My first indication is the white smoke out of the exhaust, i'm not sure what burning coolent smells like but I think it is "sweet smelling", and it certainly isn't oil. It usually doesn't smoke much at idle but will ocasionally, the more you get on it the more it smokes. This problem will come and go and is worst when any new coolent is added.
The 2nd indication is I am slowly loosing coolent so i'm 99% sure that is what is burning.
Third is the loss of presure in the coolent system, I run it 45 minutes later I take the radiator cap off and there is 0 pressure.
There is never a puddle of coolent under the car, just an occasional drop of oil.
When the car isn't moving the smoke is blowing from the back of the car so it has to be from the exhaust, not burning on the manifolds.

The oil on the dipstick looks normal, a little burnt but relativly normal. I havn't looked at the oil out of the pan because my drain pan is enclosed so you cannot see.
No bubles comming up into the resevoir

I changed the radiator cap today (had a new one with the pressure release thing on it so why not, and the one on there was a 15lb, not 16), still smoking.

I don't have air or fittings to do a leakdown test, nor do I know how to get the piston to TDC (or whatever it is).

Does this sound like a head gasket or could it be somthing else?

 

why don't you try trouble shooting? compression and/or leak down test. maybe exhaust gas in coolent test.

 

Leak down is out because I don't have air or, or anything to turn the crank with (I really don't need to break off that bolt).

I don't have a compression tester, but I don't have a problem going out and getting one though. I also have no idea what to do with it besides screw it in (turn it over by hand, start it or what). I also cannot find how to check a head gasket with a compression tester using the search. I'm assuming I would be looking for low compression?

Never heard of the exhaust gas in coolent one either. Although when I open the radiator I have noticed some smoke/steam/somthing comming out. I just searched it and couldn't find anything on that either.


Actually I just found one of your posts ede.

"Remove all the plugs, open the throttle plates, screw compression adapter into cylender attach to gage, turn key for few seconds, maybe 10. record readings amd compare. you can also use an combustion gas detector at the radiator or over flow tank. actually using both is a good method, sort of a fail safe method."

So a head gasket would be low compression right? When you are cranking it does someone have to look at the gauge or will it stay at whatever compression? What do you mean open throttle plates, push the pedal to the floor so it won't flood it?

What will one of those combustion gas detectors run, and i'm guessing you just hold it above an open radatior cap?

Thanks.

 

Its a test kit you get at the auto parts store. You dip a strip in the coolant and if it changes to a certain color you have exhaust gases in your coolant.

 

mine is a chamber you fill with test fluid and suck air into it from the radiator and if exhaust gas is pressent the fluid changes color