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Head gasket issues

Tiny
DEANS84
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 3.8L
  • V6
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 171,235 MILES
Coolant reservoir below cold mark after a day, but the first day I checked for bubbles there was some air bubbles in radiator when car was running after I had to add some coolant to it. Then yesterday radiator was still full and reservoir was at cold mark, when the day before I filled it in-between hot and cold. Any other way to test head gasket issues at home? I am on fixed income so it is kind of hard to go buy test kits etc, but like if I was to go start it and rev it up some tail pipe spits a lot.
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Monday, September 17th, 2018 AT 9:13 AM

8 Replies

Tiny
DEANS84
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
What is that cream color stuff?
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Monday, September 17th, 2018 AT 12:12 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,170 POSTS
Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros.com.

Here is a link that shows how to check for a head gasket issue. Let me know if it helps.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Also, here is a link that discusses the different types of smoke from the exhaust:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/excessive-smoke-coming-from-the-exhaust-pipe

Let me know if this helps.

Take care,
Joe
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Monday, September 17th, 2018 AT 5:58 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,170 POSTS
By the way, a creamy substance in the coolant usually indicates there is oil mixing with it. That, in turn, usually indicates a bad head gasket. Make sure the motor oil is not contaminated.
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Tuesday, September 18th, 2018 AT 5:20 PM
Tiny
DEANS84
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Did you see the picture? I started it up some smoke then tried it a little and there was more smoke. Two days ago the radiator leaked out side tank.
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Wednesday, September 19th, 2018 AT 11:13 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,170 POSTS
Hi.
I did see the picture of the coolant/creamy substance. Usually, when the two mix, it becomes a light tan color substance. Is the smoke from the exhaust? Is it white? Have you tried the tests in the link I attached?
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Wednesday, September 19th, 2018 AT 5:39 PM
Tiny
DEANS84
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Here is a video of exhaust:
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Thursday, September 20th, 2018 AT 8:27 AM
Tiny
DEANS84
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Oil on dipstick looks normal to me.
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Thursday, September 20th, 2018 AT 8:28 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,170 POSTS
The oil looks fine. The exhaust does not seem out of the ordinary, either. You could be getting oil into the cooling regardless. Did you check for air bubbles in the coolant when the engine was running?
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Friday, September 21st, 2018 AT 8:44 PM

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