2.3L ('83-'97) Leaking Head Gasket

[DALE MC]

My 1997 2.3l has been diagnosed with a leaking head gasket. Hard to start and losing antifreeze with no obvious leaks. Has anyone used the stop leak to address this issue?

 

[RonD]

Exhaust would also blow white "smoke" most of the time as coolant was being vaporized
No white "smoke" means no blown head gasket usually

Cold engine
Remove rad cap
Make sure rad is topped up
Start engine
Coolant may burp out a little then stop
If coolant starts to over flow as engine is running then blown head gasket

No, coolant "stop leak" won't work on blown head gasket, just on rad leaks

I have used "block and head gasket fix" and it does work but................just temporary, maybe a month or two
Its liquid glass that hardens when it comes into contact with the 1,000deg cylinder temps as a cylinder fires
But constantly being broken off and replaced, so you run out of liquid glass, lol
And the break/breach in the head gasket just keeps getting bigger all the time and then it can no longer work

Pull the head when funds permit

 

[DALE MC]

Thanks for the info. I have not detected any white exhaust out tailpipe, but antifreeze level drops every few days. I have not detected a leak in coolant system unless it is going down the road. I will check the radiator test for overflow. Dale

 

[Shran]

My 302 leaks coolant between the water pump, mounting plate, timing cover and the two gaskets there... Stupid design but it doesn't leak all the time. It can sit for months in the shop without a single drip and then out of nowhere I get a puddle. Yours could be a similar situation if you can rule out a head gasket or cracked head.

FYI on some of the 2.3s coolant flows through the intake manifold. I don't recall if the 97 is like that. The gasket there can potentially leak into the chambers, unlikely but something to check.

 

[DALE MC]

Thanks.

 

[racsan]

I dont think a 97 flows coolant through the intake , my ‘94 doesnt. The ‘88 I had did though. Have the head magnafluxed when you do the job, the dual plug heads are horrible for cracking in the valve seat area over time.

 

[Blmpkn]

You could just have a crummy radiator cap too.. if it doesn't hold pressure your coolant will steam its way right out.


Of course... wouldn't make the vehicle start hard.

 

[racsan]

Hard starting could also be another issue. Do a compression test. That’s always a good starting point.