So someone I know says they have a Headgasket leak, but there is no oil in water, or water in oil....

[BullyCanadian]

They show me the engine, and there is coolant leaking from where the block is near. Im thinking its the Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor (ECTS). They insist that it is the Head Gasket. does that make any sense? Could the Head gasket leak on the OUTSIDE??? Also they say they randomly get a loss of power....

 

[fbrdphreak]

Not sure, but might want to include make/model/engine of vehicle

 

[amdskip]

Doesn't sound like it to me either. Does it smoke blue at all?

 

[BullyCanadian]

Ohh sorry, its a 2001 Saturn SL1 SOHC engine. The dried coolant (at least to me) seems to be coming from the ECTS area and that is the only plausible thing around which would be leaking coolant (from what I can tell), I wouldnt think a blown head gasket would leak coolant on the OUTSIDE of the engine.

 

[BullyCanadian]

Originally posted by: amdskip
Doesn't sound like it to me either. Does it smoke blue at all?

Nope no blue smoke at all, no white smoke either.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian
They show me the engine, and there is coolant leaking from where the block is near. Im thinking its the Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor (ECTS). They insist that it is the Head Gasket. does that make any sense? Could the Head gasket leak on the OUTSIDE??? Also they say they randomly get a loss of power....

Do they get any white smoke out of the tailpipe?

If coolant is leaking out of the cylinder head then yes, it's probably the head gasket.

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian
They show me the engine, and there is coolant leaking from where the block is near. Im thinking its the Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor (ECTS). They insist that it is the Head Gasket. does that make any sense? Could the Head gasket leak on the OUTSIDE??? Also they say they randomly get a loss of power....

Possibility. Do you have the means to check compression?

 

[Ronstang]

You wouldn't think so but I have seen them do it. Your guess is the easier fix and thus the first place to start. Reseal the sensor and clean the area while you have it out. Then you know for sure and haven't really wasted much time or money.

 

[BullyCanadian]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian
They show me the engine, and there is coolant leaking from where the block is near. Im thinking its the Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor (ECTS). They insist that it is the Head Gasket. does that make any sense? Could the Head gasket leak on the OUTSIDE??? Also they say they randomly get a loss of power....

Possibility. Do you have the means to check compression?

I can possibly check with a compression testor tomorrow night or friday, I dont know if he wants to spend $100 for a mechanic to test it for him right now

 

[funboy6942]

I know the older 80's escorts would leak if not into the oil it leaked outside in the middle of the head between the engine and the firewall. Fixed alot of them at my Fathers used car dealership. Typical problem with thoes escorts back in the day so I dont see why other cars couldnt have a simular manufacturing defect as well or problem.

 

[BullyCanadian]

Originally posted by: funboy42
I know the older 80's escorts would leak if not into the oil it leaked outside in the middle of the head between the engine and the firewall. Fixed alot of them at my Fathers used car dealership. Typical problem with thoes escorts back in the day so I dont see why other cars couldnt have a simular manufacturing defect as well or problem.

hmm i will try and show u a pic of the area its leaking from

 

[funboy6942]

Do it soon for I am heading to bed. If I dont get to you today I will tomorrow some time on it.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: funboy42
I know the older 80's escorts would leak if not into the oil it leaked outside in the middle of the head between the engine and the firewall. Fixed alot of them at my Fathers used car dealership. Typical problem with thoes escorts back in the day so I dont see why other cars couldnt have a simular manufacturing defect as well or problem.

hmm i will try and show u a pic of the area its leaking from

Before you do this spay down the area with some engine cleaner and scrub with a brush then rinse it off, wipe it off good or blow it off with an air line. Make sure it's good and dry. Then start it and watch. I'm sure you'll be able to see better if the area is pristine.

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: funboy42
I know the older 80's escorts would leak if not into the oil it leaked outside in the middle of the head between the engine and the firewall. Fixed alot of them at my Fathers used car dealership. Typical problem with thoes escorts back in the day so I dont see why other cars couldnt have a simular manufacturing defect as well or problem.

hmm i will try and show u a pic of the area its leaking from

Before you do this spay down the area with some engine cleaner and scrub with a brush then rinse it off, wipe it off good or blow it off with an air line. Make sure it's good and dry. Then start it and watch. I'm sure you'll be able to see better if the area is pristine.

This is very good advise especially if the engine is caked with crap around the area.

 

[radioouman]

On those Saturns, it is the intake manifold gasket that will leak coolant. Not the headgasket.

Loss of power is a lean engine.

 

[BullyCanadian]

Originally posted by: radioouman
On those Saturns, it is the intake manifold gasket that will leak coolant. Not the headgasket.

Loss of power is a lean engine.

well the area its leaking from (on the right side of the engine) is away from the intake manifold, so i doubt its from that gasket, but I will try and have pics up tomorrow...

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian
They show me the engine, and there is coolant leaking from where the block is near. Im thinking its the Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor (ECTS). They insist that it is the Head Gasket. does that make any sense? Could the Head gasket leak on the OUTSIDE??? Also they say they randomly get a loss of power....

Possibility. Do you have the means to check compression?

I can possibly check with a compression testor tomorrow night or friday, I dont know if he wants to spend $100 for a mechanic to test it for him right now

Tell him to spend 20 bucks on a compression tester and do it himself.

 

[BullyCanadian]

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian
They show me the engine, and there is coolant leaking from where the block is near. Im thinking its the Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor (ECTS). They insist that it is the Head Gasket. does that make any sense? Could the Head gasket leak on the OUTSIDE??? Also they say they randomly get a loss of power....

Possibility. Do you have the means to check compression?

I can possibly check with a compression testor tomorrow night or friday, I dont know if he wants to spend $100 for a mechanic to test it for him right now

Tell him to spend 20 bucks on a compression tester and do it himself.

haha I wanna see him attempt that....

 

[alkemyst]

Well first I'd just clean it up cool then heat it up...see where the coolant is coming from. If you are really saavy add some ultraviolet dye to the fluid and use a black light on the engine.

I owned a 96 SC2, my wife now drives a 00 SL2.

Coolant loss has been the overflow cap needing replacement on the 96. There were no visible signs...other than the coolant level dropping beyond refill limits over time.

Someone saying they have a headgasket leak or any other problem with there car yet doesn't have the know-how to fix it means they have no idea WTF they are talking about.

 

[Paperdoc]

In fact, IF the coolant has typical antifreeze in it (If you really are Canadian there's a good chance!) most antifreeze has a UV-fluorescent dye in it already, known as fluorescene. That's what gives it the greenish-yellow color. With black light it should be easy to see leaked antifreeze. So easy, in fact, that a lot of it will confuse you badly! So go the "clean-off-thoroughly" route, THEN look around with the black light on a fresh start-up. You may find the leak easily that way.

 

[BullyCanadian]

Originally posted by: Paperdoc
In fact, IF the coolant has typical antifreeze in it (If you really are Canadian there's a good chance!) most antifreeze has a UV-fluorescent dye in it already, known as fluorescene. That's what gives it the greenish-yellow color. With black light it should be easy to see leaked antifreeze. So easy, in fact, that a lot of it will confuse you badly! So go the "clean-off-thoroughly" route, THEN look around with the black light on a fresh start-up. You may find the leak easily that way.

Would that still work if the car's coolant is the DexCool (orange) coolant?

 

[Eli]

I doubt it's the head gasket.

 

[BullyCanadian]

he just offered to sell it to me..... $1500..........

LOL i told him to wait till tomorrow before trying to sell it cause he thinks he has a blown headgasket Im about 90% sure its not the headgasket but i'll find out tomorrow for sure (compression test and dye check)