blown headgasket but i need to make a 500 mile trip. Possible?? - Bimmerforums

turb0charged · #1 11-22-2009, 02:10 AM

Hey guys,

I don't know if my life can get any worst (it's a long story I don't think you want to hear). But its almost thanksgiving and I need to make a 500 mile trip back home. However, I just recently discovered that I have a blown headgasket! (water in the engine...). It's absolutely imperative that I go home for thanksgiving and I was wondering if I should take the risk and make that trip or do you think its already on its way out. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks bros.

tciambotti1 · #2 11-22-2009, 02:43 AM

i would look into a plane ticket. Driving it could only make things worse.

epmedia · #3 11-22-2009, 03:02 AM

x2 on a plane ticket.

turb0charged · #4 11-22-2009, 03:06 AM

theres still the same amount of coolant in the reservoir but theres a good amount of water/coolant mix with oil when I checked the dipstick. Moreover, theres a lot of condensation towards the left of my engine bay. There's also condensation dripped down onto my oil pan and sway bars. The only reason why I want to drive it home is because I have the tools and my dad there to fix it, but I'm not too sure about it now...any more inputs? I'm driving back a bunch of people and it would be a pretty bitch move to tell them they can't go home for thanksgiving. TIA

epmedia · #5 11-22-2009, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turb0charged

theres still the same amount of coolant in the reservoir but theres a good amount of water/coolant mix with oil when I checked the dipstick. Moreover, theres a lot of condensation towards the left of my engine bay. There's also condensation dripped down onto my oil pan and sway bars. The only reason why I want to drive it home is because I have the tools and my dad there to fix it, but I'm not too sure about it now...any more inputs? I'm driving back a bunch of people and it would be a pretty bitch move to tell them they can't go home for thanksgiving. TIA

x A bunch on a plane ticket.
Or -better yet - RENT a car for the trip.

Or -rent a truck to tow your car to get it fixed

.

Reason: you will all be stranded between here-and-there.
AND That, my friend - is not fun.

dragonfly2k3 · #6 11-22-2009, 03:36 AM

If you drive it home, expect to replace the engine when you get home. If it doesnt overheat, and leave you on the side of the road halfways there, the water in the oil will cause serious damage to the engine internals.

95325i5sp · #7 11-22-2009, 03:58 AM

if the 5 responses you got after 1200 am on a saturday night all say not to do it id say you have all the input you need, as it wont get any better... but yeah if your in a hard place right now, trying to drive it will just make your situation worse, as the people who are counting on you to get them home probly wont enjoy the walk to the truckstoplol. and it will just cost you that much more.been there done that in some way shape or form more than once before i learned my lesson.

tciambotti1 · #8 11-22-2009, 04:16 AM

That wasn't too bad of an idea with towing it home. Uhaul has trucks and car dollies for rent one way. That is prob your best bet.

Albertan · #9 11-22-2009, 04:18 AM

I guess when a BMW head gasket goes it always seems to manage to get water in the oil. That must be a weak spot somewhere. Personally, I had a C class motor home with a rebuilt Chev 400 engine. Head gasket went as I was driving out to the coast. All that happened is the cylinder pressure kept forcing the coolant into the coolant return tank. Every 100 miles or so I would pull over, SLOWLY remove rad cap, let pressure escape and blow the coolant back into the rad. We probably did 1500 miles like that. Got home and replaced the head gaskets under warranty. Engine fine ever after.
I would have recommended you do the same but for the water (coolant) in the oil. That is pretty much a deal breaker. Rent a truck and a tow dolly, tow the car home.

dragonfly2k3 · #10 11-22-2009, 07:19 AM

^^most engines push water into the oil when the hg blows.

BiH55 · #11 11-22-2009, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albertan

I guess when a BMW head gasket goes it always seems to manage to get water in the oil. That must be a weak spot somewhere. Personally, I had a C class motor home with a rebuilt Chev 400 engine. Head gasket went as I was driving out to the coast. All that happened is the cylinder pressure kept forcing the coolant into the coolant return tank. Every 100 miles or so I would pull over, SLOWLY remove rad cap, let pressure escape and blow the coolant back into the rad. We probably did 1500 miles like that. Got home and replaced the head gaskets under warranty. Engine fine ever after.
I would have recommended you do the same but for the water (coolant) in the oil. That is pretty much a deal breaker. Rent a truck and a tow dolly, tow the car home.

dude its not just bmw, once the headgasket goes of course the water and oil will mix together. seen that on many cars

azmp1 · #12 11-22-2009, 10:05 AM

^ yea... that will pretty much be not on many cars, but on ALL cars. cooland and oil circulate through the block and the head in their own channels once the head gasket goes there's nothing to prevent those from mixing. it all depends on how bad your blown gasket is...

bottom line DON'T drive your car with a blown head gasket. Main result that from the blown head gasket is usually overheating. That will eventually result in warped cams, cracked head, and more. I've seen this happen first hand.

Like others say buy a plain ticket or you will potentially end up spending heckuva lot more.

hellrot328is · #13 11-22-2009, 10:21 AM

happened to me too, and learned my lesson so i suggest you don't drive your bmw in those conditions, specially that far!!

BlackBMWs · #14 11-22-2009, 10:33 AM

Plane, train or rent a car. Don't drive it. The Amtrak Coastliner will get you up the coast from SD to SF for about $80 or so. I'm making the reverse trip for Thanksgiving...

E36Lindberg · #15 11-22-2009, 01:18 PM

basically, do you wanna pay the 300-600 now for the plane ticket; or around 4 thousand once that engine locks up on u!

amdspitfire · #16 11-22-2009, 01:41 PM

got a buddy thats put thousands of miles on a bad hg m52, sure theres a little bit of coolant in the oil but I bet it would be fine after a rebuild. It really depends how bad you warped or cracked the head.

turb0charged · #17 11-22-2009, 03:26 PM

thanks for the input guys, it's not a risk i want to take, especially driving through the grapevine. Now I just gotta find a shop here in San Diego to fix it. Again, I appreciate the comments, Happy Thanksgiving.

polishracing95 · #18 11-22-2009, 06:40 PM

im gonna say screw it and drive it anyway. you can pick up a m50 or s50 s52 and do a swap and get more fun out of your car.

strad · #19 11-22-2009, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polishracing95

im gonna say screw it and drive it anyway. you can pick up a m50 or s50 s52 and do a swap and get more fun out of your car.

Already has an S52, since it is a 96 M3. So no, I wouldn't recommend ruining a perfectly good S52 by driving it 500 miles on contaminated oil lol.

turb0charged · #20 11-22-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polishracing95

im gonna say screw it and drive it anyway. you can pick up a m50 or s50 s52 and do a swap and get more fun out of your car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by strad

Already has an S52, since it is a 96 M3. So no, I wouldn't recommend ruining a perfectly good S52 by driving it 500 miles on contaminated oil lol.

it's actually my beater e36 328i that's problematic, my m3 is at home in the bay area.

BMWMPow3r · #21 11-22-2009, 11:44 PM

I wouldn't do it.

rtd328 · #22 11-22-2009, 11:47 PM

Nahhh, you better be prepared to replace the engine if you make it, or be prepared to have emergency transport home and a wrecker to tow your car.

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