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How long will she run???


luvmacaddy

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Took my wife's 94 concours into the radiator shop today to have it checked. (Was losing anti-freeze, once got hot on a long trip two weeks ago.)

They called back about 2 hours later to tell me that the head gasket was 'blown'. Why I ask, because they ran it with the radiator cap off and smelled/witnessed(?) exhaust coming through the anti-freeze.

When I picked it up, said I should take it to somebody--they did not recommend anyone---and have the gasket replaced. How about Timeserting? (Blank stare) You know, replacing the head bolts so that this doesn't do it again? (Entirely blank stare, like I have three eyes). But what ever I do, DON'T DRIVE IT they say...oh no, the time/spcae continuum will end if I do?

Well, she billowed out white smoke today (Weather was 38 degrees and high humidity), other than that, no coolant loss for about six days.

My question---geez, I'm almost as bad as a US Senator!!!!--if the head gasket is blown, how long will it go with just adding coolant (daily/when it is driven) and only short in-town driving?

I might add K&W Block seal after I get back from LV on the 17th.

Thanks....

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Sorry to hear this.. You asked all the correct questions, GOOD FOR YOU.. you are very knowledgable. Unfortunately it is difficult to predict how long you will be able to drive it. Check the water pump belt and check for a clogged purge line for the hell of it..

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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Sorry to hear this.. You asked all the correct questions, GOOD FOR YOU.. you are very knowledgable. Unfortunately it is difficult to predict how long you will be able to drive it. Check the water pump belt and check for a clogged purge line for the hell of it..

Where would I find the purge line, and how would I check it for a clog...other than undoing it and doing it the old fashioned "manual" way and blowing through it?

Also, got real knowledgable on N*s by reading this forum...thanks to the accumulated knowledge of this site!

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Sorry to hear this.. You asked all the correct questions, GOOD FOR YOU.. you are very knowledgable. Unfortunately it is difficult to predict how long you will be able to drive it. Check the water pump belt and check for a clogged purge line for the hell of it..

Where would I find the purge line, and how would I check it for a clog...other than undoing it and doing it the old fashioned "manual" way and blowing through it?

Also, got real knowledgable on N*s by reading this forum...thanks to the accumulated knowledge of this site!

I posted this recently, see my post #6, it shows a photo of the water pump belt and tensioner, and a photo of a bunch of key components including the "hollow bolt' purge line, remove the hose, remove the bolt and look for a clog in the metering hole of the bolt. Do not blow through it. One other method is to remove the purge line hose off of the coolant TANK, with the car running and see if coolant flows out of that line. Follow the purge line across the engine, a hose connects it to the coolant tank.

<a href="http://caddyinfo.ipbhost.com/index.php?sho...t=0&start=0" target="_blank">http://caddyinfo.ipbhost.com/index.php?sho...t=0&start=0</a>

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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Run a test for combustion gas in the coolant. You can get a universal block tester at NAPA for $50.

The head gaskets don' "blow"; the headbolts pull out of the block. This happened to me and I ran my car about two months before I was forced to fix it. You must TIMESERT the block.

I have my TIMESERT tool kit and the Kent Moore flywheel lock available for $300.00.

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you have a 94 concours with VVT? variable valve timing? i did not know it was available back than? the LH2 you refer too is for the recent 2005 STS, XLR, and SRX, not a 94 vintage. my 96 never overheated though we were loosing coolant. i checked the level daily and while it did go down a lot towards the end, we never got hot. i would say as long as your coolant level is ok, than you can probably drive it for a long time. or till it hydrolocks which is a bad thing. safest bet is to fix it or sell it or trade it.

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