Head Gasket or Valve CoverGasket?

[IsuzuJones]

I just bought a 1999 Rodeo LSE with 124k miles. Yesterday I noticed that there was a brownish greasy liquid in the radiator, reserve coolant tank and around the coil in the #2 cylinder.

I am also loosing about a quart of water from the radiator every day but there is no noticeable leak in the radiator.

One person told me I needed to replace the head gaskets another person suggested that I only needed to have the valve cover gaskets changed.

I need a third opinion from someone who knows something about this problem. Please help!

[rodeo02]

Could be just a bad head gasket, or worse case, a warped/cracked cylinder head. Either way the heads have to come off, be inspected & replaced if neccessary. Your valve cover gaskets (and plug tower seals) will have to be replaced in the process.
G/luck
Joel

[tomlcollins]

sorry about your head gasket, let's hope for the best and hope it's not a cracked or warped head, as rodeo said!

[steveb_92rodeo]

If you are going to replace the head gasket(s) anyways, I'd recommend having the head planed at the same time. Might cost you $15 at a machine shop. At the same time, they can dust it and check it for cracks.

It's a PITA when you replace a head gasket only to find out that 2 weeks later the problem comes back, and you have to get the work done anyway.

Steve

[Tonupboy]

Is this a recurring problems with Rodeos?? I had my head gasket replaced only to find another oil leak somewhere else...the bottom of my engine is soaked! I cant find the source...all I know is it is dripping near the O2 sensor location and its burning off as it hits the exhaust pipe....what a PITA....

[Screwtape]

Originally Posted by Tonupboy

Is this a recurring problems with Rodeos?? I had my head gasket replaced only to find another oil leak somewhere else...the bottom of my engine is soaked! I cant find the source...all I know is it is dripping near the O2 sensor location and its burning off as it hits the exhaust pipe....what a PITA....

Tonupboy, have you found the cause of the leak yet? I have been ttrying to find the cause of my leak for almost 3 weeks now. I am leaking bad in front of the engine and on the exhaust mani side (drivers side) in my 98 4 cyl.
I have replaced the front crank seal thinking that might be the problem but nope, not it.
very very frustrating

[superfret78]

Originally Posted by Tonupboy

Is this a recurring problems with Rodeos?? I had my head gasket replaced only to find another oil leak somewhere else...the bottom of my engine is soaked! I cant find the source...all I know is it is dripping near the O2 sensor location and its burning off as it hits the exhaust pipe....what a PITA....

Possibly a rear main seal? I didn't think they usually leak that bad....