Question About Head Gaskets and Coolant Loss

My GF has a 2001 Mitsubishi Galant with (apparently) a very slow
coolant leak. The mechanic says he suspects the head gasket.
The engine runs fine, no evidence of stumbling.
It's my understanding that, if it's the gasket, the breach in
the gasket, depending on whether it is located on the inner
edge or the outer edge if the gasket, could let the coolant run
either into the cylinder or outside.
Here's my question: Is there any other place the coolant
could end up other than out the tail pipe or down the side
of the engine?
Thanks for your help!
Frank

frank1492 wrote:
> My GF has a 2001 Mitsubishi Galant with (apparently) a very slow
> coolant leak. The mechanic says he suspects the head gasket.
> The engine runs fine, no evidence of stumbling.
> It's my understanding that, if it's the gasket, the breach in
> the gasket, depending on whether it is located on the inner
> edge or the outer edge if the gasket, could let the coolant run
> either into the cylinder or outside.
> Here's my question: Is there any other place the coolant
> could end up other than out the tail pipe or down the side
> of the engine?
> Thanks for your help!
> Frank
>
>


It can get into the oil and it can hydrolock a piston, either of which
which can destroy the engine....

You can check the dipstick and oil cap for white foam which indicates
water and you can check the spark plugs looking for a clean one which
would indicate water there.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Thanks Mike. What I was getting at is, assuming there is a breach in
the head gasket, and there are no performance issues, then that would
indicate an external leak as opposed to an internal one, correct? (I
mean coolant could be running down the outside of the engine in which
case the engine couldn't be damaged, only coolant could be lost very
slowly. I think that's what he was suggesting.)







On Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:05:17 -0500, Mike Romain >
wrote:

>frank1492 wrote:
>> My GF has a 2001 Mitsubishi Galant with (apparently) a very slow
>> coolant leak. The mechanic says he suspects the head gasket.
>> The engine runs fine, no evidence of stumbling.
>> It's my understanding that, if it's the gasket, the breach in
>> the gasket, depending on whether it is located on the inner
>> edge or the outer edge if the gasket, could let the coolant run
>> either into the cylinder or outside.
>> Here's my question: Is there any other place the coolant
>> could end up other than out the tail pipe or down the side
>> of the engine?
>> Thanks for your help!
>> Frank
>>
>>
>
>
> It can get into the oil and it can hydrolock a piston, either of which
>which can destroy the engine....
>
>You can check the dipstick and oil cap for white foam which indicates
>water and you can check the spark plugs looking for a clean one which
>would indicate water there.
>
>Mike
>86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
>(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

In article >, frank1492 wrote:
> My GF has a 2001 Mitsubishi Galant with (apparently) a very slow
> coolant leak. The mechanic says he suspects the head gasket.
> The engine runs fine, no evidence of stumbling.
> It's my understanding that, if it's the gasket, the breach in
> the gasket, depending on whether it is located on the inner
> edge or the outer edge if the gasket, could let the coolant run
> either into the cylinder or outside.
> Here's my question: Is there any other place the coolant
> could end up other than out the tail pipe or down the side
> of the engine?

From the head gasket it could leak into the cylinder, into the oil, or to
the outside of the engine. A leak into the cylinder will steam clean the
inside of the cylinder if small, destroy it if too big. A leak into the
oil will show milky oil or oil in the coolant. A leak to the outside will
drip on the pavement if large, and be a tiny trace if small, if even
visible.

What reason other than the expense of doing the job is the head gasket
suspected? With so many hoses and clamps, radiator, heater core, etc that
could be the source of a tiny weep jumping to the head gasket is an
expensive leap of faith. Need to find where it's leaking to determine a
course of action.

No, the engine destroying leaks can have no effects other than the loss
of coolant until the big bang happens....

The coolant wrecks the bearings when it gets into the oil.

They have a paste you can buy at the auto parts stores that you put on
the dipstick to check the oil for water and another type to check the
coolant for hydrocarbons. You can also open the rad cap and start it up
to look for exhaust coming out the rad.

Mike

frank1492 wrote:
> Thanks Mike. What I was getting at is, assuming there is a breach in
> the head gasket, and there are no performance issues, then that would
> indicate an external leak as opposed to an internal one, correct? (I
> mean coolant could be running down the outside of the engine in which
> case the engine couldn't be damaged, only coolant could be lost very
> slowly. I think that's what he was suggesting.)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:05:17 -0500, Mike Romain >
> wrote:
>
>> frank1492 wrote:
>>> My GF has a 2001 Mitsubishi Galant with (apparently) a very slow
>>> coolant leak. The mechanic says he suspects the head gasket.
>>> The engine runs fine, no evidence of stumbling.
>>> It's my understanding that, if it's the gasket, the breach in
>>> the gasket, depending on whether it is located on the inner
>>> edge or the outer edge if the gasket, could let the coolant run
>>> either into the cylinder or outside.
>>> Here's my question: Is there any other place the coolant
>>> could end up other than out the tail pipe or down the side
>>> of the engine?
>>> Thanks for your help!
>>> Frank
>>>
>>>
>>
>> It can get into the oil and it can hydrolock a piston, either of which
>> which can destroy the engine....
>>
>> You can check the dipstick and oil cap for white foam which indicates
>> water and you can check the spark plugs looking for a clean one which
>> would indicate water there.
>>
>> Mike
>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>

Thanks to all for your great replies, but especially to Brent for
giving me the exact answer I was looking for.
I am not sure what led him to the gasket. He didn't have time
to do a complete check today, will do a complete check next
week.
This guy has always been pretty honest and I wouldn't
expect he would try to cheat us. Nevertheless, I'll make it clear
that we hope he won't ignore the less expensive possibilities!
Thanks again!
Frank





On Thu, 15 Feb 2007 15:22:12 -0600,
(Brent P) wrote:

>In article >, frank1492 wrote:
>> My GF has a 2001 Mitsubishi Galant with (apparently) a very slow
>> coolant leak. The mechanic says he suspects the head gasket.
>> The engine runs fine, no evidence of stumbling.
>> It's my understanding that, if it's the gasket, the breach in
>> the gasket, depending on whether it is located on the inner
>> edge or the outer edge if the gasket, could let the coolant run
>> either into the cylinder or outside.
>> Here's my question: Is there any other place the coolant
>> could end up other than out the tail pipe or down the side
>> of the engine?
>
>From the head gasket it could leak into the cylinder, into the oil, or to
>the outside of the engine. A leak into the cylinder will steam clean the
>inside of the cylinder if small, destroy it if too big. A leak into the
>oil will show milky oil or oil in the coolant. A leak to the outside will
>drip on the pavement if large, and be a tiny trace if small, if even
>visible.
>
>What reason other than the expense of doing the job is the head gasket
>suspected? With so many hoses and clamps, radiator, heater core, etc that
>could be the source of a tiny weep jumping to the head gasket is an
>expensive leap of faith. Need to find where it's leaking to determine a
>course of action.
>