I'm wondering if there's anyway to estimate if there's bottom end damage done to a motor from a headgasket beign blown. The plugs were pretty soaked with unspent fuel, but nothing out of the ordinary. Every time I try to start it now the coolant resevior lid leaks under pressure and some oil is getting through into the coolant, which leads me to believe tis just a headgasket. I dont have time to fix it right now, just curious if anyone here has had experience with headgasket failure. I know I'll find out soon enough whether the bottom end is damaged, just wonderiing if there's a way to tell if it is or not from certain signs the motor is giving me.

Thanks

 

As far as I know if you keep oil in the engine and don't let it overheat the bottom end should be alright. I had a blown head gasket on a mustang for a few month and I drove it everyday and nothing happened to the bottom end. Oil getting into the coolant could happen all depending on where the gasket gave out at.

 

the car eventually overheats when i drive it- but there's no coolant in the oil which is what i was really worried about. any other opinions?

thanks

 

I would spend the 60 bucks for the gasket and change it. You could saturate your oil with coolant without being aware of it. Just spend the time, it doesn't take too long

 

hehe, you make it sound like changing a head gasket is like changing your oil.

it's not an easy job. some shops charge $700-800+ to do it. if you do it yourself, you better know what you're doing. it's easy to warp the head, or not seat the gasket properly, etc., which can result in the same problems that you're having now.

 

Depending on how much you overheat your car, the head may already be warped. You wouldn't notice much of a difference if your headgasket was already blown.

Beyond that you can fry valves, rings, and eventually pistons and your crank.