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How do you know your head gasket is blown?

Old 02-04-2010, 10:25 PM
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Default How do you know your head gasket is blown?

I keep loosing antifreeze and have no leak.

I dont seem to find any water in the oil but its hard to tell
atleast for me lol
Old 02-05-2010, 03:18 AM
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start it, and see if there is bubbling when you remove the radiator cap.
Old 02-05-2010, 07:07 PM
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Remove the cap and start it. If it shoots a stream of water straight up, it's blown.
Old 02-05-2010, 07:22 PM
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Oil in your antifreeze, antifreeze in the oil (check your dipstick) you will see coolant above the oil high mark, is your exhaust billowing white smoke and as mentioned before, exhaust bubbles in the rad.
Old 02-06-2010, 09:33 PM
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ok no bubbling in the radiator--- but do have the white smoke -

it seems to run fine otherwise.

lol What can I expect for a car that cost $1000 bucks
Old 02-07-2010, 08:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Douglof25
ok no bubbling in the radiator--- but do have the white smoke -

it seems to run fine otherwise.

lol What can I expect for a car that cost $1000 bucks


Don't be discouraged... How fast are u losing coolant??

My ZJ does about the saem.. when its running it has white smoke (granted it is freezing here in MI) but I think it is more then normal..

I do have to add coolant (but not often) I think I have either an intake or a head leak.. but the truck seems to run GREAT...

Do u have any drivability issues?? If not I would look for wetspots or put a tracer in the coolant and see if u can trace it on the engine somewhere...

Good luck and enjoy your ZJ.. its not a bad ride and if the coolant useage is slow and the truck runs fine.. just keep her filled up and enjoy it.. its a 1000.00 JEEP.. ride it and enjoy it!
Old 02-07-2010, 09:00 AM
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I halfway agree, I would probly replace the headgasket. They are only 80 bucks and the job really isn't as hard as it looks. It all depends on how much you like your jeep and if its worth it to ya. If you keep running it you will ruin the engine, eventually. lucky for u its a jeep, or it would already be dead.
Old 02-07-2010, 02:11 PM
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Thanks for your input, I got the same problem with the one I just bought. This will help in fixing it.
Old 02-15-2010, 06:39 PM
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It's the water pump after all.
Old 02-15-2010, 06:48 PM
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Originally Posted by 5.9 Ltr.
It's the water pump after all.
You lucked out. I'd put a pressure tester on it to make sure it's not losing coolant somewhere else besides the water-pump weep-hole. JMO
Dan
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