coolant problem
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville Florida
coolant problem
Yesterday I took my '88 to my trusted mechanic because of a low coolant light coming on. Today he called me with some bad news. After a compression test and checking the oil he states that the coolant has leaked through the head gasket and blown one of the cylinders. The engine apparently needs a complete rebuild....... With only 52,000 miles on the car, I cannot believe this could happen. Have any of you had anything like this happen?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville Florida
The car has been running good. My understanding from our conversation is that the coolant has caused corrosion of the pistons, etc. And is visable in the oil.
Last edited by myfathersvette; Feb 5, 2014 at 11:05 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,082
Likes: 3
From: Conowingo Maryland
unless there is more proven damgae I would have the headgasket replaced. What he is seeing is common with a blown head gasket. this happens all the time and I doubt if you have anyother problems to worry about
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,172
Likes: 672
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Tell him to show me!
Unless you trust him implicitly.
The oil should show signs of looking like mud.
The spark plug in that one cylinder should be spotlessly clean.
Slight corrosion on a piston top does not mean you must replace the piston.
Maybe he can give you a quote on just replacing the head gaskets then you can take it out for another quote.
Unless you trust him implicitly.
The oil should show signs of looking like mud.
The spark plug in that one cylinder should be spotlessly clean.
Slight corrosion on a piston top does not mean you must replace the piston.
Maybe he can give you a quote on just replacing the head gaskets then you can take it out for another quote.
Last edited by JrRifleCoach; Feb 6, 2014 at 01:49 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
with what has been said so far. I've had my share of coolant leaks from mild to wild, slow to fast, and NEVER had a problem, i.e., "blowing a cylinder" or corroding (an ALUMINUM!) piston. 
Color me 
Like JrRifleCoach said: SHOW ME!
Last edited by Paul Workman; Feb 6, 2014 at 05:54 AM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville Florida
Thanks for the advice everyone. My mechanic is someone I trust very much. He did state that the oil appeared to look like a "milkshake". However, I think I will get a second opinion before I make any decisions.
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 324
Likes: 7
From: Littleton Colorado
Personally, I have never seen a head gasket leak put water in the oil, but I suppose I haven't seen everything.
I have seen cracked heads and cracked blocks put water in the oil. A cracked head would be the most likely to take out a single cylinder (which I assume the compression test told him).
I've had 2 SBC blocks that were cracked in the lifter valley that milked up the oil. Both caused by freezing weather without antifreeze in the system (prior to my ownership, BTW...).
I have seen cracked heads and cracked blocks put water in the oil. A cracked head would be the most likely to take out a single cylinder (which I assume the compression test told him).
I've had 2 SBC blocks that were cracked in the lifter valley that milked up the oil. Both caused by freezing weather without antifreeze in the system (prior to my ownership, BTW...).