serious question for auto mechanic is it ok to run a car with a blown head gasket for just a few miles?

Answer 1

Although the vehicle may still run, the problem comes from that it is dumping coolant ( aka antifreeze ) into your cylinders and also getting into your oil and visa versa. When coolant enters the oil it can create many problems including : causing the oil to sludge, damaging the moving internal parts and their bearings and causing corrosion and other damage. Even though you drive a short distance it doesn't take much to cause a main bearing to go bad or for the sludge to clog the oil pick up tube and not allow oil to get to your rotating mass. Also, after sitting the oil and coolant/water will separate and the coolant will sit on the bottom of the pan and start to corode and rust the pan from the inside out. All of these are worst case scenarios, but I've seen it happen.

Answer 2

What's a few miles? It it not advisable, but if that what you have to do..............just don't go hammering the gas pedal.
When you get home, call repair shops. Some will offer a free tow if you are having them repair the damage. Be prepared for a sizable bill. Not onlt will they need to replace the gasket, they may find you have warped the head. That being the case, it will need to be machined flat. While they have it you may think about having the other head gasket repaired and valve train checked.
Remanufactured heads could be your best bet, but check around. Not knowing what the year, make and model are make if near impossible to give you approx. cost factors though.
Sorry for you lack of 'luck', but things happen.
I've got an old Chevy truck that still runs with it's blown head gasket. Been like that for years, however it is rarely used, just to make recycle runs and pick-up building supplies. Don't see the advantage nor payback in doing the repairs on a 23 year old truck.

Answer 3

ONLY IN EXTREME EMERGENCIES!
Head gaskets can blow OUT, causing the coolant and/or oil to leak outside of the engine block.
A head gasket blown out INSIDE the block can cause extreme troubles in just a few short minutes of driving.
In either case, when the engine is COLD...
remove the radiator cap and fill it up most of the way. When you put the radiator cap back on... DO NOT tighten it completely. There is a half-way point where the cap can hold back some of the coolant but will not PRESSURIZE the cooling system.
Go SLOW and you may also want to turn on both the HEATER and the BLOWER on HIGH.
Good Luck!

Answer 4

Used vehicles are always offered "As Is - No assure". What area of "As Is - No assure" do you now no longer comprehend? If this vehicle had any assure it will be in writing. This insurance would specially spell out precisely what's probability-free and for the way lengthy. Do you've gotten a guaranty in writing? you would take the broking service to courtroom docket. notwithstanding do no longer assume to win. First. A organization does now no longer ought to comprehend each and each disorder interior the vehicles that they promote. although they comprehend of a disorder, they don't favor to disclose the disorder except you specially ask about it. Did you ask if this vehicle had a foul head gasket? the only time a supplier receives into impediment is in the journey that they take certain action to cover a disorder as a replace of repairing it. the only hassle the seller agreed to fix became once the confusing idle. this does no longer unavoidably advise a foul head gasket. You admit that the in effortless words subject at the same time as to procure the vehicle became once a tricky idle. there is not any longer any factor out of overheating at the same time as you first offered the vehicle. This did not ensue until eventually days later. So there's a reliable probability that the genuine gasket became nevertheless reliable at the same time as to procure the vehicle. notwithstanding you drove the vehicle at the same time as it became once overheating. what's to declare that by technique of you utilizing the vehicle until eventually it therefore provide up operating at the same time as it became once overheated did not blow the genuine gasket. what's to declare that you probably did not do this harm for your automobile? it really is what you would ought to tutor in courtroom. the load of info is truly upon you. I evaluate or i trust in simple terms isn't info. you likely can pick info that this supplier took particular action to cover a disorder. the entire supplier needs to say is that it became strolling in simple terms thoughts-blowing at the same time as it left his lot.

Answer 5

Rick c is right , I've done just that to an old heap i had just for "in town" driving , it lasted for a couple of years , but today's engines are a bit more fragile , take it easy with it and you should be able to get to where you need to go , good luck and carry some extra water .

Answer 6

It's ok to drive but watch the engine temp closely.If it gets too hot the engine will lock up and then you've turned a $600 job into a $3000 job

Answer 7

It should be fine as long as the car actually runs. You won't have very much power, and you will probably end up with oil in your coolant and coolant in your oil.. but if the gasket already blew.. that stuff has probably already happened.

Answer 8

My mate dave (the mechanic) says that in laymans terms;
yes it is dangerous as it could cause certainthings to go wrong in the engine which could cause you to lose control and ultimately get yourself killed (well i added the killed bit)

Howeverif its just a few miles the chances are minor, and it is do-able.

just be slow cautios and ready to bail out if it blows up

Answer 9

depending on how badly it is I would do it only if it had to be done like say to a garage or to be fixed, thats it. Can permanently ruin the engine

Answer 10

if the oil is not white or have water or anti freeze in it put some water in radiator and go