Symptoms of a dying head gasket?

[abscate]

It's still running fine. Can anyone comment on what I can expect? How long will the car be usable? It's probably heading to the great junkyard in the sky when it's done, as opposed to the mechanic shop.

I’ve run the simulation on my Cray and the engine will catastrophically fail August 29, 2029

Enjoy it until then. I don’t like “ head gasket in a can” and recommend its non-use.

[erikv11]

Ha, I ran the same simulation on my TRS-80. Aug 28, 2029.

[volvolugnut]

Hold for a tie breaker check. My wife is checking on her abacus.


volvolugnuty

[wrybread]

So far so good: I add water every morning that I'm using it, and it usually takes about 1/4 of a gallon. The temperature gauge stays pegged at 3:00 the whole time I drive it. However, when first starting, it runs a little rough for a moment, like one of the cylendars isn't firing. Then it'll start firing, especially if I give it a little gas, and all will be reasonably well in the world.

I've been meaning to investigate this one though: when I give it that initial gas I can hear a little water rushing around sometimes. I know that's a ridiculously vague description, but any idea what that might be off the cuff?

[wrybread]

Ol Diego is still hauling boards and boats to the beach though.

[abscate]

It is a water jacket to cylinder leak. As long as it stays out of the oil you can run that a long time. For us In antifreeze country that 1 liter per day would bankrupt us but you can keep adding water to keep it moving.

If you look in the cylinders with a bore scope one of them, or more, will be squeaky clean - like it’s been steam cleaned. That’s because, well, it’s getting steam cleaned.