If a carburetor gasket failed would it let coolant leak into the intake causing symptoms of a head gasket leak? I ask cuz I installed a used gasket on my carburetor just to get the car running so I could move it. The car has sat for a few months. I started it up and about a gallon of coolant shot out the tail pipe along with a huge cloud of white steam. Also it turned my oil into a milkshake.

 

Is it my carb gasket or did the HG go?

 

Thanks for the help,

If you replaced the gasket I'm sure you noticed how the coolant goes to the base of the carb so it would be possible to leak in to the manifold. Sounds like a lot though to come from that spot but I guess a vacuum condition could suck it in. I'm sure others that have blown the HG will have more to say.

The carburetor gasket is "wet", but that would only allow water into the intake. The milkshake oil is indicative of a blown HG.

The carburetor gasket is "wet", but that would only allow water into the intake. The milkshake oil is indicative of a blown HG.

WOW, ok. Just sitting for a few months killed the head gasket. Thats bizzar! I guess it was ready to go anyway. Thanks for the help.

It is possible that an intake/carburetor gasket leaked water into the intake while the car was sitting for those few months. This water could have found its way past the rings and into the oilpan, turning to goo when you started and warmed up the engine.

 

The downside of this scenario is that if the coolant didn't have fresh antifreeze/corrosion inhibiters, the amount of corrosion damage to cylinders, rings, and HG might be significant.