Is a leaking head gasket bad???

"Deal Killer - Powered by Focus" (dealkiller-ii)
07/20/2016 at 12:24 • Filed to: None

This was the message my wife left on my cell phone this morning. She was having her oil changed in the Town & Country at the Tuffy service center which is next to her office. So, they are running a pressure test to see how bad it is. I’ll probably get a 2nd opinion at a local shop that I trust, but it’s not looking good for the van. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

DISCUSSION (15)

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
07/20/2016 at 12:33

Is it leaking oil? That’s not the absolute end of the world. If it’s starting clean and not getting hot, then the Doomsday Clock hasn’t gotten to midnight yet.

But it’s not good, though a repair will be good and expensive. I’d suggest you at least consider a used engine of lower mileage from a reputable source.

See what other Oppos say. I lost a car to a head gasket only yesterday.

Ross Kraz > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
07/20/2016 at 12:45

They maybe just found some scum from coolant in the oil. Just change the oil more frequently if you can’t get the gasket fixed right now for time/money reasons.

Boxer_4 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
07/20/2016 at 12:46

I seem to recall that Chrysler minivans tend to leak coolant rather than oil.

Either way, it's not great.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Boxer_4
07/20/2016 at 12:49

Definitely not.

Chris Clarke > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
07/20/2016 at 12:56

Isn’t it customary that all oil change facilities tell you that you have a leaking head gasket? Or that your transmission is slipping and almost always try to sell you more blinker fluid.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
07/20/2016 at 13:08

I would take it to a mechanic you trust before coming to any conclusions. When we went to get tires mounted for the Corolla we used to have they tried to tell us that we couldn’t leave because the car needed new struts. The units on the car had just been installed the previous weekend and had less than 200 miles on them. And it’s not like we left filthy springs on the car as everything was replaced and still shiny. I would fully expect that everything a service center tells you is complete bullshit to convince you that you need to spend more money. This is even more likely considering that this is your wife and stations like these tend to believe that women don’t understand cars and thus are easier to get more money out of.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
07/20/2016 at 13:08

Is it leaking into the oil? I had a head gasket leak once, but it was just leaking coolant out of the back of the block. Top off the coolant and no issues.

Head gaskets can leak a few different ways.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
07/20/2016 at 13:13

The GM dealership told me I had “no brakes” need a brake job “right now!” while we had our car in for a recall. Brakes on that car are totally fine...

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
07/20/2016 at 13:20

Thanks for the info. The van has 195K on it, and doesn’t eat too much oil, nothing I would consider out of the ordinary, maybe a 1/2 quart every couple of months, as it is basically a short commute to my wife’s office. No white smoke at start up and it doesn’t overheat. I guess I’ll see what the mechanics say. Just more bills when I was starting to be able to put money in the bank.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
07/20/2016 at 13:28

See what they say and get a second opinion if it’s bad news. And definitely run it past the Oppos.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
07/20/2016 at 13:29

Assuming it really is leaking (get a second, even third opinion!) there’s three ways it can go:

1) you do nothing. Keep the oil and coolant changed regularly. Probably will last a while, just be prepared for either a worse leak (maybe, eventually) or the engine to seize (maybe). You could probably get 25-50k miles out of that.

2) you fix the head gaskets. This will cost probably $2-3k. Car may explode tomorrow for any reason.

3) you get a new engine. See above. Plus potential of new engine also having HG leak.

At nearly 200k miles, I’d take option one and pray.

Rico > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
07/20/2016 at 13:55

At nearly 200k miles, I’d take option one and pray. continue saving up for its replacement as anyone with an old Chrysler nearing 200k miles should be doing anyway.

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
07/20/2016 at 14:44

Die-Trying > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
07/20/2016 at 15:41

Kinja'd!!!

i would try to “glass” the motor, and try to wring a few more thousand more miles out of it........ have had some decent results in the past, so long as you follow directions closely....... i usually use the one that you have to drain the system first, and clear out all the antifreeze. then add clean fresh water, and the sodium silicate, run it up to temp, and then run it for like .......... 30, 45 minutes, shut it off, let it sit for a few hours(overnight) drain it, fill it back up with water and antifreeze....... seen the stuff seal stuff up better than it had any right to. its a band-aid fix, but so long as you dont run the car hot, the glass usually stays put in the “fixx”

LOREM IPSUM > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
07/20/2016 at 19:33

Worst case, empty all oil and coolant. Refill both with either straight oil or atf. (Maybe even yank the thermostat)

Oil and water don’t mix, but oil and oil will mix just fine.

Might blow blue smoke from the exhaust instead of white but it’ll probably keep running so long as you keep it topped off and periodically pull the plugs and clean them with an wire brush when they foul.

Or you could fix it.. but who wants to invest in a used minivan?