Head gasket........ugh!?

Question

Could someone tell me what makes a head gasket go bad. If it is bad (which im pretty sure thats what the problem is) does that mean my motor is shot? Car broke down on me on my way home from work the other day...check'd oil and water cos it steamin' ..oil dipstick was mucky and it looked like the steam was comin outta my water pump. Hate to havta buy a new car...I just got this one paid off last year. :( Any suggestions? Thanks!

its a 98 olds cutlass supreme

Thanks for all the answers so far guys. Its much appreciated. One more question tho. If I were to make the necessary repairs or even havta go so far as to get new motor (or rebuilt) would it be worth it $$ in the end considering the car is only valued at like $1700 (er well...thats the value minus the problems Im having right now.)

Answer 1

most likely you have a 3.1 v6 and yes the head gasket is what is bad and they don't usually go bad for no reason, usually they go bad because the engine got hot, and once that happens the heads on the engine are no longer good, most times you can get away with just replacing the heads and heads gaskets but sometimes you have to get rid of the whole motor because the engine and heads are aluminum and when they get hot they just can't be fixed. If it is the 3.1 and you have to get another motor they are pretty easy to come by at any salvage yard if you have one that has the 3.4 then your options are limited but I wouldn't get rid of the car because of the motor specially if you like the car and it is still in good shape there are some engine exchanges out there that aren't to awful expensive. good luck

Answer 2

most of the time a head gasket does not mean that the motor is shot if you get water in the engine oil it can stop the care because there is no lube the engine and stalls it then you might stuff it
if there is no presure in the engine coolent the engine will over heat fast
the qustion is the oil that you are checking for your trany
dont just blame the head
hear are come checks
does the water go down?
is the oil in the engine or trany going up
does the water temp gauge workin (ifnot there might be no water)
does the care over heat fast (pos presure loss?)
does the water buble when running pos head gasket blowing or the air from the the car is getting out from the radator cap and blow the water out

Answer 3

A head gasket goes bad usually when the head slips on the block or the head shrinks faster than the block (cast iron block with aluminum head). It does not mean your engine is shot. If it has an aluminum head, they are succeptable to cracking. Pull the head and send it to the machine shop. If it has a crack, then you should go to a junk yard and get another. Clean piston tops, deck, and then replace gasket and reinstall head. Good luck. Oh, get a new intake gasket too. You may want to just get a head set for your gaskets.

Answer 4

Well, you didnt mention the year make and model of the current car. The cooling system (anti freeze),should be replaced every few years, if you dontthe coolant becomes acidic and corrosion forms inside the engine and eats away at your internal parts. If i knew what kind of car, i may be able to help you evaluate the need to repair or replace.
good luck.....

Answer 5

depends on the car if its not brand new then it should not cost that much to have a shop do it my shop is very fair on cost if you are in idaho head gaskets can go if your cars engine got hot it may have got hot if your waterpump went bad that is a possibility why water is coming out

Answer 6

dont go bad u prably got too hot it blew it which mean other problems