ak_WRX_Z28

hey everyone,
my car has been running a little hot lately. when sitting at a stop light, the coolant needle will slowly creep up to the middle mark, and slowly creep past it, and sometimes it gets close to the mark before the red zone. and to get the needle to move back down, i turn the AC on to turn the fans on.

today i just got the coolant flushed and they had trouble getting all the air out, and now the shop says i have an exhaust leak making its way into the coolant, due to a bad head gasket. are they right? should i bring the car to my local dealer?

anything i can check to confirm this problem? thanks!

RobbyRob

Do you have white smoke coming out of your exsaust ?

RobbyRob

You can get a fan switch from speed inc. I think I paid like $30. Nice set up and easy to install. I would also get a new t-stat. If you have you head gasket leaking you would know it. Unless your one of those people who just drive your car.

ak_WRX_Z28

what are symptoms of a leaking head gasket? car isnt down on power or anything, and no white smoke out of the exhaust. i was plannin on doin a new t-stat next month.

RobbyRob

Smoking, running poor, miss fire, and the smell of antifreeze from exsaust.

FastZinTennessee

Easiest symptom to check for- loss of coolant. If your coolant is staying topped off without you adding anything, then it's not going anywhere, and no problem.

RobbyRob

There you go. Damn why didn't I tihink of that..

FastZinTennessee

I've been through a blown headgasket, and a cracked block..... I know what to look for

ak_WRX_Z28

hmm, car hasn't been running poor, no white smoke from the exhaust. i havent checked the coolant level yet, since i just had it flushed. i'll be checkin it occasionally this week to see if there is any loss. and i'll be sure to see if the exhaust smells like coolant.

thanks everyone for the advice.

phinger23

if you had a blown head gasket, wouldnt that also be mixing with the oil as well?

FastZinTennessee

Not necesarily, and even if it was it's sometimes hard to tell unless you drain the oil and let it sit to see if it separates out or comes out looking like chocolate milk.

phinger23

hmm....sooo....since my car hasnt started in about 2 weeks, if i pull the dipstick, i should see it by now?

FastZinTennessee

Nope, start car, let it idle up to operating temp, drain oil into a large pan. If it comes out looking milky and/or separates into oil and water then you have a problem.

Any coolant loss?

phinger23

yea, but the only loss i found besides a hose was coming from a freeze plug, and when i crank the car up, coolant would drip from it, and the day my car died in the middle of the road, there was some on the ground at that spot towards teh back of the motor, so finally i saw it coming from what seems like it may be the freeze plug towards the back of the motor