On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:40:11 GMT, Doug Miller wrote:

> In article >, Father Mike > wrote:
>>I have about 145,000 km on this boat. I took it in for routine work and
>>Canadian Tire pulled me aside and said I had a leaking head gasket and to
>>prove it they showed me flakes of brown sediment which allegedly came from
>>my cooling system. The cost to repair would be around $1800.
>
> I certainly wouldn't replace a head gasket based on that diagnosis.
>
> The definitive check for a blown head gasket is a compression test. If it's
> more-or-less normal on all cylinders, your head gasket is fine.
>
> I share your opinion that it's probably just dirty coolant.

Yes, other people I've asked and whose knowledge I respect, are of the same
opinion. Thanks for the reply.