Symptoms leaking head gasket?

[twc]

I know ive got one but just to confirm in case its something else.

What are the apparent symptoms of a leaking head gasget?

And if i have to resort to a (mechanics worst nightmare) what stop leak works the best if i need to resort to this ?

Im going down this track as the cost of repairing /replacing engine is over a $1000.00 mark . I figure ive got nothing to lose ,everything to gain??? if the stuff actually works.

[mattims]

ive had some experience with a few different types...

theres a type with powdered copper in it. Cant remember exactly what it was called but it definetly worked better than the others i tried (nulon, chemiweld). Although it only held for about 3 months before it gave up.

[r00fi]

Dead give-away for blown head gasket is bubbles in the radiator or water mixed with your oil - turning it sludge

[Gremlins]

I think my HG is in the early stages of failing again, and it's only been 18k kms since it was repaired last time

Bubbles in the radiator aren't all that noticeable (yet), but other symptoms at the moment are:

1. Misfiring at start-up after standing overnight. Car seems to run on 3 cylinders and gradually smooths out to running on all 4
2. Slow loss of coolant.
3. External evidence of coolant leakage between the head and block.

Appart from point 3 the other two symptoms are what happened last time the HG started to fail, it then progressed on to blowing the coolant out of the radiator into the expansion bottle causing it to overflow. Also, there was a sort of petrol/exhaust type smell quite evident in the expansion bottle ontop of the usual coolant smell. Fortunately I didn't have any oil and coolant mixing.

I also read on a US forum that you can get a kit that "sniffs" the coolant for the presence of hydrocarbons. If any are detected apparently this is a fairly good indication of a bad head gasket. I guess these would be available in Australia, just haven't noticed them.

[coupe]

Try going to Repco and ask for Metalic Seal up its about $8.00
Seal up leaves no crap in the motor or radiator cores , i got 5 years out of the job i did on the EB ford and i ve got 3 years out of the vortex so far

[tim_81coupe]

Try going to Repco and ask for Metalic Seal up its about $8.00
Seal up leaves no crap in the motor or radiator cores , i got 5 years out of the job i did on the EB ford and i ve got 3 years out of the vortex so far

But you will have a real hard time if you do decide to remove the cylinder head(s) after using that product.

Does work though.

[coupe]

I just removed the ford head last week .
I had no problems taking the head off and the residue was bugger all.
I have a ford ea wreck out the front which i brought thinking the head was good but when i took it off it had Chem weld or some other crap in it.
It was like white sellys no more gaps now that was a shocker it clogged up everthing.