Coolant leak

[iownaford]

Hi... Im not very mechanical and so need some advice before i take it to a mechanic and trust their word is GOD...

I have a Falcon AU2 (156,000km`s) Last week it was a very HOT day and after I returned to the car I notcied coolant spewing out of the radiator over flow...

I checked the levels and they were still Ok and drove the car home again...checked the overflow and this time it was fine..

Since then the last few days I am getting a coolant leak but it is no longer from the overflow hose...

I took off the manifold cover today and when I started the car there was coolant leaking out of the engine block ...the part with the metal circles, but only one of them..i think this is the cylinder housings.???

Is this a blown head gasket as I fear..?

Ive read it can coast up to $1000 to be fixed...does this sound about right..?

Any advice would be appreciated..

Adam

[SSVPom]

You've blown a brass "welch plug", my mates EF did this the other week on a 40 degree day - he was driving along and noticed steam coming out from under he bonnet, than the needle on the gauge shooting towards the red zone!

I went to rescue him in my car and took some water with me, and we were able to top it up and "limp" the car back to a safe place before it got trailered away.

He had it fixed for around 150 bucks mates rates, and its worth changing all 6 or 8 of them at the same time because if one had worn out then the rest may follow!


Good luck, hopefully thats all it will be.

Cheers.

[iownaford]

thanks for your reply...

cool...ive read on here about the welch plugs...i suppose its faily labour intensive...???

well $150 sounds a hell of a lot better than 1000 +...

thanks again...

[SSVPom]

As far as I know, it's all about the "pain in the a%$" access to the rear plugs, around the back of the block... that is if they are to be changed as well, however i've been told it's always wise to do the whole set at once, for peace of mind at least.


Good luck mate.