overheating problem

[radrodder04]

I bought a 95 sc at auction sat. as is. When i got a chance to look under the hood i noticed the coolant was a very thick milky tan concoction. When i checked the oil I found none, but there was a lot of moisture inside the filler cap. So i put oil in the car, over the weekend I drove it over 100 miles with the air blowing wide open. NO PROBLEMS. This morning I drove it to work no problems, this afternoon this sucker overheated after 15 miles. Then the thick tan milky solution ran out all over under the (now parked in my driveway) automobile. It is about an inch thick and not even flowing out at all. This does not look good and I'm afraid it's got a blown head gasket. What does anyone else think. how did it run 100 miles cool then overheat if it is the head gasket.
IS IT THE HEADGASKET???

[RC1488]

Unfortunetly i think it may be. oil in the coolant points towards it. Also at what temperature did the car reach as per the guage? If you over heated the engine, it may not be the headgasket, but a warped head.

[radrodder04]

actually, i drove it 15 miles that day then parked it for about 15 or 20 min. then got in it to leave drove a mile or 2 saw the guage rising immediately I went back to my home/office parked it and drove off in another car...

[jer1303]

Cracked head for sure. Happens on a certain percentage of the SOHC engines.

[radrodder04]

great now I have an option... I can find a head and replace the cracked one (which does not mean I have found the problem as to why the engine overheated in the first place and cracked the head) OR I have a friend with a good 1995 1.9 engine whose willing to replace that enigine for $500.00

What do you think ?

Rather what would you suggest??

[jer1303]

When I ran into this problem, I picked up a used engine and had it installed.. but there's nothing wrong with just replacing the head, and cleaning things up as long as the bottom end is good. I guess I just figured swapping in a good used engine would be less headache than tearing it all apart and such.

Unfortunatly these SOHC engines do not have to over-heat to crack the head..it was a casting flaw that never really was fixed. Apparantly the '95-96 years have it the worst, but all are affected.


Whatever you do, replace all your coolant hoses, and use some Cascade and water in the cooling system after you have it all buttoned back up. Then flush the Cascade/oil/water mix out a few times and then put in your favorite brand of coolant. That will help get all the residual oil out.

[radrodder04]

Well i'm not going to whine about it any more and i'm either too lazy or tired or undermotivated to fix the engine in the car so I guess I'll take it to my friend and have a motor put in it. That shoots any profit I thought I'd make all to......well.
Thanks for the advice on cascade.
Bet you can't tell me what these old used car dealers are using on their tires that make them shine like glass for a week or more ,do ya!
ps I lived on Offitt afb as a kid 61-64 I think

[RC1488]

its easier to replace the entire engine. Make sure the new engine is a SOHC also. If its a DOHC your car will run horriblly and your gas mileage will suffer greatly