coolant in #2 cylinder

My 2000 LSi 1.3L had the service engine soon light come on. The mechanic said it was due to a misfire and recommended a tuneup. During the tuneup, he noted antifreeze in the #2 cylinder. I have had to add antifreeze to the reservoir about once every two weeks. It idles funny and makes popping noises at lower speeds, but seems to perform well at highway speeds. He said this is due to the antifreeze in the cylinger and the fix is either a head gasket replacement or adding sealant to the system. Since the car has some body damage (totaled out from hail storm), it is not worth the expense of head gasket replacement and will not bring much if i try to trade it in. Any thoughts on temporary fix from adding sealant?

might as well try the sealant and see if it works. if it doesn't your not out much and its not gonna hurt anything if you follow the directions

Can you please be more specific regarding the popping sound, is a popping sound or more like a puff sound? I have this sound to.
And second, doesn t suppose that coolant inside the piston suppose to create the white smoke at the tail and antifreeze smell?

I decided the best alternative was to trade the vehicle in. I am now the proud owner of a 2003 Buick Regal. It doesn't have any of the problems I described in the previous post. :wink:

My 2000 LSi 1.3L had the service engine soon light come on. The mechanic said it was due to a misfire and recommended a tuneup. During the tuneup, he noted antifreeze in the #2 cylinder. I have had to add antifreeze to the reservoir about once every two weeks. It idles funny and makes popping noises at lower speeds, but seems to perform well at highway speeds. He said this is due to the antifreeze in the cylinger and the fix is either a head gasket replacement or adding sealant to the system. Since the car has some body damage (totaled out from hail storm), it is not worth the expense of head gasket replacement and will not bring much if i try to trade it in. Any thoughts on temporary fix from adding sealant?

I'm puzzled about this. Firstly the 2000 LSi Metro has no tuneup procedure. Nothing can be manually adjusted - everything is controlled by the ECM. So I was curious about the tuneup the mechanic did. What was done exactly. And also not clear to me how it was determined that there was coolant in the #2 cylinder.

Well I think the way is to take the spark plug out and with the piston at TDC and a flash light you can se that the top of the piston is wet from antifreeze.

I'm puzzled about this. Firstly the 2000 LSi Metro has no tuneup procedure. Nothing can be manually adjusted - everything is controlled by the ECM. So I was curious about the tuneup the mechanic did. What was done exactly. And also not clear to me how it was determined that there was coolant in the #2 cylinder.


Partial true, most engines no longer have manual adjustments, there for the term "tune-up" now adays usually equals replacing the spark plugs and wires and checking filters.

Most likely when he pulled the #2 plug he noticed antifreeze deposits on the plug from it leaking into that cylinder.