Expert: autohelp - 3/25/2010

Question
I was told by the dealership that I have a cracked head gasket. My engine light stays on most of the time. Sometimes it will go off for a day or two. I have to place water in the radiator at lease once a week. I don't have the $$ to do the repair. Will a sealant work in my case? If so do you recommend the kind that you have to drain out radiator, or pour and go ?

Answer
This particular engine has a serious problem with head gasket failures due to stretched and or stripped head bolt threads in the engine block.

It is extrely rare that a cylinder head cracks.

Your repair is more likely going to require removing both heads and drilling out the head bolt holes in the engine block and installing heli-coils in the bolt holes and installing all new head bolts which is a very expensive major repair and is very costly.

I recommend that you install a re-manufactured engine which will already have all the faults fixed and not to spend any money on this old tired troublesome engine that you have.