funny smell

[dpm68]

I have a friend who's Chrysler was at the shop and the cats there said it might have a head gasket problem or perhaps a warped or cracked head. It's a turbo Conquest and is not a very common car these days. I cannot really say whether it has these problems or not, but there was a hint of milky-white on the top of the dipstick and the exhaust smells unusually funny...hmmm... I checked the antifreeze and it seems okay. We can't really tell if it is overheating until it pops because the gauge is not working yet. Any thoughts or ideas? I seem to remember when a head gasket blows, the exhaust is smoky and stinky. ? Thanks.

[moparguy01]

when a head gasket goes out it usually smells somewhat sweet, antifreeze gives off a sweet smell when it burns off. exhaust is smoky and stinky if its got bad blowby(oil).

does he have to add coolant much? I'd look towards that. check the coolant level and run it and see if it drops, it seems that most turbo cars eat head gaskets, at least the 80s cars sold by ma mopar.

[The70RT]

I have a friend who's Chrysler was at the shop and the cats there said it might have a head gasket problem or perhaps a warped or cracked head. It's a turbo Conquest and is not a very common car these days. I cannot really say whether it has these problems or not, but there was a hint of milky-white on the top of the dipstick and the exhaust smells unusually funny...hmmm... I checked the antifreeze and it seems okay. We can't really tell if it is overheating until it pops because the gauge is not working yet. Any thoughts or ideas? I seem to remember when a head gasket blows, the exhaust is smoky and stinky. ? Thanks.

If the pcv is plugged moister will eventually show up in the oil. If the head gasket is bad or head is cracked you could be putting coolant in the crankcase. Eventually it will steam out the exhaust constantly. Smell in the radiator for a burnt smell and try to smell the dipstick for a sweet coolant smell. Put a compression test on it and that usually will tell you. It usually doesn't take long to over heat if you are pumping exhaust in the cooling system

[dpm68]

As far as I can tell it's got plenty of juice. But they could have added some at that shop. I repalced the thermo at my shop in August and also one of the temp switches, and it never overheated on me. The owner says it only acts like this (hard to start, stumbling, etc.) in the winter - especially if there's moisture in the air (sleet, snow) so I said it is probably the air flow sensor in the air cleaner assembly. The shop it was just in agrees, but also is pointiing to the head-related problem. Brand new PCV and related hoses, I will do a compression test soon, thanks.

[evil1]

Pull all the spark plugs out and spin the engine over, if it shoots antifreeze out of a spark plug hole, theres a problem.  Or take the radiator cap off and let the engine get hot enough for the thermostat to open, if it starts spraying antifreeze out of the radiator ,  it could be a cracked head or head gasket.

[chgr500]

Pressure test the cooling system with the engine hot...usually when a warped head will show symptons....could also do a leak down test on the individual cylinders and check for compression loss...any air bubbles in the cooling system when it's running? ..compession into the cooling system causes bubbles ...milky white on the top of the dipstick isn't uncommon...moisture rises to the highest point...newer vehicles that have a raised portion on the rocker cover for filling oil often have this..especially in the winter...if you have access to a four gas analyzer you can use the sniffer and check for hydrocarbons present in the coolant recovery bottle...just a couple thoughts and good luck!

[hemihead]

 If that's a Turbo job it could be the seal for the turbine .