I have a leak of water coming from my motor do I need a head gasket my car keeps running hot
My car runs hot water is leaking from my motor
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello. Though there are a lot of areas that can leak coolant on this car, it is common for the head gasket to fail and cause this. If the leak cannot be easily seen I usually pressure test the system to find the leak. If that does not help then dye may need to be used to located where the coolant is leaking from. Either way, the leak will need to be repaired prior to moving further with the vehicle. I typically do a block test also to make sure that there is not a head gasket issue prior to replacing any other parts. If you are going to have this repaired, have a technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to diagnose the coolant leak and make the necessary repairs.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The most common reasons a Honda Civic has a coolant leak are loose hose connections, a broken radiator, or a failed water pump.
It is often associated with a bad head gasket that is allowing coolant to seep into the engine`s combustion chamber. If your coolant level is low despite no visible leaks under the vehicle, then it might be a problem with the head gasket that you`ll want to have inspected and repaired.
Telltale Leaks
In the case of a blown head, external oil or coolant will leak out from the seams between the engine block and the cylinder head. These leaks are a sign of head gasket failure and a good sign you need to have any potential cracks and cylinder head twists looked at, immediately.
This will result in a low coolant level and decreased cooling of your engine. If you drive even for a short time without enough coolant, your engine can seize or die altogether. An antifreeze leak can occur through a hole in your radiator.
Corrosion within the radiator is one of the leading reasons that coolant leaks. As the tubes get older and weaker, you may get sediment or debris inside that causes a leak. The sealing gasket between the tank and the radiator can also wear out, and that could lead to a leak.
There is an easy way to find out if your engine`s head gasket has blown. Simply check under the oil filler cap. If the gasket is not damaged, the inside of the oil cap will be mostly dry. If you discover a milky brownish-yellow substance that is similar to the thickness of a milkshake, you probably have a gasket leak.
Gaskets and Seals
One common place of a coolant leak is the radiator pan gasket. The drain plug can also cause leaking, and if the cap that seals the radiator can no longer contain the pressurized coolant, it will leak or spray out from underneath.
When they blow, intake manifold gaskets and head gaskets will typically leak different substances. A blown intake manifold gasket may cause air or fuel to leak. A blown head gasket, on the other hand, will typically cause combustion gases, coolant or oil to leak.
It could be a leaking hose or a radiator hole. Solution: Check to see if any coolant is leaking from your hoses. If you find coolant flowing out of the hose(s), replace them. It`s a simple fix if you find coolant leaking from your thermostat.
The first symptoms of a head gasket that is failing are usually a slow loss of coolant with no visible leaks, engine overheating and/or a Check Engine light with cylinder misfire codes.
Technically speaking yes you can use plain water in your cooling system but it isn`t recommended as a long term solution and certainly not in extreme weather conditions.
Yellow – Yellow fluid indicates a radiator coolant leak, which can happen if there is a loose hose clamp or a damaged o-ring. This is vital to fix as soon as possible. Green – Green fluid can point to an antifreeze leak. Antifreeze can start to leak when certain hoses, fittings, or clamps have worn out.
While driving with a coolant leak doesn`t pose an immediate threat to your well-being, we highly recommend that you avoid doing so. Driving a car that is leaking coolant can cause serious damage to your engine. Your engine can overheat, costing you big time.
Depending on the cause of leakage, you may get away driving with a radiator leak for a short time. Eventually, the lack of coolant will cause your car to overheat – which may in turn precipitate damage to various engine bay components. That`s why it`s a good idea to stop and inspect the issue as soon as you notice it.
Antifreeze (aka coolant) is pumped through your vehicle`s engine as you drive, absorbing excess heat and exchanging it with the outside air. That means an antifreeze leak could cause the engine to overheat — and that can lead to major engine damage.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
I have a leak of water coming from my motor do I need a head gasket my car keeps running hot
ANSWER : Hello. Though there are a lot of areas that can leak coolant on this car, it is common for the head gasket to fail and cause this. If the leak cannot be easily seen I usually pressure test the system to find the leak. If that does not help then dye may need to be used to located where the coolant is leaking from. Either way, the leak will need to be repaired prior to moving further with the vehicle. I typically do a block test also to make sure that there is not a head gasket issue prior to replacing any other parts. If you are going to have this repaired, have a technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to diagnose the coolant leak and make the necessary repairs.
Fuel EVAP line that runs under car is kinked how do I know if it is leaking? Also can I drive it like that if it’s not leaking?
ANSWER : Hi Ricardo. We answered your question earlier. However, if you didn’t receive the reply, here is what we stated earlier. In most cases, an EVAP leak will create an OBD-II trouble code. The best way to detect an EVAP leak is by having a professional mobile mechanic complete a check engine light inspection, they will be able to download the code and determine the source of the leak. That’s the best advice we can offer you. Thanks.
Fuel EVAP line that runs under car is kinked how do I know if it is leaking? Also can I drive it like that if it’s not leaking?
ANSWER : Hi there. In most cases, an EVAP leak will create an OBD-II trouble code, which is the best way to detect an EVAP leak. By having a professional mobile mechanic complete a check engine light inspection, they will be able to download the code and determine the source of the leak. In most cases, it’s an EVAP purge solenoid that is faulty.
Car runs hot and doesnt keep coolant
ANSWER : Hi there. Most of the time, overheating issues are caused by a radiator leak, leak in the coolant lines, or a failed thermostat. The worse case scenario is that you’d have a blown head gasket.
However, if you’re seeing small drips on the ground, the leak could be coming from one of the hoses, which might also introduce air pockets into the coolant line. This could be what’s causing your overheating situation. However, it might be a good idea to have a local certified mechanic stop by your home to do a complete cooling system inspection. That could save you a lot of money instead of replacing parts that you are unsure are faulty.
My engine blew out due to my water pump leaking…i didnt have no problems with my car over heating, no steam, running weird,
ANSWER : It is quite likely that when the car was hit, the radiator may have been punctured which would have caused a lot of the coolant to leak out of the vehicle.
If the water pump failed or if it were low on coolant, there would have been overheating indications on in the dash, so you should have had some kind of warning either way that the coolant level was low.
If you’d like to get this fixed, consider YourMechanic, as one of our mobile technicians can come diagnose the leak firsthand and help address any other potential issues.
It runs hot and theres (NO Water In Oil Pain) but theres water in the valve covers
ANSWER : One possibility is to pressure test the system when cold and look for visual indication of the leak point(s). You might have multiple leak points though and that has to be considered. As far as the overheating, leaks that bleed off pressure can contribute to overheating (much as a faulty radiator pressure cap would) but a head gasket leak into the coolant, thus causing overheating, also has to be checked by testing for exhaust gas in the radiator. After all the leaks are fixed, if overheating continues that has to be further diagnosed. During a mobile visit, YourMechanic can test for leaks and then advise you as to your repair options.
My car is running hot, what could be the problem?
ANSWER : There could be an issue with the cylinder head gaskets. Antifreeze can break down and become acidic if not replaced as normal maintenance. The head gasket material erodes and can cause engine compression to build up in the coolant system. This will prevent the flow of coolant which can create an overheating condition.
There is a test that can be done to check whether there is carbon monoxide in the coolant system; it involves special equipment.
I recommend having your overheating condition inspected, and perhaps have a block test performed.
Changed head gasket car won’t start.
ANSWER : Hi there:
In most cases when a cylinder head gasket has been pushed due to overheating, it can cause additional damage to valve train hardware; most of the time problems with valve guides. However, if you’ve double checked all hardware; you might want to look into the ignition system; perhaps the crankshaft position sensor is damaged (which happens most of the time during an overheating issue). If you can’t find the source of your issues, feel free to contact one of our local mobile mechanics and have them complete a car will not start inspection; so they can help you diagnose the problem.
