Engine Block Gasket

[homedepot20]

Have a 2001 Pontiac Montana 101 K that has began to leak antifreeze into engine block . Firestone will replace gasket for $1000.00. Since this is a 2nd POV that is driven 10 miles daily and we are not ready to get rid of vehicle or make car payments at this time. Would changing oil every other month to prevent antifreeze in oil crankcase and adding antifreeze as needed enable us to keep vehicle for another year or 2 or several K miles longer ??? Don't want to blow engine up trying to save a few $ ! Any suggestions or advice

 

[Gilligan]

Have a 2001 Pontiac Montana 101 K that has began to leak antifreeze into engine block . Firestone will replace gasket for $1000.00. Since this is a 2nd POV that is driven 10 miles daily and we are not ready to get rid of vehicle or make car payments at this time. Would changing oil every other month to prevent antifreeze in oil crankcase and adding antifreeze as needed enable us to keep vehicle for another year or 2 or several K miles longer ??? Don't want to blow engine up trying to save a few $ ! Any suggestions or advice

Leaking how, exactly? Blown head gasket or some other? Regardless, not repairing is not an option; Antifreeze in the engine oil will kill the bearings very quickly.

 

[huntr1]

Leaking how, exactly? Blown head gasket or some other? Regardless, not repairing is not an option; Antifreeze in the engine oil will kill the bearings very quickly.

If you want to get a 2nd quote, I have a good, and cheap, mechanic.

 

[GWguy]

Have a 2001 Pontiac Montana 101 K that has began to leak antifreeze into engine block . Firestone will replace gasket for $1000.00. Since this is a 2nd POV that is driven 10 miles daily and we are not ready to get rid of vehicle or make car payments at this time. Would changing oil every other month to prevent antifreeze in oil crankcase and adding antifreeze as needed enable us to keep vehicle for another year or 2 or several K miles longer ??? Don't want to blow engine up trying to save a few $ ! Any suggestions or advice

No. Like was said, contaminants in the oil will kill the motor, not to mention that if the head gasket is leaking it's only a matter of time before the loss of compression in that cylinder renders it useless.

 

[Railroad]

Many moons ago, in the late 1970s, a friend and I rebuilt a Pontiac 350 cubic inch V-8 engine. Although we thought we did everything right, there was a head gasket leak we couldn't cure by re-torquing head bolts (by the way, have somebody check the torque on your head bolts before you do anything else - you might have missed a scheduled maintenance thing).

We took heads and block back to the machine shop and were assured everything was true, but couldn't make the leak stop. Answer: radiator stop-leak. BAD idea, but it was the last resort and it worked perfectly. The result was a 4-door '68 Pontiac Tempest back on the road and very healthy indeed. Ugly as all get out but had a lot of power.

 

[homedepot20]

Regardless, not repairing is not an option; Antifreeze in the engine oil will kill the bearings very quickly.

Sounds like I need to have gaskets replaced and not hold off until later

 

[homedepot20]

If you want to get a 2nd quote, I have a good, and cheap, mechanic.

Thanks for feedback . I live in Centrall NC not in SOMD

 

[dave1959]

Check with CarQuest or NAPA..(not autozone or advanced).. There are several pour in chemicals for head gasket leaks that work very well. Might buy you a couple of months/miles..

 

[homedepot20]

Check with CarQuest or NAPA..(not autozone or advanced).. There are several pour in chemicals for head gasket leaks that work very well. Might buy you a couple of months/miles..

Have a NAPA in town will inquire of the chemical . Was hoping to wait untill after tax refunds arrive in spring which would add around 500 miles

 

[b23hqb]

Thanks for feedback . I live in Centrall NC not in SOMD

Central NC? Man, that is backyard mechanic, NASCAR-wanna-be crew member heaven. Find one of them thar good ol'boys and let them do you up the right way.

When you're done, you should be able to haul about 300 gallons of moonshine real quick.

 

[homedepot20]

Central NC? Man, that is backyard mechanic, NASCAR-wanna-be crew member heaven. Find one of them thar good ol'boys and let them do you up the right way.

When you're done, you should be able to haul about 300 gallons of moonshine real quick.

300 gallon jugs would fit nicely in Montana Van for hauling back to SOMD !

 

[Gilligan]

Check with CarQuest or NAPA..(not autozone or advanced).. There are several pour in chemicals for head gasket leaks that work very well. Might buy you a couple of months/miles..

ugh. And then yr stuck with all that crud in the nooks and crannies of the block and head..yr radiator.

I rebuild engines and have seen what those sealers can do to the internal water passages. There are typically several passages that pass through the head gasket that are larger holes in head and block but with much smaller hole in the head gasket itself. That is how the engine cooling was 'fine tuned' during protoype stage to even out the cooling. Those little holes can get clogged up over time even without 'help' from block sealers.....and then you have a hot spot..and then a head gasket leak, or another head gasket leak, etc.

I have used those sealing products in a 'road emergency' situation a time or two. Got me home over 500 miles on one occasion, with a badly blown head gasket. But 'emergency' is the key word there.

 

[homedepot20]

ugh. And then yr stuck with all that crud in the nooks and crannies of the block and head..yr radiator.

I rebuild engines and have seen what those sealers can do to the internal water passages. There are typically several passages that pass through the head gasket that are larger holes in head and block but with much smaller hole in the head gasket itself. That is how the engine cooling was 'fine tuned' during protoype stage to even out the cooling. Those little holes can get clogged up over time even without 'help' from block sealers.....and then you have a hot spot..and then a head gasket leak, or another head gasket leak, etc.

I have used those sealing products in a 'road emergency' situation a time or two. Got me home over 500 miles on one occasion, with a badly blown head gasket. But 'emergency' is the key word there.

Well Noted Thanks ! Consulting with local repair service today

 

[boots]

tRY SOME k&W Block Seal,or replace the intake manafold gaskets