Coolant coming from exhaust

[BritVX]

Need help diagnosing a problem. My VX has been stood for a long time, almost a year, it started up fine and it runs fine but it looks like a steam train. I've never seen so much water vapour come from an exhuast, so much that it drips!! On a run of around 30 miles it used 1 1/2 pints of coolant. Any clue as to how it's getting into the combustion, I can't see how it could be a head gasket as I'd see water in the oil which I don't.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Colin

[tom4bren]

Actually it does sound like a head gasket.

Look here:

http://searchchicago.suntimes.com/autos/news/letters/915599,srch-letters-IS042708.article

That's what happened on my daughter's car & the engine fried.

[PK]

Definitely sounds like a head gasket or cracked head.
Water in the oil is one sign, but depending on where the leak is, and how bad, it can be one of the last to show up.

Try filling the radiator to the top and run the engine with the cap off.
CAUTION - do not drive this way, just idling or a few revs in the driveway.
As the water heats it will expand and spill over - that is normal.
But if the coolant bubbles over almost immediately, then you know the problem.
As far as I know, you cannot tell if it is the head gasket, or the head, until after you dismantle the engine.
Another option is to take it to a radiator specialist.
They can attach their pressure testing equipment and do the same test above. The pressure will raise quickly.

Good luck

PK

[Hotsauce]

Its either bad HG as mentioned, or it could be cracked block or head.

Is there any chance that the car sat with diluted coolant, and froze, cracking either the head or block?

Sitting dormant shouldn't damage a HG.

John C.

[Ldub]

Actually it does sound like a head gasket.

Look here:

http://searchchicago.suntimes.com/autos/news/letters/915599,srch-letters-IS042708.article

That's what happened on my daughter's car & the engine fried.

I'll throw my devalued two cents in here too...:rolleyesg

I'll agree with those that think it's a head gasket, cracked head or block.

Had the same symptoms on my old Mustang after missing a shift & bending a valve...:mbrasd:

[BritVX]

Thanks for the replies guys and I've done the checks suggested and everything is OK, no bubbling of water, also checked the oil but there's no sign of scum/emultion. The steam from the exhuast must have been just a lot of condensation from it being stood a long time because it's stopped, there's vapour on start up but it goes after 10 minutes. I think it must be an intermittent leak but I had it running for over 1/2 hour on the drive and nothing. I'm going to run it and check the water daily. I read a thread about an O ring at the back of the plenum but it looks like a pain to get to.I guess it's down the garage if it continues.

[Ldub]

You will get a noticable smell of anti freeze from the exhaust if there is a blown head gasket, cracked head or block.

[Scott Larson]

Yup, it smells sweet, kinda like burnt sugar...

[VX KAT]

Back in college in '82 one cold bitter winter I had a 1976 Honda Civic that did exactly as you described....determined to be a cracked block, something like $1,000+ to repair (current car value was only like $1,500 tops)....but since it stopped if I ran it for about 20-30 minutes.....I found a nice used '77 Celica on a lot (covered in ice & snow)....drove my little put-put down, let her idle in the parking lot while I negotiated the Celica. When their appraiser dude took it for a drive, he came back and offered me $1,500.....He commented it was so cold, it was nice of me to let it run and keep it warm inside.

Ummmm....I took the offer, bought the Celica and ran! :naughty: (yeah, same winter & the same Celica that the hood hinge subsequently broke off when it was -19 degrees F in Pittsburgh)

[crotchrocket]

I get alot of condensation in my exhaust, it clears after driving a short way but if i leave it idling on the drive on a cold morning it will do it for a while!