Small leak in my radiator over this last summer, so i just kept a gallon of water in the car and filled it when low. (So no antifreeze at all). Winter- water pump frozen solid while driving= water FLOWING out of timing belt cover. And engine timing knocked outa the park. My diagnosis- may need new water pump, definitely water pump gasket and timing belt.

 

It still runs, but rough. No white smoke.

 

My question: is it still possible i blew a head gasket, even with no smoke??

You froze the engine and block. I'm not sure why the engine timing is knocked out, but you could have done all sorts of injury with a frozen block, including cracking it if a freeze plug didnt pop.

 

SUbarus don't smoke when they blow a HG most the time, but they will blow fluid out of the radiator.

Edited January 16, 201412 yr by nipper

if water froze then anything is possible. 

 

it's been below freezing many times and down to negative 10 out here, i suspect the same there - so who knows how many freeze cycles it's had?

 

the heads have freeze plugs in them i believe, so if those are popped they'll need replaced. i've never seen it but others have talked about it on rare occasion.

Check frost plugs !

Pull valve covers and check for blown freeze plugs.

 

Your engine oil is full of water.

When an engine freezes, if the Freeze out plugs don't pop (and sometimes even when they do) you can crack a head or block.

In my opinion, anti freeze is important in summer too. It raises the boiling point of the coolant, and I believe gives corrosion protection as well. I run a fifty/fifty mix year round.

 

John

Yes you are supposed too, its not an opinion it is a fact. Your supposed to run 50/50 in this case it got so diluted it was of no use.

I have also heard it lubricates the water pump internals.

I have also heard it lubricates the water pump internals.

Yes one of the reasons you change it as the anti corrosive properties and lubricants break down with time,

Small leak in my radiator over this last summer, so i just kept a gallon of water in the car and filled it when low. (So no antifreeze at all). Winter- water pump frozen solid while driving= water FLOWING out of timing belt cover. And engine timing knocked outa the park. My diagnosis- may need new water pump, definitely water pump gasket and timing belt.

It still runs, but rough. No white smoke.

My question: is it still possible i blew a head gasket, even with no smoke??

Dude, you should have spent just a little more time with the car instead of the girl.