How to know if I have a blown head gasket

Tiny
RAY9191
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE
  • 240,000 MILES
How can I tell if I have a blown head gasket in my 1998 pontiac bonneville
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 AT 7:26 PM

14 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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You can rent a chemical tester from auto zone and its really easy to use if it changes color you have exhaust gases in your coolant.
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Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 AT 10:20 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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It can be very difficult to confirm. There are a number of test that can be performed including, chemical block test, cylinder leakdown test, coolant pressure test, exhaust analyzer to sniff for HCs at the radiator, observing white smoke out the exhaust or constant bubbling in the radiator. You would need to confirm it through a few different tests.
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Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 AT 11:23 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
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Have it block and pressure tested
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Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 AT 11:32 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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I posted a fairly log answer to this earlier but apparently it never posted although it did start sending me notifications of other responses.
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Wednesday, January 25th, 2012 AT 2:10 AM
Tiny
RAY9191
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I see a coolant leak and I only see white smoke when I 1st start my car than it goes a way here is a picture of where it leaks from
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Wednesday, January 25th, 2012 AT 4:17 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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I don't see the actual leak but your picture is of a plastic elbow attached to the belt tensioner that carries coolant. This elbow rots and leaks all the time. When you remove it you will have to dig out the broken pieces from the engine and tensioner.
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Wednesday, January 25th, 2012 AT 10:45 AM
Tiny
RAY9191
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  • 21 POSTS
Ok because I though it was my intake manifold because it had a crack but I replaced it and the gasket for it but I only see it shoot out when I rev my car could there be some coolant still down there and its just blowing out the coolant that was still in there
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Wednesday, January 25th, 2012 AT 7:33 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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Pressure test the cooling system as you should have done first.
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Thursday, January 26th, 2012 AT 3:33 AM
Tiny
RAY9191
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  • 21 POSTS
How do I pressure test my cooling system
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Friday, January 27th, 2012 AT 5:07 AM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
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Its easy just get a cooling system pressure tester and read the operating instruction-it will walk you thru-
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Friday, January 27th, 2012 AT 6:10 AM
Tiny
RAY9191
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Me and my uncle thought the same thing that the plastic elbow could of rots out
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Sunday, January 29th, 2012 AT 12:48 AM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
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Wrench-I use those 4-tests for confirmation-when I suspect a possible internal coolant leak-The most I like is the sniffer type to track HC's its faster atleast for me.
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Sunday, January 29th, 2012 AT 2:57 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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I think that is the best way too but since we don't have inspection in this state, very few shops have one.
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Sunday, January 29th, 2012 AT 3:00 AM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
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Using the 5 gas analyzer will tell you a lot of what's happening with compression, fuel and spark-I wish I have one of my own, cannot afford it, its too much to have-lol I used to be an Emission I/M specialist back in the 80's, now I have the CRS disease, I just go with the flow -Goodnite
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Sunday, January 29th, 2012 AT 3:11 AM

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