One of the best ways to figure out what is going on with your car is to know how it normally operates so you can tell when something has gone awry. Most of the time while we’re driving we’re so distracted by the radio, the scenery or even worse our cell phones, that we can often overlook our vehicle’s cry for help. Getting used to the way your car sounds, feels and looks normally can be the best way to help you detect the early symptoms of a problem so you can repair it before it leaves you stranded or does even more damage to your vehicle.
Every week or so, it would be a good idea to turn off your radio and really focus on the feedback your car is giving you. You should start this exercise from the moment you jump in your vehicle, even before you start the engine. Look for anything unusual around or under your car. Are there any puddles or drips under your vehicle? Are there any new scratches, dings or dents you don’t remember? Is anything discolored, are your tires pudgy or getting cracked or have low tread depth? Observing all these things can help you catch problems early.
Also, pay attention to when you start your engine. Does it start easily? Does it make any funny noises or smells? Do any warning lights on your dash board stay on after the engine is running? Lastly, during your drive listen for the same types of things. Are there any clunks, rattles, whines, or grinding sounds? If so when do they happen? Does your car accelerate, brake and corner smoothly? Keeping an eye on these types of things can help you make sure your car is in great shape and help you catch a warning sign early.
Some of the signs you may be looking for, especially if your car model is prone to blown head gaskets, or you happen to have a lot of miles on your car, are the sings of a blown head gasket. Blown Head Gaskets can cause your vehicle to do some very strange things and give confusing symptoms, so we’ll list the common blown head gasket symptoms here so you can identify your problem early.
Signs of a Blown Head Gasket:
- White smoke from the tail pipe
- Bubbles or exhaust gas in your radiator
- Coolant flowing out of your coolant reservoir
- White milky substance in your engine oil or around your oil cap
- Loss of power
- Overheating engine
- Coolant leak from between your engine block and cylinder head
Your head gasket serves as a seal between your engine block and cylinder head. It keeps the combustion gases in the combustion chamber while keeping the coolant in the water jacket. A blown head gasket will allow coolant to leak into the combustion chamber, or externally, or could allow combustion gases into the cooling passages.
If coolant leaks into the combustion chamber it will come out of your tail pipe as white smoke. It can also seep past your piston rings while your engine is off and contaminate your oil causing a milky white color. When your engine is running, the high pressures in your combustion chamber can push exhaust gases into the cooling passages causing coolant to bubble in the radiator and pressures to get so high that coolant will actually be forced out of the coolant reservoir.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms within a few minutes of starting your vehicle’s engine, there is a good chance you have a blown head gasket.
The good news is if you’re paying attention to these symptoms and catch them early, you often can seal your head gasket leak without having to replace the head gasket. BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer is a powerful formula that can seal head gasket leaks even in vehicles with very large cooling capacities like V8 engines and truck engines. BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer is easy to use and can quickly and easily seal your head gasket leak.
Here are some other questions you might consider:
What Can Happen if You Have a Blown Head Gasket?
Once you’ve discovered that you have a blown head gasket, it’s important to know what might happen next. Once there is coolant traveling into the combustion chamber it’s important to realize that your coolant level will be slowly lowering. Once your coolant level gets too low your engine will start to overheat which can lead to significant problems. Overheating can lead to further deformation of your cylinder head or engine block as well as other leaks in your engine from excessive expansion and contraction of components. These factors make it important to repair a blown head gasket sooner rather than later to avoid other problems with your vehicle.
How Do You Know if You Have a Bad Head Gasket?
It’s difficult to “know” if you have a blown head gasket without taking your engine apart and inspecting the head gasket for holes or tears. The most definitive test is a chemical test that checks for the presence of exhaust gases in your coolant that is available at your local auto parts store. Unfortunately, this test can only prove the presence an internal head gasket leak not an external head gasket leak. The easiest way to be sure you have a head gasket leak is to look for multiple signs mentioned above.
Can You Drive a Car with a Blown Head Gasket?
Driving with a blown head gasket is a risky operation. If you’ve got multiple signs of a blown head gasket, you can run the risk of overheating your engine due to a low coolant level as mentioned above. Similarly, driving with coolant flowing into your combustion chamber will eventually allow coolant into your engine oil. Water in your engine oil can quickly cause damage to other parts of your engine by allowing the machined and polished surfaces to rust which will cause pitting and excessive wear. Driving with a blown head gasket can quickly take your repair form a head gasket replacement to an engine replacement.
How Much does it Cost to replace a Blown Head Gasket?
Blown head gasket replacement costs can vary significantly from shop to shop and from vehicle to vehicle so the best way to make sure you’re getting a good deal is to call a few local shops asking for a quote for a head gasket replacement for your vehicle. You can also check out our article on head gasket repair costs to get an better idea of what labor times look like to replace a head gasket in your car. The majority of the cost in any head gasket repair job is the labor costs. Labor costs can vary significantly based on the configuration of your engine and how it is mounted in your vehicle so checking with local mechanics is the best way to estimate cost. If the cost of replacing your head gasket is prohibitive based on your budget or the value of your vehicle, consider using BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer to save money and keep your vehicle on the road!
You can purchase BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer along with its money back guarantee from the link above or at your favorite local auto parts stores like:
- AutoZone
- Advance Auto Parts
- Bennett Auto Supply
- CarQuest Auto parts
- NAPA Auto Parts
- O’Reilly Auto Parts
- Pep Boys
- Fast Track
- Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts Specialists
- S&E Quick Lube Distributer
- DYK Automotive
Pictures provided by:
signs_of_a_blown_headgasket.jpg – By Tony Harison – Licensed By Creative Commons Via Flickr – Original Link
I have a Cadillac north star it had some white smoke coming out of the exhaust yesterday never before I call a shop they told me 3 grand I almost you know what my question is will it fix the problem,the coolant was flushed in June and no coolant in the oil and it ran a little hot but didn’t overheat my question in will this fix the problem or is you product going to make it worse please email me back because I love my Eldorado but I can’t spend 3000 on it itt about what its worth.
Miguel,
Thanks for your question about your Cadillac. Blown head gaskets are not unusual in that car. You can use BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer (available here: http://store.gobdp.com/head-gasket-sealer-38386/) to seal your head gasket leak guaranteed!
Thanks again for your question
-BD Auto Pro
My 05 Durango has to have coolint and Ed once a week and I have fuel in oil and my motor is skipping what could this be
Nichole-
Thank you for asking about your Dodge Durango. From the sounds of it, you have both a coolant and fuel leak. Unfortunately, we do not manufacture a product intended to stop fuel leaks. Addressing your fuel leak should be your first priority, as it is not safe to drive a vehicle leaking fuel. Feel free to contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 with any other questions.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 2000 Dodge Durango. I drove back home on leave the vehicle made almost the 11 hour drive With no issues. The engine was not over heating and then out of nowhere my oil pressure dropped and the vehicle stalls in idle and will not crank unless it’s jumped. The oil was changed a day prior to the trip.
Izaak-
Thank you for asking about your Dodge Durango. A drop in the oil pressure wouldn’t necessarily indicate a head gasket failure. Were you having any issues prior to making the drive? Please contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 so that we can get a little better understanding of the vehicle’s condition and be able to make any appropriate recommendations.
Thank you!
-BDP
I also have an Eldorado. My ECT switch is broken, or faulty. Either way, they’re ran to the motor manually to fur the cooling fans on. I have used Bar’s stop leak powered because a street mechanic “informed” me that my (2nd?) heater hose just beneath the initial one, may have had a hole in it. It didn’t. He then tells me what the hose was anchored to has a hole rusted through it. But my initial thoughts on this car was I might need a rebuild soon. He gets all the symptoms Miguel’s mention for his car. He takes 30 min to an hour to get hot if fans are connected. Otherwise, I’m riding in the middle. There’s no water or coolant in the oil. I find myself needing a jump three times a day, everyday for the past 2 weeks .
Harlem-
Thank you for asking about your Cadillac Eldorado. In order to get the benefit of using the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer, the vehicle would need to be able to idle for a full 50 minutes, without overheating or stalling out, and you shouldn’t be losing more than about a quart of water/coolant during that 50 minutes. Based on your description, unfortunately, the vehicle may be overheating a little too quickly for the product to be effective. A hard part repair may be your best option.
Thank you!
-BDP
It works. My girlfriend has a 2006 Equinox. Her head gasket was damn near gone. Placed the Blue Devil in. Her suv is back to purring
Shakim-
Thank you for sharing your experience with the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer! Once the product seals, it would be a permanent seal, so you should be good to go at this point. We appreciate your feedback!
Thank you!
-BDP
My ML320 list steering – had it towed into mechanics. Replaced serpentine belt & something with water pump. Several days later – no coolant in reservoir. Took it in again. Mechanic said they had crimped hose leading from reservoir & fixed it. Now I’m seeing oil & ?coolant marks on pavement. Was my engine possibly damaged from no or low coolant?
Tess-
Thank you for asking about your Mercedes ML320. Is the vehicle overheating at all? It is possible that the engine could have endured damage from being too low on coolant. Please contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 so that we can get a little better understanding of the vehicle’s condition and be able to make any appropriate recommendations.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 98 Honda civic lx my car overheat within in 5 min after turning on the engine I change my radiator but it keep overheating please help me
Joe-
Thank you for asking about your Honda Civic. Unfortunately, it sounds like your vehicle is overheating a little too quickly for the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer to be affective. A hard part repair may be your best option.
Thank you!
-BDP
Could it be as simple as replacing the thermostat ?
I have 2000 Volvo s40 1.9t when I add coolant to expansion reservoir it comes up in one of the spark plugs Wells I started the car once after it stalled with starting fluid I drove it’s lil but it ran really bad I’m sure its blown head gasket due to the fact I noticed a lil bit of white smoke at times when at idle at traffic light I wondering if using blue devil get me buy since I can’t afford having the car repaired
Art-
Thank you for asking about your Volvo S40. Based on your description, the leak you have may be a little larger than what BlueDevil would be able to seal. In order to get the benefit of using the product, the vehicle would need to be able to maintain idle for a full 50 minutes without overheating or stalling out, and you shouldn’t be losing more than about a quart of water/coolant during that 50-minute run. If you are losing coolant just as quickly as you add it, a hard part repair may be your best option.
Thank you!
-BDP
You need a new thermostat
All of a sudden yesterday my truck started acting crazy it was running hot there was no oil in it not enough to even read I just purchased the truck it was hard to steer as if the power steering was missing the battery light came on the oil light came on it sounds kind of squeaky and rattle when I crank it…. it was smoking from the hood not a whole lot but somewhat I cannot find out what’s the problem
Demetrius-
Based on your description, it seems like you may have a few different issues with the vehicle. Please contact our technical support team at 888-863-0426 so that we can get a better understanding of the vehicle’s condition and be able to make any appropriate recommendations.
Thank you!
-BDP
1991 Honda prelude…temp gauge rises up and down…no white smoke but does use antifreeze….can it be thermostat…water pump or head gasket?reach me at moorefamilytrucking@gmail.com
Tye-
Thank you for asking about your Honda Prelude. The most common reason the temperature gauge is fluctuating would be due to a faulty thermostat. The thermostat may be sticking and not opening up when it is supposed to, causing the temperature to rise and thusly fall when the thermostat opens up. Replacing the thermostat would be a good place to start.
Thank you!
-BDP
Hi there why does my water bubble when I stop my van like it’s blowing out air on my Vauxhall combi van 2003 turb why does my water bubble when I stop my van I have no water in my oil and I have no heating but my van don’t overheat
Tyrone-
Thank you for asking about your Vauxhall Combi Van. It is possible that you are getting combustion/exhaust gases pumping back into the cooling system. You can use a “Block Dye Tester” to confirm whether or not that is the case.
BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer will still work if your vehicle is getting combustion/exhaust gases blowing into the cooling system and creating pressure. To give yourself the best overall chance of BlueDevil working successfully, in addition to the directions, you should remove the spark plug from the cylinder with the leak; this will be the spark plug from the cylinder with the low compression reading. If you are not sure which one that is, you may pull all of the spark plugs and will notice one will have a white-crystal-like substance on it and/or may look dirty; this is the plug you should pull. Leave that plug out for the 50 minute idle in order to relieve the pressure from building up and thus allowing the product to seal properly. Be sure to follow the guidelines for the proper amount to use based on the size of your cooling system.
Thank you!
-BDP
Sir my car is suzuki cultus 2008 from 2 days my car is making gas in ridiator and for this my pipe which is contecting between engin and radiator in leaked do to the gas so what can be the problem
Khalid-
Thank you for asking about your Suzuki Cultus. It is possible that you are getting combustion/exhaust gases pumping back into the cooling system. You can use a “Block Dye Tester” to confirm whether or not that is the case.
BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer will still work if your vehicle is getting combustion/exhaust gases blowing into the cooling system and creating pressure. To give yourself the best overall chance of BlueDevil working successfully, in addition to the directions, you should remove the spark plug from the cylinder with the leak; this will be the spark plug from the cylinder with the low compression reading. If you are not sure which one that is, you may pull all of the spark plugs and will notice one will have a white-crystal-like substance on it and/or may look dirty; this is the plug you should pull. Leave that plug out for the 50 minute idle in order to relieve the pressure from building up and thus allowing the product to seal properly. Be sure to follow the guidelines for the proper amount to use based on the size of your cooling system.
Thank you!
-BDP
My van overheated and died out. Checked under hood and one of the hoses came off. Reconnected it tried to start it and no start battery died out. Got it jumped and car started but Idle was rough. So drove it a mile checked how it ran and it was fine till I stopped and sat for 2 min and engine died. Tried jump again but didn’t start anymore. What can I check or do to figure out why it doesn’t start anymore?
Antonio-
Based on your description, we’d recommend checking the spark plugs to make sure they are not deteriorated or fouled out. The rough idle you were experiencing could be due to water/coolant getting back into the cylinders and fouling out the plugs. Feel free to contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 with any other questions.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 2005 jeep grand Cherokee with the 5.7 it smokes real bad. It all started driving home my floor was filled with water so I replaced the heater core after I replaced it the floor still was getting wet now it smokes real bad and I hear a light rattle it takes time to overheat but it’s like someone house is on fire should I just replace motor or try the product
Andre-
Thank you for asking about your Jeep Grand Cherokee. As long as the vehicle will maintain idle for 50 minutes, and you are not losing more than about a quart of water/coolant during that 50 minute run, then you would be a great candidate for the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer (https://store.gobdp.com/head-gasket-sealer-38386/). The product carries a money-back guarantee, so there is absolutely no harm in giving it a try. Feel free to contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 with any other questions.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 99 Honda Civic it ran hot and then wouldn’t start bk I checked the oil and u needed ba quart so when it did try to start it smelled strongly of gas like gasoline and was running really bad pls help
Sherry-
Thank you for asking about your Honda Civic. Are you losing water/coolant also, or just oil? Please contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 so that we may get a little better understanding of the vehicle’s condition and be able to make any appropriate recommendations.
Thank you!
-BDP
i just want to know if i have a blown head gasket or if i have some kind of leak, i went out this evening and came back home and pulled in the driveway and my car starts smokeing from under the hood, its white smoke and its wet all over, smells like antifreeze cause it has a sweet smell to it….what could it be, i hope its not a blown head gasket
Crystal-
White smoke/steam billowing out of the exhaust pipe or water/coolant getting back into the engine oil would be the tell-tale signs of a blown head gasket. Please contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 so that we can get a little better understanding of the vehicle’s condition and be able to make any appropriate recommendations.
Thank you!
-BDP
Hi I have a 2004 BMW 545i an they are known to have valve stem issues in the 4.4 v8 I have recently came across it. My car I saying low oil pressure .My question is with the oil stop leak an conditioner will itvrestore the pressure of the oil
Kaamil-
The BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak is designed to revitalize and recondition the rubber seals and gaskets in the system. It would have no effect on restoring the pressure of the oil.
Thank you!
-BDP
No, you have to replace the valve stem seals
Hi,
I have a 1991 Toyota Corolla that I have just done a complete engine over hall on it a few weeks ago. Last week, my car cut off on me and wouldn’t start again. upon checking the car after having it towed home, I noticed that the water in the radiator and over flow bottle bubbles when the car is idling and there is a film of white (milky looking substance) under the oil cap. Please tell me what the problem could be and if you have a product that is guaranteed to repair the problem?
Does your product come with a money back guarantee and where can I purchase the product as I am based in Durban, South Africa.
Thank You.
Mahesh,
Thanks for your question about your 1991 Toyota Corolla. It sounds like you’ve got a blown head gasket which definitely shouldn’t happen on a recently overhauled engine. Before using our products, we would recommend taking your car back to the shop that did the work on your vehicle and seeing if they will install a new head gasket under warranty as it could very well have been from improper installation. If that doesn’t work, you can use BlueDevil Pour-N-Go (http://store.gobdp.com/pour-n-go-head-gasket-sealer-00209/) to seal your leak. Please contact our sales department for international shipping options.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
Iv got Chevy Malibu but not run hot why driving it shut off what wound cause it
Phillip-
There are so many different possibilities as to why your Malibu shut off while driving. We recommend having a certified mechanic take a look at it for a proper diagnosis. Once you have the diagnosis you will have a much better idea as to what your options are for getting it fixed.
Thank you!
-BDP
My 2008 Nissan Rogue just started rattling today. It’s not over heating or anything else. Just rattling. Do you know what this could be?
Wendy,
Thanks for your question about your Nissan Rogue. It depends on where you’re hearing the rattle from. If the rattle is something you hear when you’re going over bumps it could be a loose suspension component. If that is the case, try reading our article about noise suspension components here: https://gobdp.com/blog/squeaky-suspension/.
If the rattling you’re hearing is coming from your engine then it sounds like you’ve got a pulley or accessory read to fail. Since you mentioned overheating it could be that the bearings in your water pump are going bad, but it could be the idler pulley or another accessory. Try checking under your hood while your car is idling and seeing you any of the pulleys look loose or wobble. Which ever on looks bad probably needs to be replaced.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
Hi,
I have a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 V8, 4.7 L truck.
Sometime ago, my truck’s engine overheated during a ride through a mountain. I stopped, let it cool, checked the coolant and continue the trip.
After a while, maybe a month, while going to work, I noticed it suddenly overheated again, even though I regularly check the oils and coolant. This time the engine died and I was able to stop in a parking lot. I noticed the coolant had leaked and when engine cooled I opened the radiator valve and it had oil residue in it. i was able to start the truck for a little while just enough to properly park it. The engine did not start again after that and I had it towed. The electric system was fine.
Here’s my question: Does your product work also in my case? I read the instructions for your product and it says that after cleaning the system I have to start the engine and let run for sometime while pouring the product, etc. etc.
So, can your product help to save my truck’s engine? Thanks
Ernesto
Ernesto,
Thanks for your question about your Dodge Ram. It does sound like you’ve got a blown head gasket based on the symptoms. You can try and confirm that by doing a compression check on each cylinder and seeing if one is lower than the others. The low cylinder would be the one with the hole in the head gasket. If that is the case you can try starting your truck with the spark plug removed from that cylinder, which may help get your truck to idle. You need your truck to be able to idle for at least 50 minutes without overheating to use BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
Today I drove my car when I made it to my destination a lot of liquid came rushing from underneath the car then as I drove the car overheated then shut off and the oil leaking light came on plz help. Thanks
Tina-
Was the liquid rushing from underneath coolant or oil? Please contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 so that we can get a little better understanding of the vehicle’s condition and be able to make any appropriate recommendations.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 95 maxima and mi antifreeze was leaking thru mi head gasket and I check to c wea it cums from and it was in mixed with engine oil and den I changed the oil is there anyway to fix it
Shaquan-
Based on your description, we would recommend using the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer. You are going to want to change the oil before and after the BlueDevil process. As long as the vehicle can idle for a 50 minutes without overheating or stalling out, and you’re not losing more than about a quart of coolant/ water during that 50 minutes, the product should be able to help seal your leak.
Thank you!
-BDP
Why do you have to change the oil before and after?
Ron-
This direction only pertains to users who are getting water/coolant into their oil. You really don’t want to operate the vehicle with water in the oil. If the water started to deteriorate the engine bearings, it would cause further engine damage, and it is likely you would need to replace the engine. Also, the product does not instantaneously seal, so you would still get a little water/coolant in the oil during the 50 minute idle, prompting the second oil change, once the BlueDevil process is complete. Feel free to contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 with any other questions.
Thank you!
-BDP
does it have to idle or can it be driven for that long?
Big Boy-
The vehicle should only be idling during the 50 minute run. You would not want to put extra compression in the system.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 2000 Jeep Cherokee I’m losing all my cool and every day it’s going and mixing with the oil but it doesn’t overheat and I have heat
Rob-
Thank you for asking about your Jeep Cherokee. Based on your description, it seems like you may be losing coolant a little too quickly for the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer to be effective. In order to get the benefit of using the product, the vehicle would need to maintain idle for a full 50 minutes without overheating or stalling out, and you shouldn’t be losing more than about a quart of water/coolant during that 50 minutes. A hard part repair may be your best option.
Thank you!
-BDP
Hi I have a bmw 325i e36 and it just started overheating. I don’t have any white smoke out the tail pipe but my coolant bubbles through my expansion tank. She does not give me a rough ride but I would like to know if this is a symptom of a blown head gasket or something else?
Alex,
Thanks for your question about your BMW 325i. It is a possibly the overheating and bubbles are simply an indication of low coolant level in your car so make sure you’re engine is full of coolant and all the air bubbles have been removed from your system. Try checking for some of the other symptoms like milky oil around the oil cap. To be sure you can try doing a compression check which should be relatively easy to do on your car. If 1 or 2 cylinders have low compression, combined with the overheating and bubbles it would indicate a blown head gasket.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
I have a 2003 Chevy Cavalier. It loses coolant very rapidly, and what comes out of the exhaust pipe is largely white steam. But I don’t see any other obvious symptoms, such as coolant in the oil or vice-versa. Is it more likely a cracked block or blown head gasket? If I decide to try both Radiator and Block Sealer and Head Gasket Sealer, which is it better to try first? I am guessing that the deposits left by one product may interfere with the working of the other later on, but I don’t know that for a fact. Thanks for any suggestions.
Joe,
Thanks for your question about your 2003 Cavalier. The problem you’re describing does sound like a blown head gasket rather than a cracked block. If you had a cracked block you would have an external leak or be seeing a lot of water in your oil. We would recommend trying BlueDevil Pour-N-Go Head Gasket Sealer (available here: http://store.gobdp.com/pour-n-go-head-gasket-sealer-00209/) first as that should solve all your problems.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
I have a 2005 Buick lacrosse .. I had my thermostat changed several times and buying antifreeze… Because my car would run hot but when I get on gas it will cool down.. Month or two later it started back .. Bought another thermostat and antifreeze… For the last time , that didn’t work !! I end of driving 20 mins away from home and my car start running hot ! I let it cool down and started back because I had to get home .. As I drove it would run hot and cool down . run hot and cool down.. Start making sounds… I did pull over to let it cool off !! Finally made it home and let it rest. I was told that , I need a heater coal too because water would leak inside my car when it rain … I’m thinking , I could need a new radiator.. But someone said as long as the radiator don’t have a hole in it , its fine .. It just need to be flushed from the bottom.. As I drove home , my car made funny sounds and it drove slow and picked backed up on speed.. Cool down and run back hot ! As I mentioned before … Water pump brand new .. But the thing is , the reason the heater coal was mentioned because.. My car wasn’t blowing out hot heat when I needed it too , cool air was coming out instead … I tried to mention all details .. I just hope , I didn’t blown the head gasket !!! I love my car and its been a good car .. Lol … Helpful details please ….
Brittany,
Thanks for your question about your 2005 Buick Lacrosse. The symptoms you’re describing could possibly indicate a blown head gasket, but before you take action there we’d recommend checking for other things like smoke in the exhaust, bubbles in your overflow tank or low compression in a cylinder. You could very well have clogs in your cooling system which would cause the odd overheating and your heater to not function properly. You can start by using BlueDevil Radiator Flush (available here: http://store.gobdp.com/radiator-flush-00204/) to clean out your cooling system and try and get things back to normal. If that doesn’t work, it may be worth testing for a blown head gasket before you replace your radiator and heater core.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
00 Suzuki vitara had a loss of power and overheated the other night. It hit the red but was turned off VERY fast and towed home. Radiator was busted. Today we replace the radiator and thermostat and then started it up. Ran smooth for a few and once it got to running temp it started running rough and loping. Had airbag light and check engine light on idk why. I tried to rev it a little and see if it was just wet from the coolant spraying all over the motor. It died on me. This car was turned off within 30 seconds of hitting the red it wasn’t driven hot. Can you help?
Spring-
Thank you for asking about your Suzuki Vitara. The first thing to address would be to figure out why it had a loss of power and overheated in the first place. Was the vehicle losing coolant prior to this? Based on your description, it may be best to bring the vehicle to an ASE certified mechanic for a proper diagnosis as to the cause of the issue.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 1997 mustang gt, I haven’t had any problems with my anti freeze leaking or losing it quickly, but today my car overheated and was making a weird rattling noise coming from the engine every time I gave it gas. I got it home. There was anti freeze all over my battery and hood, so it was spraying, but I have a brand new radiator cap, and I had just put antifreeze in it 2 days ago. There are no visible leaks at all. There is white smoke coming from my drivers side exhaust only, and when I tried to put anti freeze in it, it just kept draining then flowing back up then draining again and flowing back up then checked it a couple minutes later and it was just completely drained but no antifreeze on the ground or anything. Tried pouring water in it to see if I could find a leak and there was nothing. First question, did I do damage by pouring the antifreeze in there and it just draining into where ever it drained, and then pouring water into it and it doing the same thing. Second question, what could this problem be.
Mackenzie,
Thanks for your question about your Mustang. The first possibility is that you have a bad water pump. If your water pump is bad it could be causing the rattle you’re hearing when you step on the gas and coolant would most likely be leaking around the shaft and onto the pulley which would explain there is antifreeze all over your hood and battery. Try grabbing the water pump pulley and seeing if it is wobbly or loose or if the pump housing itself is loose. This would account for the overheating, loss of coolant and noise you’re hearing.
You probably did not damage anything by pouring the antifreeze in as long as you poured it into your radiator or overflow tank. It could simply indicate that your engine coolant was really low, or it could indicate you have a bigger problem like a blown head gasket which could have happened when your car overheated and may be indicated by the white smoke from your exhaust. If there is nothing wrong with your water pump, this may be your problem.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
I have a 2001 Chevy Malibu L’s 3100 sfi I just replaced my head gaskets, upper and lower intake gaskets. I burped the system and it idled fine with the expansion tank cap off but as soon as I put the cap on the upper hose becomes hard as does the lower and dumps coolant from the overflow tube I can’t go more than a mile or so before I have to open the bleeder/ expansion tank cap to get it to cool down. I’m having intermediate heat in the car then it goes cold and starts trying to over head The oil is normal I tested the thermostat and its opening up and the fans are working I have flushed the cooling system but it did little to nothing to fix the over heating issue
Mike-
Thank you for asking about your Chevy Malibu. Do you know if the heads were sent to a machine shop to have their surfaces smoothed? Based on your description, it sounds like you may be getting combustion/exhaust gases blowing into the cooling system and creating pressure.
We recommend applying 16 ounces of BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer. To give yourself the best overall chance of BlueDevil working successfully you should remove the spark plug from the cylinder with the leak; this will be the spark plug from the cylinder with the low compression reading. If you are not sure which one that is, you may pull all of the spark plugs and will notice one will have a white-crystal-like substance on it and/or may look dirty; this is the plug you should pull. Leave that plug out for the 50 minute idle in order to relieve the pressure from building up to allow the product to seal properly.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 2000 jeep grand Cherokee limited last week something told me to check the oil so I did and there was none so I added 4quarts and it was fine there was no thing on the oil cap at that time so a week later I had to add another quart to it and when I did I noticed a light brown/tan film on the oil cap. The truck is not running hot nor is there white smoke coming out but I am losing oil and coolant somehow and today I noticed my oil pressure gauge dropping down to 20 at an idle but normal when I’m riding down the road. I’m praying this isn’t a head gasket issue because not even a yr and a half ago the engine was conpletley rebuilt because of a blown head gasket
Kasey,
Thanks for your question about your 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The first thing we would recommend looking into is if the rebuilt engine you have came with a warranty. If it is still under warranty we would recommend having the shop that installed it or rebuilt it take a look at an engine that new shouldn’t have leaks as bad as you’re describing.
If you had to add 4 quarts of oil, then your engine was extremely low on oil and it is possible that running it that low has caused some internal damage which may have damaged seals or bearings which could account for the leaking oil and low idle oil pressure.
As for the leaking coolant, since you only have 1 indication of a blown head gasket, we would recommend do a few other checks for leaking coolant like a cracked radiator or bad radiator hose. Until you find the source of the leaks or have the chance to the mechanic look at the engine make sure to keep the oil and coolant topped up.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
I am just really needed maybe some info or answer if it can be provided please… I have a 95 Olds Ciera Cutlass and it from what I am seeing does have a small coolant leak, it does not show any problems with the temp getting to high but I was driving and it just died.I started it back up and it started but I dont really know whats going on. Can you possibly help me out…
Dustin-
Thank you for asking about your Oldsmobile Ciera. Based on your description, we recommend using the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer, found here on our website: http://store.gobdp.com/head-gasket-sealer-38386/. As long as the vehicle can maintain idle for a full 50 minutes, and you are not losing more than about a quart of water/coolant during that 50 minutes, you would be a great candidate for the product. Feel free to contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 with any other questions.
Thank you!
-BDP
Hi,
I have Honda City EXI 2000 model, last week i had a problem with my car which is very strange for me, after driving an 150 kms hill station drive i found over heat problem on the engine and later on next day i refilled the coolant oil and tried to return home but the coolant dried drastically and again i faced the engine heating issue, then i filled the water often [every 25 kms} and reached home, please advise what is the problem with my car.
Logu-
Thank you for asking about your Honda. Based on your description, unfortunately, it sounds like you are losing coolant a little too quickly for the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer to be effective. A hard part repair may be your best option. Sorry we couldn’t be of more help.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have an 05 Dodge Ram 1500 with a 4.7 liter engine it has white smoke coming out of the exhaust but no oil milky residue in the oil it seems like it might be just in the water jacket will your product work for this thank you I have every symptoms of a blown head gasket accept water in the oil
Billy-
Yes, we recommend using BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer (http://store.gobdp.com/head-gasket-sealer-38386/) to stop the white smoke coming from your exhaust.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 95 Dodge 1500 pickup with a 5.9; I have bubbling in the radiator with a yellow/brown foam (emulsified oil), low compression and plug fouling in #8 cyl, but I have no indication of water in the oil pan. I am assuming I have an exhaust and oil leak into the cooling system from a blown head gasket; my question is will the head gasket sealer work when the 45 psi oil is leaking into the 16 psi coolant?
John-
Thank you for asking about your Dodge Pickup. The BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer is intended for water/coolant leaks. Unfortunately, we do not manufacture a product for the type of you leak you are experiencing. A hard part repair may be your best option.
Hope this helps!
-BDP
I have a 2005 poniac g6 my brakes went out on me brake pads got squashy then i quickly applied my ebrakes nd pulled over next thing i know i went to start it back up in a hour and all this white thick smoke started coming out my tailpipe with a weird smell…nd the fluid look brown….now my brakes i thought it was dry my i put five bottles in and it just kept dissapering nd leaking from the middle of my car when it got lifted up at a shop…..my question is where is my brake fluid going and why is the white smoke coming out nd can it be fixed without buying a whole new engine????
Shannah,
Thanks for your question about your Pontiac G6. Usually, that much white smoke from your tailpipe indicates a blown head gasket. If that is the case you would also notice your coolant level dropping significantly along with bubbles in your radiator. That white smoke would smell sweet. If you do have a blown head gasket, use BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer (available here: http://store.gobdp.com/head-gasket-sealer-38386/) to seal the leak without replacing your whole engine.
As for your brake fluid, your brake system wouldn’t hold 5 bottles of fluid so you must have a leak somewhere. The leak could be in the leak you described in the center of your vehicle if it is a broken brake line, you should be able to simply replace that brake line then refill and bleed your brake system.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
I have a 2008 G6,,only got it 3 days ago and already it over heats after 10min of driving. I bought coolant and that didnt work. ABS light is on so when i try to take off, im only goin 25mph. What could the problem be?
Camille-
Thank you for asking about your Pontiac G6. Are you losing a lot of coolant or is it more of a slight leak? Are you noticing any other symptoms, ie. water/coolant getting into the oil, smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe? Please contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 so that we can get a better understanding of the vehicle’s condition and be able to make any appropriate recommendations.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a Volvo 2001 s60 and it just started pouring oil not long after I got my transmission and the radiator changed ….. I’ve never had a problem with my car overheating I’ve never had a problem with the oil leak it just started pouring maybe a week after I got my transmission & Radiator changed I took it to a mechanic and they said it’s a blown head gasket and I don’t believe it it’s never overheated never could you help me out what do you think it might be
Tiffany,
Thanks for your question about your Volvo S60. Usually, a blown head gasket does not cause a large oil leak like you’re describing. We find that often times problems after a large maintenance item like you had done car be related to something done during the maintenance. In this case, our guess would be a loose transmission cooler line is allowing transmission fluid to leak out. The place to start would be identifying the oil leak. Since you described the leak as “pouring” we would recommend checking for high pressure leaks like an oil cooling line, an oil pressure sender or a cam seal as they would cause very fast leaks.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
Hello, I have a 1991 Nissan 300zx non turbo. I have recently seen white smoke from the tailpipes in the mornings when I start it but only for a second. Also when I punch the gas I notice a white smoke screen but only when it’s not warmed up yet, I bet the cars behind me really dislike me in the a.m. Besides for that I do not see any coolant in my oil and everything else works as it should but 2 days ago I charged the AC with freon cuz it’s been so hot out and while I was driving around I noticed the car starting to overheat, it never had before. I had checked the coolant about 2 weeks prior and it was nice and green and full, after it overheated I got home and checked it and it was EMPTY. ?? So I filled it up with antifreeze it took the whole gallon almost. it’s only been a couple days and it tried to get over halfway on temp but i turned Ac off and it went back down checked water and it’s good- but my oil gauge is more reactive than it has been before. All I did was add coolant-not oil. Crazy right?? Any ideas?
Mike,
Thanks for your question about your 300ZX. You might check for a few more indicators of a blown head gasket before you decide that is your problem. First, try smelling the white smoke right on start up. Water vapor is normal on a cold start so if it doesn’t have an odor, it could just be that. If it smells sweet or feels oily it could indeed be burning coolant.
Also, if you have coolant getting into your oil it could cause your oil gauge to act differently. Coolant in your oil will look milky white so you can check for that under your oil cap, or try doing a quick oil change and check the oil in the pan afterward for coolant or milky substance.
If you do find a blown head gasket, you can use BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer (available here: http://store.gobdp.com/head-gasket-sealer-38386/) to seal the leak and get your car back to normal.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
I have a Mitsubishi sedan model 1993 and I forgot to put water on radiator and the temp did go high. We drove the car about half kilometer without putting water. Now the radiator has a little hole. My nephew tried to drive it again yesterday and still the temperature gauge goes high. Is it possible that the head gasket was broken?
Sheela-
Thank you for asking about your Mitsubishi. Based on your description, it is very possible that the vehicle overheated and it blew the head gaskets. We recommend using the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer, found here on our website: http://store.gobdp.com/head-gasket-sealer-38386/ . As long as the vehicle will maintain idle for 50 minutes, and you are not losing more than about a quart of water/coolant during that 50 minutes, you would be a great candidate for the product.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 2003 z4 BMW. Driving home steam started up over the left side of the hood. After cooling it down I checked the radiator added water and there was no leaking. None of the other things you listed above were there either. I drove less than 2 miles and it heated up and steamed again. There is plenty of water in the radiator and there doesn’t appear to be any leaking. Any suggestions?
Chris-
Thank you for asking about your BMW z4. Please contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 so that we can get a better understanding of the vehicle’s condition and be able to make any appropriate recommendations.
Thank you!
-BDP
Hey I have a 1991 subaru legacy wagon. Iv had a leck coming from under engine. My radiator water level keeps dropping iv put radiator dtop leck thru and its still lecking water level still goes down. Car has started to over heat but not to high tho goes up n down. The other day tho it has been make weird nosie. Can a blown head gasket make a weird nosie ? Im not sure if it is a blown head as no milky stuff in oil or oil cap but does bubble a bit when filling up radiator. So my question is can a blown head start making ?
Lance-
Thank you for asking about your Subaru Legacy. What kind of noise did you hear? Please contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 so that we can get a better understanding of the vehicle’s symptoms and be able to make any appropriate recommendations.
Thank you!
-BDP
i have a 96 jeep it start to squeal and then stop and the start again and overheat when doing this with my gen light on can this be my head gasket i checked the oil cap and dip stick she looks find i had to stop few time scared that i may blow if it hasn’t all ready but when i got back home closer she stop making the noise and stay in the middle temp wise
John-
Thank you for asking about your Jeep. Please contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 so that we can get a better understanding of the vehicle’s symptoms and be able to make any appropriate recommendations.
Thank you!
-BDP
Hi BlueDevil,
I have a 2004 BMW 745Li. It recently started to blow white smoke from the exhaust and run hot while driving. I did check the oil to see if it was milky but it’s not. Does this sound like a blown head gasket, if so, will it work for me?
Thanks.
Pia-
The symptoms you have described are common when a vehicle has a blown head gasket. We recommend using BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer (http://store.gobdp.com/head-gasket-sealer-38386/) to stop any coolant loss and alleviate the symptoms. Be sure to follow all of the directions printed on the product label.
Thank you!
-BDP
We have a 1998 Chevy Lumina and it has normally run good. I had the oil changed recently and shortly after when I was driving it, the temperature light went up into the high range. I took it right to the station to have them check it out. They replaced the water pump and then told me the head gasket is blown. No visible leaking only symptom was the high temperature gauge. We decided due to age of vehicle, high mileage, and expense of replacing the head gasket to take it off the rode. My husband drove it home (about 6 miles) and the temperature gauge stayed down (less than half on gauge) while he drove it home. He let it sit and idle for about 45 minutes in our driveway tonight and the temperature gauge stayed down where it normally does. Wondering if we should get a second opinion on the blown head gasket and whether we could continue to drive it short distances just in our area. Thank you. MG
Margaret,
Thanks for your question about your 1998 Chevy Lumina. Blown Head Gaskets can be a little difficult to diagnose as the symptoms can be confusing and can overlap with other problems. Becuase of this, we recommend looking for a few different symptoms besides overheating like bubbles in the radiator or overflow bottle, white smoke from the exhaust or milky oil. If you have multiple symptoms working together it is a good indication that you’ve got a blown head gasket. The best way to test for a head gasket is to have a pressure test done on your cooling system to see if there is a leak and most mechanics should be able to do that for you. If you do find a blown head gasket you can use BlueDevil Pour-N-Go or BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer to seal the leak and keep your car on the road.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
Hi! I have a 2001Chrysler limited town and country and just recently I started to Snell something from time to time. My van started blowing smoke but only when I’m in park for about 5 mins or so. when I stop for a while and then drive light white smoke comes out. What could that be??!!
Tammy-
Thank you for asking about your Chrysler Town and Country. Based on your description, it is a little difficult to tell exactly what the issue is. Please contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 so that we can get a better understanding of the vehicle’s condition and be able to make any appropriate recommendations.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 2005 Ford Mustang V6. Sometimes when I turn the engine off the radiator reservoir tank fills up all the way to the top and over flows through the cap. I noticed when it does this that the antifreeze in the reservoir tank looks like it is bubbling which I assumed was from it be extremely hot and is boiling. My questions is what could be causing this issue and what is the fix.
John-
We recommend using BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer for your Mustang. It sounds like the vehicle is getting combustion/exhaust gases blowing into the cooling system and creating pressure. To give yourself the best overall chance of BlueDevil working successfully, in addition to the directions, you should remove the spark plug from the cylinder with the leak; this will be the spark plug from the cylinder with the low compression reading. If you are not sure which one that is, you may pull all of the spark plugs and will notice one will have a white-crystal-like substance on it and/or may look dirty; this is the plug you should pull. Leave that plug out for the 50 minute idle in order to relieve the pressure from building up and thus allowing the product to seal properly. Be sure to follow the guidelines for the proper amount to use based on the size of your cooling system.
Thank you!
-BDP
Ok so I have a 95 jeep grand cherokee Laredo heater core was shot bypassed it. I just bought it it had all the signs of a blown head gasket I don’t know how many times its been overheated it only sign is white smoke in the exhaust and it smells like coolant. Now I don’t think I can keep it from overheating for 50 min will anything you sale fix this .
Allen-
Thank you for asking about your Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. In order to get the benefit of using the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer http://store.gobdp.com/head-gasket-sealer-38386/, the vehicle would need to be able to maintain idle for a full 50 minutes and you shouldn’t be losing more than about a quart of water/coolant during that 50 minutes. Based on your description, unfortunately, it sound like the vehicle is overheating a little too quickly for the product to be successful. A hard part repair may be your best option.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 1999 Ford Expoloer. White smoke and water comes out of the tailpipe. Car loses power and will not idle more then three to four minutes before shuting off on its own but the car is not over heating. Also changed spark plugs and noticed water was on them wen i pulled them out. No milky oil either
Tyrone-
Thank you for asking about your Ford Explorer. Unfortunately, it seems like you may be losing water/coolant a little too quickly for the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer. In order to get the benefit of using the product, the vehicle would need to be able to idle for a full 50 minutes, without overheating or stalling out, and you shouldn’t be losing more than about a quart of water/coolant during that 50 minutes. Based on your description, it doesn’t sound like the vehicle would be able to idle for the full 50 minutes. A hard part repair may be your best option.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 2005 Ford 500 ,AWD and it has bubbles coming from the intake ,I can hear the bubbles in the dash but the temperature gauge shows the car is not hot. What causes this and what can I do to stop it
Rhonda-
Thank you for asking about your Ford 500. It is also possible that you are getting combustion/exhaust gases pumping back into the cooling system. You can use a “Block Dye Tester” to confirm whether or not that is the case.
BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer will still work if your vehicle is getting combustion/exhaust gases blowing into the cooling system and creating pressure. To give yourself the best overall chance of BlueDevil working successfully, in addition to the directions, you should remove the spark plug from the cylinder with the leak; this will be the spark plug from the cylinder with the low compression reading. If you are not sure which one that is, you may pull all of the spark plugs and will notice one will have a white-crystal-like substance on it and/or may look dirty; this is the plug you should pull. Leave that plug out for the 50 minute idle in order to relieve the pressure from building up and thus allowing the product to seal properly. Be sure to follow the guidelines for the proper amount to use based on the size of your cooling system.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a Honda Accord 1994 and when I start the car it shakes crazy and once I get off free way he temp gauge goes up I had just replace the heater hose and I went to get it diagnosed and the only problem is #4 vss temp sensor but does that have to do with the temp gauge going up and smoke coming from hood and muffler ?
Justine-
Thank you for asking about your Honda Accord. A faulty temp sensor could give the car the impression the vehicle is overheating, however, smoke coming from the hood and exhaust pipe indicates that you are losing fluid and it is burning off. Have you noticed a loss of water/coolant? We recommend taking the vehicle to a certified ASE mechanic for a 2nd opinion. Feel free to contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 with any other questions.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 2000 Ford Escort ZX2. I bought it recently and it pushes white exhaust all the time. I have to add around a gallon of antifreeze a week (I usually have to top it off every morning so I can get heat). I recently started getting a misfire in cylinder 1 but I think that may be my ignition coil and that it may not be related to the coolant system problem. It sometimes does have a very very small amount of white smoke come out of the hood sometimes (haven’t been able to figure out why it does it or if there is a pattern to when it does or doesn’t). I have not seen any antifreeze in my oil yet (I’ve owned the car for ~15k miles and done 5 oil changes). I think it may have started around 6k miles ago. In your opinion what is it: A. Blown head gasket; B. Intake Manifold Gasket; C. Cracked engine block; D. Cracked head; E. Crankcase?
Thanks in advance BDP
Brendan-
Thank you for asking about your Ford Escort. It is possible that you are getting combustion/exhaust gases pumping back into the cooling system, which could be a blown head gasket or cracked block. You can use a “Block Dye Tester” to confirm whether or not that is the case.
BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer will still work if your vehicle is getting combustion/exhaust gases blowing into the cooling system and creating pressure. To give yourself the best overall chance of BlueDevil working successfully, in addition to the directions, you should remove the spark plug from the cylinder with the leak; this will be the spark plug from the cylinder with the low compression reading. If you are not sure which one that is, you may pull all of the spark plugs and will notice one will have a white-crystal-like substance on it and/or may look dirty; this is the plug you should pull. Leave that plug out for the 50 minute idle in order to relieve the pressure from building up and thus allowing the product to seal properly. Be sure to follow the guidelines for the proper amount to use based on the size of your cooling system.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a dodge ram 1500 v8 5.9 4×4 it has been going through tons of coolant. i parked it in the garage to see if i could find out where it is leaking to when i went out the next morning to check it i had lost at least 2 inches of coolant and no signs of it leaking from anywhere.
Adam-
Thank you for asking about your Dodge Ram 1500. Based on your description, we recommend using the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer http://store.gobdp.com/head-gasket-sealer-38386/. As long as the vehicle will maintain idle for a full 50 minutes, and you are not losing more than about a quart of water/coolant during that 50 minutes, you would be a great candidate for the product. Feel free to contact our technical support team at 888-863-0426 with any other questions.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 2000 Dodge Durango 5.9L. I just recently replaced the radiator due to it leaking out the bottom. I also have replace the thermostat, water pump, and the clutch fan. If I am sitting still letting it run the heat is great but when I take off driving it within a couple mins the heat goes cold. It is not overheating after I replaced the radiator. I just flushed out the heater core about 20 mins ago and still having the same problem once I start driving the heat goes cold. I stopped at the gas station and within 3 mins it is putting out heat again. I don’t know what else to do and someone told me that I probably have a cracked head not just a bad head gasket. Please help as this is my daily driver.
Brian,
Thanks for your question about your Dodge Durango. Based on your description of the problem, you may consider checking the thermostat you installed. If you had a colder thermostat installed, like maybe a 160-degree thermostat it would cause the lack of heat while driving that you’re experiencing. If you’ve got an infrared thermometer, you could try checking the temperature of the thermostat housing after a drive that causes the heat to go cold. If the temperature is low, then you should install a new higher temperature thermostat.
One other thing to check would be the actuator for your heater blend door. I believe on your truck it is a vacuum actuated module so if there is a vacuum leak in the line, it’s possible that during driving while vacuum is low it allows the blend door to move cause the air to not be heated and blow cold.
Thanks again for your question!
-BD Auto Pro
Hey there i have a 92 toyota 4runner with a possible head gasket issue just looking for some additional advise, today when trying start it it would not crank (almost like it was sized) for the first 2 trie, and then it sputtered up without even cranking. it started blowing out some pretty white smoke that defiantly did have a sweet smell to it. it was idealing pretty rough and a had a bit of a shake to it. but once i started driving it ran fine. until i noticed the engine temp was dangereously high, i pulled it over to let it cool down. tried turning on the cabin heater to help it cool down but for some reason it was not putting out any heat.
Reasons why i think it is a head gasket:
-Sweet smelling white exhaust
-over heating
-very low coolant levels (little leaking near front left of engine well)
Reasons why i think it may be something else…
-no milky oil
-no heat moving in from engine to cabin
-previous power steering pump sounding whine instantly went away
-coolant resivour very low and can not see any bubbling or coolant for that matter at top of rad when running
any ideas guys?? please help!!
Tyler-
Thank you for asking about your Toyota 4Runner. Based on your description, it does sound like a head gasket issue. It is possible that you are getting combustion/exhaust gases pumping back into the cooling system. You can use a “Block Dye Tester” to confirm whether or not that is the case.
BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer will still work if your vehicle is getting combustion/exhaust gases blowing into the cooling system and creating pressure. To give yourself the best overall chance of BlueDevil working successfully, in addition to the directions, you should remove the spark plug from the cylinder with the leak; this will be the spark plug from the cylinder with the low compression reading. If you are not sure which one that is, you may pull all of the spark plugs and will notice one will have a white-crystal-like substance on it and/or may look dirty; this is the plug you should pull. Leave that plug out for the 50 minute idle in order to relieve the pressure from building up and thus allowing the product to seal properly. Be sure to follow the guidelines for the proper amount to use based on the size of your cooling system.
Thank you!
-BDP
Hey there,i drive a grand Cherokee limited Jeep 2004 model.The jeep was over heating and I got it fixed,it later started stoping while driving and refuses to start again and when forced,make a loud shooting sounds from the tail pipe.They said it was due for servicing which I’ve done,but now it drips oil from the engine and produces brownish oil with black stains from the tail pipe. The Jeep also vibrates when started and continues until it’s turned of,i can’t use my Air condition because a friend says the engine is weak. But the Jeep runs normal with a bit of vibrating noise underneath when accelerating. Miles already covered 180,250.thats what is displaying on the board. But the temperature gauge and the oil gauge is normal,pls what do I do could this be a blown head gasket problem? Your advice guys and truly down now cause this is my only drive.
Clemnas-
Thank you for asking about your Jeep Cherokee. It is a little difficult to say whether or not it is a head gasket problem, as you do not have any of the tell-tale signs of a blown head gasket. Based on your description, it sounds like you are losing oil, possibly from the head gasket. The BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer is only intended for water/coolant leaks. Unfortunately, we do not manufacture a product meant to stop oil loss from the head gasket. A hard part repair may be your best option.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 1988 Chevrolet Cheyenne 1/2 ton, 4.3L V6, truck, here about 3 weeks ago my antifreeze and water froze in my radiator. I however didn’t know that it froze. With it frozen I drove 13 miles and started loosing power and went to stop at a gas station and as I pulled onto the lot my truck died and would not start back up. I then proceeded to push it to a parking space and check the radiator out. I then found out that it was all ice inside, I also blew the plastic drain plug. I first checked the oil and all was fine still no water in it after 3 weeks. I got everything back to operating order. I now have problems keeping the motor running when I go to stop, and the whole truck shakes when driving it. It also seems like it has no power to climb any incline and a week after it was frozen some how the oil in the engine was gone. And no oil leaks. Would my head gasket on my exhaust side be blown and sending the oil into the exhaust?
Shawn-
Thank you for asking about your Chevrolet Cheyenne. Based on your description, it sounds like you may have blown the head gasket when you initially drove the vehicle with the frozen water mixture in the cooling system. The fact that you have since lost your entire oil capacity suggests that it may be getting sent back into the exhaust. Are you noticing any smoke coming from the exhaust? Unfortunately, the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer is only intended for water/coolant leaks, so it would not be able to help with the oil loss you are dealing with. A hard part repair may be your best option.
Thank you!
-BDP
My car when sit still aisling up my temperature go all way over to hot do I need the head gasket set and when I drive it it sometime be jump I can’t hardly press the gas and when it crank it up 2 light stay on in the dash board
Sharion-
Please contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 so that we can get a better understanding of the vehicle’s condition and be able to make any appropriate recommendations.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 2003 Ford F150 with a 4.2l engine. I changed the oil and about 1 quart of water came out. After changing the oil I checked the antifreeze and noticed it was low but there wasn’t any oil mixed in with it. I flushed out the system and changed the plugs. It wouldn’t idle before, but will idle now and not stall. I’m not sure if it is a head gasket or possibly my lower intake manifold. Will your product work in my case?
Bruce-
Thank you for asking about your Ford F-150. Based on your description, we recommend using the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer http://store.gobdp.com/head-gasket-sealer-38386/. It does not seem like you are losing water/coolant too quickly, so you should be able to see some great results from the product.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 2004 Ford Explorer V8 I went and had the oil changed less than a week ago and today on my drive home from work my car started making a loud noise then my car read low oil pressure high temp but my car has never overheated I don’t have any milky substance around the oil I haven’t had any radiator fluid leak and the only smoke that comes out of my exhaust is exhaust fumes and the car never stalled out. The engine sounds horrible. I pulled over and checked the oil dipstick and it reads that I still have oil in my engine can you help me to find out what this noise is?
Cory-
Thank you for asking about your Ford Explorer. Based on your description, it doesn’t seem like you have any of the tell-tale signs of a blown head gasket. Low oil pressure could be due to having a restriction in the system from oil sludge or deposits that have built up. We recommend flushing the system and then reevaluating the situation from there. Feel free to contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 with any other questions.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have a 92 Lincoln Town car . And I’m worried about my car. It’s smoking from front of motor no smell just a white smoke. Along with leaking cooling from bottom of car looks like it’s coming from the water pump. Nothing is wrong with the oil or cooling system. Will this help my car and get back on track ?
Alysia-
Thank you for asking about your Lincoln Town car. Based on your description, we would recommend using the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer http://store.gobdp.com/head-gasket-sealer-38386/. As long as the vehicle will maintain idle for a full 50 minutes, and you are not losing more than about a quart of water/coolant during that 50 minutes, you would be a great candidate for the product.
Thank you!
-BDP