention to the van when it was running in the driveway, noticed an abnormal amount of white exhaust when looking from my living room window. When I went outside and walked through it, I could immediately smell the sweet smell of coolant! Posted on here on another thread asking if it was the head gasket, and got a couple replies confirming this.
I'm guessing this is probably due to the fact that the cooling system was constricted for so long.. too much pressure = blown head gasket?
The strange part is that the other symptoms aren't there... the van isn't overheating, the coolant and oil are both completely normal looking and don't look as if they've mixed together at all. In fact, I just changed the oil yesterday and it was completely normal "old oil" color (solid black), and topped off the coolant and it was completely "new green" looking. In hindsight, we've been driving the van like this for a number of months now with no other issues... However I've seen so many threads talking about how you can't drive with a blown head gasket because the engine will overheat and cause other major issues??
After doing some Googling, i've heard mention of different severities of head gasket problems. Sometimes they're just 'cracked' (vs blown), and the leak is very minor and the symptoms aren't as bad. Could this be what is happening in my case?
Either way.. I'm confused. Also stumbled across a product called "Steel Seal" last night.. some people swear by it, others say to avoid it like the plague because it is just a temporary fix and cause other problems.
I do have a friend who is a mechanic by trade.. how big a job is replacing the head gasket by a mechanic and a DIY'er?
Last edited by birchy; Jan 29, 2012 at 06:24 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2011
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For Gods sake do not use the "sealer in a can" if you plan on keeping the van for a while.
You can't over pressure the cooling system unless your radiator cap has stuck closed (rare as hell) regardless of how "constricted" it was. The cap will relieve at 15 psi.
Do a cooling system "leak down" test, the system should hold 15 psi for at least 30 minutes when cold. Pull the plugs if it leaks down faster than that and check for a wet plug.
No wet plug? Find someone with a video scope to check the piston tops through the spark plug holes to see which one is wet. At least you'll know which gasket has failed.
No scope? Re-pressurize the cooling system and use a long piece of rubber tubing in each plug hole to listen for a hissing sound.
You can't over pressure the cooling system unless your radiator cap has stuck closed (rare as hell) regardless of how "constricted" it was. The cap will relieve at 15 psi.
Do a cooling system "leak down" test, the system should hold 15 psi for at least 30 minutes when cold. Pull the plugs if it leaks down faster than that and check for a wet plug.
No wet plug? Find someone with a video scope to check the piston tops through the spark plug holes to see which one is wet. At least you'll know which gasket has failed.
No scope? Re-pressurize the cooling system and use a long piece of rubber tubing in each plug hole to listen for a hissing sound.