Head Gasket Problems

[Me_So_Fast]

I have just recently been experiencing problems with my engine overheating, i'm not sure if it is my head geasket because there are not traces of water on the dip stick. I cannot seem to find the thermostat though, it could just be the thermostat sticking. Can anyone help me out?

[guyaverage]

Water in the oil is A symptom, its not the ONLY symptom. How is your antifreeze level? Has is changed in the last few days? Monitor it closely. If your overflow tank level RISES, you definetly have a blown gasket (combustion gases are pressurizing your cooling system, forcing coolant out past the radiator cap and into the overflow tank). If your level drops consistently, you may get steam out your exhaust, but maybe not, it can be slow and subtle. Check your spark plugs, if you have one or two VERY clean ones (as compared to the others), then that pinpoints where the gasket is blown, antifreeze is leaking into your cylinders and literally steam cleaning the plugs clean. If your antifreeze level stays consistant (doesnt rise or fall) things to check would be a debri-clogged radiator (leaves, bugs, grass, etc), a non-working electric cooling fan, an internally clogged radiator, a bad water pump, a bad coolant temperature sensor, and sometimes even a low oil level or low oil pressure. Your best bet is to take the car to a local garage and they can run a test for exhaust gases in the antifreeze, the garages around where I live charge about $100 for that test. Its pretty accurate, if it comes up positive you definetly have a blown head gasket or cracked block or a cracked head.<p>Oh, duh, you asked about the thermostat... You have a KLZE? You know you posted in the loser 4cyl forum right? Anyway, its in the upper radiator hose where it goes into the block, by the distributor. Its inside the housing. Replace it first, before you do anything else.<p>[ June 02, 2003: Message edited by: guyaverage ]</p>

[boostedmx]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>You know you posted in the loser 4cyl forum right<hr></blockquote><p>
whats that all about? why are we losers? to make a comment like that i would think you would have some method of backing yourself up.

[guyaverage]

I do have a method of backing myself up, its called a sense of humor. Good grief, it was a joke, lighten up! Some things in life arent to be taken literally, and that comment was one of them.

[boostedmx]

its all good, carry on...

[ryanlindenberg]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by guyaverage:
You know you posted in the loser 4cyl forum right?<hr></blockquote><p>why were you looking through the loser forum if you are one of the cool guys with a 6 cyl??? <p>

[guyaverage]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr> why were you looking through the loser forum if you are one of the cool guys with a 6 cyl??? <hr></blockquote><p>A. I dont have a GS
B. I have never even DRIVEN a GS
C. Read in the bottom right-hand corner of my post, where it says "1993 Mx3 4cyl auto"
D. Re-read the last 2 sentence of my previous post
E. Re-read boostedmx's response.