Date: Mon, 28 May 2001 09:17:09 -0700 From: John Davies <jedaviesNOSPAMnopsamier1.net> Subject: Re: Leaking coolant under pressure
On Sat, 26 May 2001 13:16:52 +0100, danny <dannynopsamAMGaggia-espresso.com> wrote: >I think you've answered the question yourself by saying you have a "small" >head gasket leak. They don't stay small :). I'm not a mechanice, but >unless the thermostat isn't opening (in which case I'd expect the >temperature guage to rise) I can't see any other explanation, other than a >blockage in the cooling system, which I suppose a good reverse flush would >help with. When you take off the expansion tank cap and smell the water, >do you smell either fuel or exhaust fumes? If so, the head gasket may be >more gone than you thought. If the gasket has gone adjacent to an exhaust >port, then the system will pressurise, and you will smell exhaust gases, >if gone near an inlet port then fuel will be smelled. As a follow up- any decent shop can quickly diagnose the problem by using a tailpipe emissions tester to sniff the coolant in the radiator. If exhaust gasses are present, it is 100% sure that the head gasket is the problem. John Davies Monroe WA USA