Head Gasket Leak

imikec | 19:44 Fri 16th Oct 2015 | Motoring

20 Answers

can I drive my 2005 North Star 4.6 Lt. with a slight head gasket leak for a little while as long as I keep all the fluids full.

Thanks for all replies.

Spooky Car

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tonyav

Best Answer

Yep.

20:10 Sat 17th Oct 2015

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Buenchico

You might be able to get to, say, a local supermarket and back but any longer journey risks seeing the temperature gauge climb at an alarming rate. (I'd still advise against even trying a short supermarket run. When my car had a dodgy head gasket I managed a few short trips but on the next journey I only got 2 miles from home, starting from cold, before the temperature gauge went off the scale).

I hate to think what a new head gasket for a Cadillac is going to cost you. I'd be surprised if you could get it done for under £1000. When my 1.6 litre Ford Zetec needed the job done, about 5 or 6 years ago, most garages wanted around £700 to £800 for the job (although I got it done for £487); I'd be prepared to bet that the same job on a North Star would cost far more!

tonyav

Has Chris say's don't risk it, could end up doing more damage.

jomifl

Depends on how much of a leak, My car developed a head gasket leak into the crankcase just after getting off the ferry in France, So equipping myself with lots of water I finished the 500 mile journey, 2 week holiday and 600 mile return ...no harm done. Not recommended though.

bhg481

Even if the engine doesn't overheat you get get hot gases leaking from one cylinder to an adjacent one. This can cause burning which will require the head to be skimmed before the new gasket is fitted. Don't go there, it will be even more expensive.

Zacs-Master

As its a V8 you could end up with one 4 cylinder block compensating for the lack of efficacy of the other, putting strain on the OK one. Get it seen to ASAP.

Hopkirk

My mother in law's Rover has had a leaking head gasket for a couple of years now - cooling water disappearing down the exhaust pipe.

She just has to top up the water very regularly.

It's not worth repairing, and I thought the car would die quickly but it's still going.

tonyav

Ah what a great engine that K series was, Hopkirk !.

Hopkirk

It may have been great once, Tony.

When was it designed?

tonyav

Introduced in 1988, Hopkirk. That engine has always suffered with blowing head gaskets ( design fault ).

Hopkirk

I had a Rover 214 once.

Guess what it died of.

tonyav

Go on then Hopkirk, do tell ?.

Hopkirk

OK, it was my fault.

On a really seriously cold morning I left it running to warm up and defrost.

Unfortunately I hadn't kept the anti freeze up to the necessary strength so the radiator must have frozen up.

Result - overheating - and, well, you've guessed it.

Blown head gasket.

tonyav

Not down to the design fault then, Hopkirk !.
I remember something similar happening to a mate of mine years ago, it was an Austin 1800 ( land crab, remember them ).

Hopkirk

Is that the old Maxi?

Never heard them called a landcrab.

A bit of a Tardis inside if I remember correctly.

tonyav

The Maxi came after, Hopkirk.
Austin 1800
http://www.caroftheyear.org/imagenes/galeria_coche/606.jpg

Hopkirk

That's what I thought the Maxi looked like.

tonyav