Saving cars from the junkyard, one head gasket at a time. 

 Generally, there are two types of coolant systems:

1. A radiator with a pressure cap
2. A radiator without a pressure cap.

A coolant system with a radiator cap has an overflow/recovery tank. It is a common component found in most automotive applications. They are typically connected by a tube to the radiator neck, and it serves as a place for excess fluid to be captured when the pressure release valve in the radiator cap gives way. When the engine cools down the pressure normalizes within the coolant system, and the fluid is pulled back into the radiator. If the radiator cap is defective overheating can occur resulting in a blown head gasket. If the tube is blocked a head gasket can be damaged. Ideal Head Gasket Repair has been in business since 2011. Over 700 successful head gasket repairs. 

Some older vehicles did not have overflow tanks at all. The fluid expansion would occur in the radiator itself. It was common to leave an inch or more of air at the top of the radiator tank. When the coolant system was pressured, the air would vent through the radiator cap. The problem with a coolant system with no overflow tank is, the fluid level could become too low, causing an overheating issue. One overheating incidence can cause the head gasket to blow. Call Ideal Services to get your head gasket repaired.

A coolant system without a radiator cap has an expansion tank off to the side. Unlike the overflow/recovery tank, an expansion tank has a pressure cap. The pressure cap must be functioning properly or an overheating can occur. If an engine overheats damage to the head gasket is possible. Ideal Head Gasket Repair provides an alternative to a complete teardown of the engine with a blown head gasket.

A coolant system is a sealed closed-loop system, which will raise the boiling point as long as it stays under pressure (think cooking a chicken in a pressure cooker). Water boils at 212° F. The boiling point can be raised to approximately 250° F, as long the coolant system stays sealed. If a coolant system has an external leak such as a leaking radiator, a hose, or even a bad seal at the radiator cap, the pressure is lost. The boiling point is lowered. In addition, vital fluid is lost with an external leak. As the fluid leaks out, there is less fluid to help cool the engine. Manufacturers design coolant systems to have a reserve cooling capacity of 30%. This means that the coolant system is built 30% stronger than what it needs to be. Over time the reserve capacity goes down due to normal wear and tear on the coolant system. A water pump impeller gets worn. A radiator has some of the cooling passages clogged up by minerals and sediment. If the cooling capacity goes too low an overheating will occur. If an overheating occurs only once, a head gasket repair could be needed. Exchanging antifreeze periodically is suggested by all manufacturers. Click on this link coolant exchange for more details. When Ideal Head Gasket Repair exchanges the antifreeze in a vehicle a complete analysis is performed. The tests include pressure tests for external leaks & radiator cap function. Additionally, water pump strength, thermostat, and circulation. 

With millions of cars in the United States on the road, each one is a source of air pollution. The amount of pollution, especially in large cities, can create big problems. The federal government, states, and cities created clean-air laws that restrict the amount of pollution that vehicles can produce. Auto manufacturers have made many refinements to fuel systems to keep up with these laws. Around 1975 a device called a catalytic converter was introduced. A catalytic converter is a device that converts toxic pollutants in exhaust gas to less toxic pollutants. Catalytic converters are amazingly simple devices, so it is incredible to see how big an impact they have. Catalytic converters are used with internal combustion engines, fueled by either gasoline or diesel. If an engine needs a head gasket repair, coolant passes through at least one combustion cylinder, and out the exhaust pipe. Before exiting the exhaust pipe, the coolant must pass through the catalytic converter. The internal components of a catalytic converter have a series of plates with many small holes and are extremely hot. As the coolant passes through the catalytic converter, the residue of the water and antifreeze will get “cooked” on the plates. If a head gasket repair is not performed, over time the residue of the antifreeze and water will begin to build up and clog up the small holes in the plates. If exhaust gases cannot pass freely through a clogged catalytic converter, the heat from the exhaust will go back into the engine and cause the vehicle to overheat. Without a timely head gasket repair, the catalytic converter will become damaged and need to be replaced.

Hot fluid enters the radiator from the upper radiator hose. The hot fluid goes down through the passages in the radiator. To cool the fluid as it passes from the top of the radiator to the bottom hose, the air is pushed through the front of the radiator while driving. Hot air is also pulled from the radiator with a fan in the engine compartment. If the radiator passages are clogged, fluid will not be cooled properly. The uncooled fluid will be recirculated back into the engine. Overheating will occur. Also, a water pump requires a steady flow of fluid to operate properly. If fluid can not get to the water pump fast enough because of a clogged radiator, the water pump will cavitate. When a water pump cavitates, instead of steady flow through the engine block, short busts of fluid will occur.  If an engine is allowed to overheat the head gasket could be damaged. At the first signs of an overheating engine, pull over the vehicle immediately. Sometimes an engine overheats without the driver even knowing it. Sometimes a driver sees that the engine is overheating but keeps driving. The best advice is to stop the engine as soon as possible. Once an engine overheats, the need for a head gasket repair is probable. 

To “bleed” the air out of a coolant system follow these instructions:

• Park the vehicle (on an incline if possible). Let the engine cool down. Now you are ready to remove the air in the cooling system.
• Open the hood. Some newer cars have a bleeder valve on the front of the radiator, or on the thermostat housing. Check the owner’s manual for the location of this valve, and how to use the ‘bleeder valve” to remove the air from the coolant system.
• After the engine cools down. Remove the radiator cap. If the level of the radiator fluid went down, that indicates the air has been bled out of the cooling system. Top off the radiator, turn on the car, let it run. Continue to add more fluid if needed.
• If there is no bleeder valve on your coolant system. With the engine cool, remove the pressure cap off of the radiator or expansion tank. Top off with fluid. Run the engine until it comes to operating temperature. The air will rise out of the radiator, and the fluid level will go down. Use caution, the fluid in the system will be hot. If the fluid begins to flow out of the radiator or expansion tank, carefully replace the pressure cap, and let the engine cool down. Be careful because the fluid will be hot. Always wear personal protective gear like leather gloves and safety goggles. After the engine cools, top off the system. The air should be eliminated. Repeat the process if necessary. Check fluid level periodically. To avoid the need for a head gasket repair, periodically exchange the antifreeze in the coolant system as recommended.

Every car made today has a cylinder head, which bolts on top an engine block. The head gasket is between these two parts of an engine. A head gasket is to seal the coolant, which flows between the block and the head. Compression from the pistons can blow a “hole” in the gasket allowing the exhaust to leak into the cooling system and coolant to leak back into the crankcase. A few symptoms of a blown head gasket is a loss of coolant. Leaking past the gasket into the cylinder can lose coolant. Then it can go past the rings and into the crankcase or out of the exhaust system.

If the coolant enters the crankcase it will mix with the engine oil. Agitation caused by the crankshaft, rods and other moving parts can spin the coolant and oil like a blender. The results look like mocha coffee. To check for coolant in the oil remove the oil fill cap on the engine. If it looks like mocha coffee coolant is in the oil. The need for a head gasket repair is probable. When coolant is forced out of the exhaust system it is heated by the exhaust manifold and the rest of the exhaust system. The results are sweet-smelling steam coming from the tailpipe. When coolant hits the hot exhaust system it is like water on a hot iron. Once again a head gasket repair is probably needed. To avoid a head gasket repair, never let the engine overheat. Check the coolant level, and have the coolant exchanged at proper intervals