cooling system.

[davids]

still not sure how i got a air pocket after my post ? the car ran fine for lets say 1 year ,then cooling system starts pushing water out the cooling system,thought i got a air pocket from the heater core ,but disconected have free water movment threw it dont see any sign of leak, refilled system ran for about 20miles parked for about a weak drove another 20 miles and was working on car starting and restarting and noticed the coolant was rising in the coolant tank kept leting car run and coolant started pushing out overflow tank again. disconected heater core ,got the system refilled and i believe i have all air out because everything seems fine again.but i cant understand how Iam getting air in the system.exspecially the first time when the car was running fine for so long and then coolant pushing out the overflow ?

[graphic66]

Maybe a bad head gasket?

[davids]

how is a easy way of telling? I get a puff of white smoke when starting and when taking off from light ,but plugs look good .I also have low compression in #5 and #4 cylander ,but have hade that for many years.

[jacovdw]

A reputable radiator shop should be able to test your coolant for the presence of combustion gasses (at least here in South Africa they do).
If present, your head gasket may be on the way out and I would venture a guess that the problem would be between cylinders 4 and 5.

Coolant in the combustion chambers can produce white smoke (steam) whereas oil in the combustion chambers (bad valve stem seals and piston rings) produce a more bluish white smoke. This is just a generalization and further testing is warranted to confirm the diagnosis.

Failing the ability to test the coolant for the presence of combustion gasses, a leak down test would provide the answer as well.

[Benz Dr.]

A small oil sample can be taken from the engine and tested in a lab. Aside from wear contaminants they also check for additives. The presence of boron which is an anti freeze additive indicates that you have a coolant leak into the engine. If it's entering the cylinders, and in this case it would be, most of it will get burned during the cumbustion process but some of it will get into the oil pan and past the piston rings.

 You can bet, as already stated, that you have a bad head gasket. I would look at that right away.

[davids]

thx again ,very helpfull i will send in a oil sample.