Need Advice, OverHeated Dodge Mini Van

4 cylinder automatic dodge caravan, While driving on the highway I over heated my vehicle, Prior to this I was adding water to get heat in the winter water and making a hissing noise from the engine the temp. gage went to max and i turned off ac and put on heat the temp returned to a normal range than the engtine began to make a pinging noise then i put the vehicle into nuteral and coasted to a stop i had it towed and i need advice on what anoyon may think the problem is if they have had experince with this.(it turns over feels like i have no compression have i done more damage than a head gasket it also has oil and it dosnt smell burnt:banghead:
Help would be greatly appreciated
Email->[email protected]

Sounds like you don't know much about engines, etc. I would suggest you take it to a mechanic.

Yup, you let things go long enough, they can certainly bite your butt.

To check for a blown head gasket look for oil in the coolant or the opposite. Do you see white vapor out the tailpipe especially when the engine is under load? Thsi is vaporised coolant. You may see decreased compression pressures on a compression test.

I would start with a coolant flush and refill and change the thermostat. They are cheap ($10). Make sure the radiator cooling fan comes on.

4 cylinder automatic dodge caravan, While driving on the highway I over heated my vehicle, Prior to this I was adding water to get heat in the winter water and making a hissing noise from the engine the temp. gage went to max and i turned off ac and put on heat the temp returned to a normal range than the engtine began to make a pinging noise then i put the vehicle into nuteral and coasted to a stop i had it towed and i need advice on what anoyon may think the problem is if they have had experince with this.(it turns over feels like i have no compression have i done more damage than a head gasket it also has oil and it dosnt smell burnt:banghead:

Help would be greatly appreciated
Email->[email protected]

little update....the oil looks and smells fine seeing there was no water in motor to mix....also radiator took 1.5 gallons of water and can use some more
real ? is do i tow it home pull apart the motor or sell as needs some help..

Chris

Sounds like your head gasket is gone. Mine made enough noise to make me think I'd thrown a rod and poured out white smoke. Head gasket is about $1000 to fix.