A blown head gasket !

[Dead_Zone]

Hi fellas whats goin on .. newbie here n this is my first thread so be nice lol

mmm .. just wanna ask u this:

what color should your engine oil look like when you have a blown head gasket ?
yes i know it's a milky/creamy brown but thats when u'r running a green coolant water , but how about when you're running a RED coolant ?
is it the same ?

that's all thank you ..

 

[The_Jeff]

You can blow head gaskets many different ways, sometimes externally with no mixing or sometimes exhaust into coolant which then bubbles out, etc.

That said, you get "chocolate milkshake" in the oil which shouldn't be too different with red dyed coolant. You also get "peanut butter" in the coolant passages.

 

[Dead_Zone]

^ i see .. thx for the help.

 

[charbaby]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
You can blow head gaskets many different ways, sometimes externally with no mixing or sometimes exhaust into coolant which then bubbles out, etc.

That said, you get "chocolate milkshake" in the oil which shouldn't be too different with red dyed coolant. You also get "peanut butter" in the coolant passages.


Well said!

 

[Dead_Zone]

is there anyone wanna add something ? plz chime in ..

 

[DMZ]

Other indicators:

- bubbling coolant tank, or radiator when the cap is removed.

- heater does not work

- temp gauge swings past the H after driving for a few minutes

 

[crazyoildude]

what kind of car and engine?

 

[FutureDoc]

ME... Maine? Subaru? Just curious... if it is a Subbie, then it depends on when the engine is made as Phase1 had the internal leak (milkshake oil), or external leak in the Phase2... with the engine dripping.

HG can blow a lot of different ways and knowing what type of car, what year, and the engine associated goes a long way as a lot of the known HG issue are ...ummmm known.

Also, I would look into a faulty Thermostat/Radiator as well as overheating will help kill a HG... too much heat is a bad thing.

 

[demarpaint]

A pretty good way to check for a blown head gasket is to pressure test the cooling system, or have someone do it for you.

 

[Chris142]

A blown head gasket does not always turn the oil milky. It takes quite a bit of coolant to turn the oil milky.

 

[Dead_Zone]

VQ35HR

 

[Dead_Zone]

Thank you guys ..

 

[FutureDoc]

I think the Nissan 3.5 had most commonly failed externally... (exhaust pushing out into the coolant). A gas/exhaust test would be simple and you might even see some leaking. A used oil analysis would pick up an internal leak if there was one earlier than the milkshake oil appearance.

 

[Dead_Zone]

Originally Posted By: FutureDoc
I think the Nissan 3.5 had most commonly failed externally

That is NOT TRUE