Blown headgasket? Or manipulative mechanic?

Tiny
CZIFFRA
  • MEMBER
  • TOYOTA
(excuse my limited knowledge of cars and crude descriptions)

My mother was driving me home from school when the temperature guage was so high we decided to stop. A guy nearby "kindly" offered to help, telling us he was a mechanic, and that what we should do is turn the engine on so it's running and pour water in as quickly as we can. We did this, and huge billowing puffs of steam shot out suddenly- and we were told we had a blown head gasket. He then gave us the number of a friend of his where we could get it fixed.

I'm wondering if this was genuine advice or if he deliberately caused us to blow our head gasket. It seems like a stupid thing to do, pour water in while the engine is running and really hot.

Thanks for your time.
Saturday, January 14th, 2006 AT 3:53 AM

2 Replies

Tiny
DIESEL
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
U put cold oil or cooling liquid in hot motor=99% head gasket will blow.
He was not mechanick-all mechanicks know this. He can change light bulb and he think he is mechanick-very danderous to listen. ( But still he even has mechanick certificate, most people in garages do, but do they can anything?
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Tuesday, January 17th, 2006 AT 11:24 AM
Tiny
GREASEMUNKE
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  • 35 POSTS
Where did the steam come from?Radiator?Engine?You cannot be to sure that it is even blown. When the car is started check the exhaust exiting the vehicle for a sweet scent. Also look for white puffy smoke coming from the exhaust. Both are characteristics of a blown head gasket. While pouring water may have not been the best idea being as how the engine was hot this does not mean your head gasket is blown.
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Monday, January 30th, 2006 AT 12:37 AM

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