Could it be a head gasket??

[20BlackLS00]

The cars temp gauge goes up halfway and stops it doesnt get any hotter. Also from the back of the engine there is smoke and it smells like something burning. the hose in the center of the engine below the intake manifold was blown off. The car has no air pockets in it and still has no heat. The coolant resevoir and the thermostat have been replaced. Any information from some one who of may had this problem or knows anyting related to it. Also the fans are working fine and the car doesnt leak and keeps good pressure. I have no idea why it gets up to halfway and jsut doenst get any hotter, my dad thinks its the beginning of a headgasket but id like some other help so any would be great thank you

 

[Wicked_LS]

if the smoke from the exhaust smells sweet it is a head gasket. i know this because i have a roots blown 3.8 mustang all v6 mustang supercharged t bird sc and cougar supercharge no about these lol.

 

[Wicked_LS]

another way to tell is check all your plugs if 12345678 plugs are dirty then no headgasket problem but if a couple are very clean and the rest are dirty then that head gasket is blown

 

[Wicked_LS]

hope that helps

 

[LincolnTech38]

If the dual coolant control valve is stuck closed it wont allow any hot coolant to get to the heater core.

The car will not overheat because the coolant just bypass internall in the valve and returns the the radiator.

I would be considering that before a head gasket. If a headgasket was blown you would have white smoke, overheating, hard starting, compression in the coolant system...etc.

Jay

 

[2001LS8Sport]

Excellent point Jay. Maybe his temp gauge is working perfectly and the problem exists where you suggest.

I might also add that before I EVER pulled a head for a suspected gasket failure, I would do a leak down test...unless there was no doubt the gasket had failed. If it's got a bad gasket, leaking the motor will show it.

You can also do a poor man's leak test. Adapt a compression gauge hose to your air compressor. Use a regulator to regulate the air pressure. Put the piston on exact TDC compression stroke and introduce air to the cylinder. You will be able to hear the air escape where the chamber isn't sealing. Just make sure your piston is at exact TDC, or the air will shove the piston down the bore.