Need help! Driving home, came to a stop 1/4 mile from my house. started driving and noticed it wasn't wanting to idle when slowing to turn. Made it to my driveway but stalled before I could get it in the garage. Got out and noticed what looked like oil and the smell of coolant had blown out through the grill under the license plate. Under the hood, all the fluid was on the right side (drivers) around the coolant tank. no cracks in radiator or tank. the fluid felt like oil. Let the car cool and it started after several tried to get it the rest of the way into the garage. Next day looked into the radiator and foamy gunk on cap and inside. Low on coolant. was also one qt low of oil. Haven't driven it since. ANY suggestions? what happened?

 

oh, I also checked the compression. It was perfect all across. Spark plugs were like new with no odor. The car is a 2001 w/61k. The block has no leaks and driven once a week(yes, a garage queen). It did stat right up the next morning just like always. The fluid in the overflow tank started rising after 5-10 seconds, so I shut it off. It did leave a nice trail down the road to my house that still hasn't gone away.

 

drain the oil to see if the coolant is going into the oil maybe? sounds like a head gasket may have let go to me

 

that also might explain the stuff in the overflow tank. cuz if the coolant is going into the oil then the oil is probably going into the coolant too I would think

 

Ok, thanks. could it also be a crack in a coolant sleeve somewhere inside the block? Nothing blows out the tailpipe. is there a way to check pressure in the cooling system?

 

Sounds like a blown head gasket. Or warped head. Did the car overheat recently?

 

No, actually it has never overheated. Is the PSI of the oil pushing somewhere into the coolant system? I thought blown head gaskets usually flume out white steamy smoke from the tailpipe

 

don't always smoke if there is coolant in the oil or oil in the coolant. it could be the head gasket, oil cooler or crack/warped head or block

 

So, expensive and a lot of labor then? Great!!

 

Maybe, have the engine tested for blown head gasket.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHp5E7XnbXo