1984 Dodge Aries A variety of things!

Tiny
JAMESABBOTT
  • MEMBER
  • 1984 DODGE ARIES
Engine Performance problem
1984 Dodge Aries 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 58 000 miles

I recently got a 1984 dodge aries from my grandfather and right away I started to notice problems that just got worse. It has 58 000 kms on it but it sat for a very long time. I picked it up from Whiterock and proceeded to drive 780 kms to my home town. On the way I noticed a temperature spike and the heater wasn't producing heat. I figure it was lack or rad fluid and I was right. I topped it up and continued to drive, and stopped for some windshield washer fluid at the gas station. When I started the car I noticed it had an extremely rough idle, the car was shaking, and a large cloud of smoke came from the exhaust for about 5 seconds. The smoke went away but not it idles rough and drives rough until I hit about 25 km/h. The rad fluid keeps running low. I can't see any visible leaks and I suspect a cracked head gasket. The oil looks normal when I check it, and the smoke coming from the exhaust was white. I suspect a cracked head gasket? Hopefully that's not the case; but with all of the rad fluid disappearing so fast I only assume that's what it could be. I can't be sure that the rad fluid isn't pooling somewhere when it is leaking because I haven't had the chance to get under it yet. I did an oil change. Any suggestions?
Saturday, March 14th, 2009 AT 2:29 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,700 POSTS
If you are loosing coolant and you don't see any leaks or see it in the oil, it has to be leaking into the combustion chamber and burning when the engine starts (white smoke). Do a compression test on it and I bet you find at least one cylender with lower pressure.

Let me know what you find.
Joe
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Friday, March 20th, 2009 AT 5:21 PM

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