blown head gasket?!

[sumenlo]

So my car overheated for the first time since I've had her last night. Checked the coolant, and for some reason, it was bone dry. Also, I could hear some sort of crackling/bubbling coming from behind the head down by the intake manifold. Am I lookin at a head gasket replacement? If so, this is stupid cuz I just had the head rebuilt 3500 miles ago. anybody else had and experience with this before?

 

[liquordrunk]

So my car overheated for the first time since I've had her last night. Checked the coolant, and for some reason, it was bone dry. Also, I could hear some sort of crackling/bubbling coming from behind the head down by the intake manifold. Am I lookin at a head gasket replacement? If so, this is stupid cuz I just had the head rebuilt 3500 miles ago. anybody else had and experience with this before?

I would try a compression test and maybe a leak down test. this way you will know if its gone.

 

[blueberry_dsm]

^^^ good info . yea try blowing compressed air into the cylinders, and watch for bubbles in the coolant resivour. fyi: the resivour has to be filled.

 

[realitytb]

If you have a blown headgasket, then water/coolant will probably be in your oil... CHECK YOUR OIL!!! If there is any sort of water/substance "sprayed" all over your dipstick, you have a cracked head and or head gasket. Also, have a blown head gasket doesnt mean you wont have compression.... it could be anywhere on the head gasket, (no where near the cylinders) so you will have fine compression.

 

[sumenlo]

good news. turns out the problem was a bad radiator cap. apparently all the coolant just sprayed out all over the engine bay which is why i heard the crackling from behind the motor. Replaced that along with an almost burst upper radiator hose and now she runs like new. I'm sooooo happy.