bad head gasket

Can someone tell me what happens with a bad/blown head gasket? Would it cause my car to drive sluggish?

A bad head gasket will cause the engine to leak oil, coolant and compression.
Loss of horsepower & torque will be the least of your worries.

for real? well, what can cause loss the car to be sluggish? i had gotten the starter replaced this past weekend, and when i got it back, it ran perfect. accelerated like the car was brand new. then, the next day, it drove fine for the ride to work, but then the ride home, it started to get sluggish. when at a complete stop, the rpms would drop and almost stall the car. when i'd accelerate, it was sluggish, engine sputtered. any idea on what it could be then?


ANYONE WANNA BUY MY TEG??? LOL

If the car runs poorly when it's hot then you should check...
(1) cooling system ( i.e. a radiator with no rust inside & neon-green coolant)

(2) catalytic converter ( i.e. take it out and clean the inside with a high pressure air hose )

(3) fuel ( i.e. cheap gasoline will make the engine's computer retard the timing ).

Try using a fuel additive from Valvoline, check your tire pressure.
Is it an automatic or a manual transmission? If it's automatic, you'll want to check that the fluid is bright pink.

well, i've added fuel additive not too long ago. as for the cat converter, its new. got it around may. so, the cooling system may be it. one time i drained it, and it looked like hot cocoa, light brown. flushed it about 2 mo's ago, and it looked clean. im thinking bout draining and flushing again, and also buying a new thermostat. oh, and its manual. tires are fine also. the radiator kicks alot of fluid back into the fluid resevoir, but i saw no dripping. ima check again around the water pump.

The radiator shouldn't be filling the resevoir more than half-way. If there is calcification inside the radiator, the engine will not be cooled properly.
Hot engine == low power.
Good idea about the thermostat. If its not opening at the right temperature then the coolant will not flow properly.

what about checking your plugs and wires??

i put new plugs in about a month long ago, wires seem fine.

changed out the thermostat, and nothing. car still sputters. when i rev'ed up the engine, exhaust smelt like pure gasoline. so could be the cat, but the thing is new. i checked the ecu and there no codes blinking.

this just confirms it....my car's a piece of crap. there's no hope. im thinkin bout takin it to a mechanic and have them take a look at it. if its too much, then screw it, ima sell it or junk it.

It sounds like the engine is lost. Unless you're really in love with the car and willing to spend upwards of $600 for a rebuild, you should sell the car.

thanks for ya help

check ur timing. u might have it retarded a bit. advance it to about 16 or 18 degrees. also check the timing by the cam gears. u could have probably jumped a tooth on the timing belt. u didnt change the plug wires when u did the plug change? how long ago did u change the wires?

naw, i didnt change the wires....i bought the car used, so i dont know when the last time they were changed. i didnt buy them cuz i didnt want to keep doin trial and error in guessing what part is messing up my car. i rather blow 12 bucks on plugs than 50 on wires, and not need them.

if the car is more than 5 years old and you buy it used, the best rule of thumb--get new plugs, wires, and dist. cap. you never know what that car has been through.

coo, now i know.....either way, plugs are new, and had gotten new rotar (or cap, cant remember), igniter module and coil. so, who knows...lol now the damn thing is leakin coolant....i guess i didnt tighten the thermostat housing good enough