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I blew one/both head gaskets :( My car started warming up a bit after driving for a couple hrs, so I parked to check the radiator and I didnt even have a problem popping the cap off. That was low and when I filled it with water (I needed to replace it anyways and I was gonna do it fri) guess what I seen on the top-oil! So now I have to figure out how Im gonna fix this since I have to work, not only that how am I gonna get there when I do start tearing it apart- cant take a few days off I've only been there for a lil over 3mo- and also how does one flush the cooling system? I know Im gonna have to since there's oil in there, my work does have a pressure flush fluid exchange thing for coolant (forces the new coolant in, pushes old out) but I'm not sure that'll work in this case.

 

So not happy I just got my oil leaks taken care of, and my tranny, but now I'm thinking the tranny issues were actually a combination of this and a possible exhaust leak somewhere. The tranny was overheating a bit, then on the freeway a week or two ago a truck in front of me kicked up a good sized rock or something, that hit my underbody. after that my exhaust was loud when I accelerated and my tranny never acted up til today. I know for sure 2 days ago my oil was full and now it's sitting about half.

 

Lucky me my new bf works at a parts store! lol

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Dang it!

 

Well, 267k on a set of HG's aint bad.

 

Flushing the coolant system is probably done best by filling it with a weak "Coolant flush" additive solution. Holts makes some good stuff, but there are a bunch out there. Use only half the amount recommend on the bottle - no need to chew your engine up. Rinse at least twice with tap water. Demineralised water won't take as much detergent out as tap water.

 

Of course, you need to replace the HG's first, or the flush will be futile.

 

 

Please search the board for "coolant replacement without bubbles" if you feel like reading my essay on that topic. The big secret is to fill the engine via the top radiator hose.

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oh yeah I'm very aware Im lucky they didnt go when I first got the car lol, 267k on those gaskets vs 88k from the last GM I owned. Unfortunately, I think the person who did my oil change overfilled it (as the anal oil checker I am since it's always leaked oil from the 2 rear seals that were replaced recently so I did check and the oil sat right at the first bend in the dipstick, way above the full dot and stayed there for almost a month til now) and I just happen to work at the shop so Im not sure if I want to bring it up or not. Why I didnt bring it up when I first noticed it...I dunno probably cuz I wasnt sure if my car was only leaking from those 2 seals but since I havent lost any til recently Im pretty sure.

 

Anyways Im curious to know where the coolant has been going. It's not in the oil, so my guess is the exhaust. Can coolant clog the cat? sometimes it felt like my tranny was jerking but then I realized it could be too much back pressure, and now it feels Ive lost quite a bit and yes I have driven a few cars with no exhaust/fart cans for mufflers lol.

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The coolant has probably left the system "backwards". Compression and cumbustion pressure finds its way into the coolant channels and forces the fluid out via the expansion tank. It'll drip out the vent vent hole and some of it will blow off as steam.

Just a little at a time....until the temp rises.

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