2004 Acura Integra mileage: 30,000.
My car has a problem that I took to several mechanics and they can't seem to diagnose
a specific problem. My engine sputters at low speeds like below 30mph but runs excellent
above 60mph. It idles fine in 'Park' but idles rough in 'Drive' while at the traffic
lights and in traffic. The engine is strong and I get good gas mileage. I recently
had the spark plugs and spark plug wires changed because the car was eating up oil
and had black smoke coming out of the exhaust. The car was also burning up antifreeze.
On an occasion this problem still occurs but it has become minimal. My main concern
is the sputtering that happens when I'm in traffic or going at slow speeds.
The cars idle is high but it won't die down in the middle of the road. It takes
a couple seconds to take off when I step on the gas. I went to the Acura Dealers
and they told me the problem was a diagnostic code 12, the code for the EGR. I had
the oxygen sensor replaced as well as the EGR valves and had put in brand new radiator
hoses. The sputtering problem still has not gone away and I don't know what to do.
I don't want to keep putting money in my car unless it will solve the problem and
it seems like the dealers were wrong about the problem. If you could solve my problem
it would great! Thanks.
Answer: Your car may have a seeping head gasket and/or a cracked cylinder
head that is allowing antifreeze into the combustion chamber. At low speeds this
would cause a misfire or your car to run rough. A slight amount of coolant in the
combustion chamber at higher speeds would not be noticeable. You should have your
engine checked for a leaking head gasket.
Question: 2002 Toyota 4 Runner mileage: 42,000. Did 4 Runner have problems
with the exhaust valves and cylinder head gaskets? How would I be able to tell if
either one is malfunctioning?
Answer: A compression check and cylinder leak-down test should tell you
the condition of your engine.
Question: 2004 Ford Focus mileage: 45,000. Why would my radiator water
always be foamy like soap? What's the cause of this? And is there a fix? Water is
clear clean coolant green. Foam is clear clean white. I notice no leaks. However,
I am always having to add water to the radiator. Much steam from rear tail pip in
the mornings. I have been smelling the radiator water. Sometimes I think it smells
like maple if that makes any sense.
Answer: It sounds like a cracked cylinder head and or a blown head gasket
is causing the problem you described.
Question: 2001 Dodge Neon, mileage: 68,000. My question is...as a mechanic,
can you tell me [from experience] how often I can expect to have my head gasket
repaired? I am aware of the faulty gasket problem, but is it a repeat problem?
Answer: Yes, it is a repeat problem on your make of car. However, if you
went 68,000 and three years on the first head gasket.
Question: 2003 Dodge Caravan mileage: 90,000. Is there a way to stop a
leaking rear head gasket by using a sealant or is that not a good remedy. I've been
quoted a 1200.00 repair bill and there must be another way. Is there? Can one head
gasket be repaired without repairing the other?
Answer: We have never had much luck using a cooling system sealant to
stop a leaking head gasket. If only one head gasket is leaking then just that head
gasket can be replaced. However, be forewarned that the other gasket may soon be
leaking. For economy reasons we usually change both at the same time - it is not
half price just to do one.
Question: 2002 Dodge Caravan mileage: 108,000. Hi, my car overheated.
I took it to a mechanic. After keeping it over night, they called and said it was
the water pump. They estimated the cost to be $300.00. I told them to go ahead and
change it. I then asked them to check and see if there had been any damage to the
engine. When they called back to tell me the car was ready they told me that there
hadn't been any damage to the engine and even if there had been, it would have been
smoking, which it had not been. Later that day I went to pick up my car. They told
me that it wasn't overheating anymore and I could take it home. I didn't even get
a mile down the road and it got extremely hot. I turned right around and took it
back. A mechanic got in my car even after I told him it was extremely hot and didn't
return for about 20 minutes. When he came back, I noticed my car was smoking really
badly. Well, they then took it in the shop for about 30 minutes. They told me that
it was just an air pocket and now it was just fine. Well it overheated on my way
home. We took it back the following day and they said it was now a blown head gasket.
I then wrote a note to the Better Business Bureau telling them what had happened.
About a week later, the owner called and said that he would give us the $300.00
back for the water pump. But nothing else could be done. He said it was the head
gasket the whole time and they're just sorry they didn't catch it. My question is
did they have to change the water pump to know if it was the head gasket? And could
they have told right away by checking if there was water in the oil? And also do
you guys think I have a good case to take to small claims court? Please answer as
soon as possible.
Answer: We have no way of telling from here if the head gasket was blown
when you first noticed the car was over heating. If your car got very low on coolant,
it would have caused the seal to fail in the water pump. This is one of those, which
comes first, the chicken or the egg situations - one can cause the other to fail.
They may have just misdiagnosed the head gasket and found just the leaking water
pump. If the car is driven while still low on coolant, there is a reasonable chance
you will blow the head gasket. The first time you picked your car up and drove one
mile and it overheated, this would indicate that you probably had a blown head gasket
at that time. Very rarely will you get water in the oil with your type of blown
head gasket.
Question: 2002 Ford F150 mileage: 55,000. My pickup has a
problem. When I pull the oil stick out it has water in it but I don't seem
to be losing any coolant. I also have a creamy oily substance in where the
breather filter is. The truck has good power and starts right up. What
could be wrong?
Answer: Check your intake manifold gaskets and head gaskets; one or both
may have failed. Usually it is just one.
MORE: Head gasket questions
