problems

I have a radiator fluid leak. I have smoke in the exhaust, which I believe to be a blown head gasket. I am loosing fluid, but cannot tell where it is coming from. I have Hayes book, but it sucks as far as good discriptions go. Can I change the head gasket without pulling off timing housing. Also, where could I find a good book on repairing.

What year? What engine? How many miles?

1993 sohc quad 4. 144,000 miles

Well, for a temp solution to your radiator, you could pick up some stop-leak from, I believe a hardware store would carry it, but yes, it works very well.

Blown Head Gasket it is.... its a Known problem for the Quad 4's the head gasket breaks by a water jacket and into the cylinder... My nephew called me about his car overheating so I went to the Local Autoparts store Picked up a new Thermostat, seal and fluid and when I went to work on it I noticed NOTHING in the overflow.. I refilled took it for a drive and it was bone dry again ( his car a 95 cavilier has the quad 4) so i immediatly pulled the dipstick to the oil and the oil ran down the dipstick just like water.... it went immediatly to GM and they confermed it was the headgasket

If your oil looks like pancake batter then you have a bad head gasket or cracked head. GM made a policy adjustment on these engines I am not sure of the mileage it stopped at, try calling GM and ask about the special policy on the head gaskets. If it is not covered take it to the shop and have it done. It is too easy to mess up do it wrong and you will snap your vlaves in half. You have to remove the timing chain and cams to get to the head gasket.

I have that same Haynes book, and yeah, it's the pits.....

my Nephews car is still in the shop ( week later) and they still havin;t cleaned up the mess of all the crud that it produced all the sleeves and rigs literally have a sticky lining on it now ( if you run your finger up or down the cyl it gets stuck including the main bearings so its going for an overhaul now.... as for the warrenty I don;t think they will cover this one first off its a 95 Cavalier with 230000k+ on it