Head gasket slow coolant leak

At 55,000 started to smell antifreeze at shut down and overflow tank slowly going down. After reading the postings and costs associated with fix I decided to just add antifreeze. Friend said I should used a raditor stop leak - put it in and no leaks nor loss of anti freeze for 15,000 miles - costs $3.00. Last week I started to smell antifreeze and noticed that the overflow tank was down slightly. After another $3.00 investment and 1000 miles no smell or loss of antifreeeze.

I had the same problem, but it turned out to be the intake gasket, wasn't a problem untill I was towing with it, then over heating, replaced the gasket and no more trouble. With only 55k, I wouldn't use the stop leak for that, I would fix it right, cuz you should have alot of years left in that vehicle, Mines at 140k and still going strong.
Mike

At 55,000 started to smell antifreeze at shut down and overflow tank slowly going down. After reading the postings and costs associated with fix I decided to just add antifreeze. Friend said I should used a raditor stop leak - put it in and no leaks nor loss of anti freeze for 15,000 miles - costs $3.00. Last week I started to smell antifreeze and noticed that the overflow tank was down slightly. After another $3.00 investment and 1000 miles no smell or loss of antifreeeze.


It is most likely the intake gasket and I would fix it right ASAP. Even trace amounts of antifreeze in your oil will dramatically shorten the life of the rod and main bearings which shortens engine life. When I say trace amounts I mean enough that the only way to know it is there is with oil analysis.