car repair advice

**kilgore_trout** · 08-04-2008, 05:35 PM

since i know less about cars than i do about that cf mafia game, i thought i'd ask my cyclone brothers for some advice.

mr. jiffy lube says that my 2003 grand am has a blown head gasket. it was down a quart of oil and he said they couldn't figure out why until they found some oil in the coolant. i checked my records and i shamefully haven't had the oil changed for six months (5500 miles).

that said, i haven't noticed any leaks, it hasn't overheated and it's not smoking. do you think it really has a blown head gasket? any advice? TIA

**cstrunk** · 08-04-2008, 05:40 PM

Oil in the coolant is a pretty good sign that you have a blown head gasket. You should get that fixed.

**Cyclonesrule91** · 08-04-2008, 05:41 PM

If they really did find oil in the coolant then it is quite possible it is a blown head gasket. When your car is warmed up and idling, is there white smoke coming out your exhaust? If you know what antifreeze smells like, does your exhaust smell like antifreeze? Does the car run hotter then normal?

**cstrunk** · 08-04-2008, 05:42 PM

Also, if you don't trust Mr. Jiffy Lube, then it may not hurt to get a second opinion from another reputable mechanic.

**Cyclonesrule91** · 08-04-2008, 05:45 PM

If you do have a blown head gasket, then I would get it fixed soon. The cooling system in your car is pressurized which keeps your coolant from boiling and evaporating. If you have a bad head gasket, it is no longer pressurized so you will lose antifreeze by evaporation and the oil that is in there can basically bake in the engine and plug areas where coolant flows. If you wait too long and the engine gets too hot you can warp or crack your heads and then you will be replacing them too. I would get a second opinion and if they give you the same diagnosis, get it done ASAP.

**heyguy85** · 08-04-2008, 06:10 PM

You need to get a new head gasket yesterday. It will only cause more problems.

**chadm** · 08-04-2008, 06:11 PM

Get a second opinion, Mr Jiffy lube a few years back tried to get me to change the front differential on a two wheel drive truck.

**AIT** · 08-04-2008, 06:14 PM

What they said. The oil change place may be right, but I wouldn't trust them to diagnose this, so get a second opinion. If it's a bad head gasket, get it fixed soon. I drove a car with a bad head gasket for a while, and it worked fine until it overheated on the interstate. I was lucky I didn't crack a head. I don't know how much this will cost, but it's probably several hundred dollars.

**CycloneErik** · 08-04-2008, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by AIT

What they said. The oil change place may be right, but I wouldn't trust them to diagnose this, so get a second opinion. If it's a bad head gasket, get it fixed soon. I drove a car with a bad head gasket for a while, and it worked fine until it overheated on the interstate. I was lucky I didn't crack a head. I don't know how much this will cost, but it's probably several hundred dollars.

What he said. I have this once, and didn't know enough to realize it, until the whole thing burned up on Highway 69 going to Indianola. Sure, all the smoke from the engine (out of the car and into the passenger section) was cool, but it's really bad for the car.

**cmoore_23** · 08-04-2008, 06:25 PM

ya.. i would either
A get it fixed or
B get a new car depending on how bad or how much it cost or
C new engine..

**jumbopackage** · 08-04-2008, 06:31 PM

get it fixed yesterday. Oil in the coolant is almost certainly a blown head gasket. More worrying, if there is oil in the coolant, there's a good chance that you'll get coolant in your oil, and that's VERY bad thing.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but depending on the car, it will likely cost you a good chunk of change. The part is probably less than 20 bucks. The labor will probably be 8-12 hours though. So you're looking at a 500-1k repair.

Head gaskets pretty much require you to tear the entire top half of the engine apart to get at them. It's one of the more complicated repairs you can make on an engine.

**Cyclonesrule91** · 08-04-2008, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by cmoore_23

ya.. i would either
A get it fixed or
B get a new car depending on how bad or how much it cost or
C new engine..

Agree with A.

B. It isn't going to cost so much that you can justify buying a new car unless you drive it too much and your engine fries.

C. Fix it right away and you're fine. Why buy a new engine when you can replace the head gasket a lot cheaper. A couple years ago, I had to replace a intake manifold gasket and was quoted I think around $6-700. Replacing the head gasket is just going another step further then that. So I am guessing $7-800 to fix.

If you live in Des Moines, I would advise you to go see Max at Aamco which is on Hickman by the K-mart north of Sam's Club. They are priced competitive and have done good work when friends of mine went there.

Good luck.

**HILLCYD** · 08-04-2008, 06:45 PM

Jiffy Lube can't change oil properly let alone give advice on major repairs. I have heard horror stories about these clowns for years. They pay crap and therefore that is what they get for help.

**ISU4ME** · 08-04-2008, 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by cys_av8r

Jiffy Lube can't change oil properly let alone give advice on major repairs. I have heard horror stories about these clowns for years. They pay crap and therefore that is what they get for help.

100% true. Jiffy Lube does not hire certified mechanics. I would also recommend a second opinion ASAP.