[Captain Slow]

I was out with my family on the esteem, On my way back there was a loud HISS sound and I could see something leak from the car with a lot of pressure! This leak and hiss was coming from the right side.

I thought I had a flat but then once I pulled over to the side I found all the tyres to be fine.
Opened the hood and thats when I saw what had happened! There was some kind of liquid all over the place. I don't know what it is, its everywhere all over the engine and I think this is the stuff that produced the hiss sound and leaked all over.
I was also getting a burning smell.

Next thing I check for fuel leaks. NO fuel leaks anywhere.

Then I check the coolant reservoir. Now this was bad news No.2

There was no coolant there! but some sticky brown liquid! It was like mud+water. This was also leaking from the underbelly of the car.
This same liquid must also be inside the radiator.

We drove really slowly to the nearest bunk, which was near Trident hyundai. The guys at the bunk were helpful they clean the coolant reservoir and fill it up with water.
We start moving this time I'm driving at 20-30KM i can hear all kinds hissing sounds and also the burning smell increase.

Thats it for me, We abandon the car and came home!

I took a couple of pictures posting them now. They aren't so clear but I hope you guys can make out.

The car is still out there. I'm going back in a while (today) (tonight) to check on it and see if I can bring it back home.
Is it safe for me to be driving the car back? Its about 2KM away from my house.

[nirmaljusdoit]

Captain - Since the coolant seems to have leaked out, would advice caution on driving it back since the lack of coolant may cause severe engine overheating and damage as a result.

You can explore the option of towing back the vehicle to your place or calling the Maruti on - road service to come and take a look.

If it helps, i have the helpline number of Pratham Motors --> 9880538386.

All the best ! Hope no major problem !

[Captain Slow]

The first picture is of the front bumper. The stuff on it is from the reservoir and the radiator. Its sticky and really thick! Looks like oil+ with coolant?

[CrackedHead]

The mud + water thing in the radiator/reservoir means that you have a head gasket leak (at the very least).

The engine's head with have to be opened up and checked for damage. The head gasket and the head bolts will have to be replaced if the head is found to be ok.

The timing belt should also be changed since it will have to be removed and refitting is not advised.

Engine oil will have to be replaced as well.

[manikjeet]

your Head Gasket is gone and your engine will require a mini/micro overhaul

[monster2]

First thing, Check the Engine oil level, when you check that if you find bubbles in oil( Water bubbles in oil)Do only when the engine is cold} That means = head gasket needs to be replaced, or just simply get your radiator removed, check where to they clean radiator(radiator specialist), Get it cleaned hardly charge 100 Rs, replace with complete new coolant with distilled water, that's it, in case that doesn't help plz check cooling fan fuse if fan is working.

[PAVAN KADAM]

DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR for more than few meters.

Tow it if possible.

Possible headgasket failure.

If driven for long in its present condition, your possibilities of spending more bucks becomes brighter.

Nothing to worry about the engine, just get the headgaskets changed, change the timing belt and do a valve grinding.

OR

Your valves might have got damaged in due course. Replacing new valves also is not pricey.

An authorised service centre will give you an exact details if otherwise.

We are waiting, please let us know.

[blackasta]

is that brown coffee like thing engine sludge?

[nitrous]

^^Looks like Muddy water.

[SirAlec]

I guess you are also one of many who thinks Instrument Cluster is a decorative piece with lights and stuff.

Before the car went to this state the Temp Needle must have gone horribly crazy to the red side.

ANyway! the damage is already done. what you can do are the following.
DO not try to even start the car. Don't even let the test mechanic do it.
Its a clear case of gasket failure. The sludge thingy is a cocktail of hot oil, coolant and water.
Its a 4.5k job along with labour and parts.

Find a good headwala to do the head job. DO remember almost all M.A.S.S. out source this job.

Here are the parts list
1. Head Gasket
2. timming belt
3. Valve set along with springs (springs are optional)
4. Head polishing and porting.
5. tappet cover gasket.
6. Engine Oil and Coolant
7. Also do check condition of water pump.

[ghpk]

SirAlec, Wow you have the complete List of things to be repaired/replaced.

Captain Slow seems offline at the moment, I am worried if he read the warnings before going to give it a try.
Running a car with leaked gasket would certainly multiply the expenses.

[musicmanaman]

Everyone seems to be pointing towards Headgasket, can someone tell me what it is? and where it is usually found in a car? and what's it's function?

[samsag12]

Originally Posted by musicmanaman

Everyone seems to be pointing towards Headgasket, can someone tell me what it is? and where it is usually found in a car? and what's it's function?

Have a look at the pic attached. If you have some knowledge about the car's engine parts then you figure out the answer to your question. Or else read the second part
A headgasket is a major sealing component in the car's engine which seals the gap between the engine(cylinder) head( place where the valves are located, the top most layer of engine just after the head cover) and engine block (the lower part of engine in which the pistons move).
Hope your doubts are somewhat clear.

[mooza]

@Captain Slow, hope you get your ride back soon, hale and hearty after the repairs

I am unable to gather the root cause here. Possible sequence of events :

Possibility 1 : The coolant level (or engine oil level) was already low. The engine heats up excessively, and the head gasket fails / melts

Possibility 2 : The head gasket was nearing the end of its life. It fails first.


Or is there any other root cause ?

[SirAlec]

There can be many combination of reasons. Two of them has already been mentioned by you. Other ones may be failure of thermostat valve. Leakage or breakage hoses

But before your car reaches this state, the temp needle, if its working will definitely show this on the cluster. Many people fail to check that while driving.