1999 Jeep Cherokee Blown Gasket Head?

1999 JEEP CHEROKEE
13,900 MILES • 6 CYL • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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ECLECTICDEB
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About 1.5 years ago, my radiator leaked and overheated. I had it replaced, along with the hoses (I think). All was well.

About 5 days ago, my boyfriend thought he saw a leak under the engine, but we could not find the source. 2 days ago, I heard the engine "hissing" after driving home from work, the top radiator hose was the culprit. Drove the car 2 miles to the shop -- it got hot, but NEVER overheated.

They replaced the hose, but then told me I had a "blown gasket head". They did a "sniifer" test (???)and found 220 PPM HC in the coolent.

The car runs great. No problems, the oil looks good, and no anti-freeze smell coming from exhaust. Should I be worried?
Mar 6, 2008 at 1:29 PM
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MASTERTECHTIM
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if your car runs fine and does not overheat, nor loses coolant. i think your mechanic needs a sniffer test. im not saying hes crazy but it sounds like you have no symptoms of blown head gasket. i would keep driving it until you do. hope this helps
Mar 6, 2008 at 2:14 PM
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ECLECTICDEB
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First off, thanks for the quick reply. My BF and his gearhead buddy think that the repair shop saw me as an easy "blonde" target.

Should I take the car somewhere else for an another opinion? Are there other tests that can be run? What are the symptoms that I shoujd look for?

I'm terrified of being stranded somewhere. I use the heck out of the Jeep (skiing, camping, bike trips). It's been a real workhorse so far.....
Mar 6, 2008 at 2:21 PM
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MASTERTECHTIM
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first of all, why they ran a sniff test after replacing a hose is beyond me. the signs to look for are #1 overheating, is the gauge in the same spot it always was? 2 is the radiator boiling over(antifreeze leaking out of radiator overflow tank)? 3 are you using coolant(have to keep filling the overflow reservoir)? if those things are ok then you have no signs of bad head gasket. hope this helps
Mar 6, 2008 at 2:30 PM
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ECLECTICDEB
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They claim they ran it because the engine obviously overheated -- said that the temp guage did not matter, the fact that the hose split and was hissing was "proof" that it overheated. Whatever. :-)

1) No overheating prior to "hissing" hose. Now that that has been replaced, things are fine.
2) Radiator was not, and is not, boiling over.
3) Not using coolent.

Whew. Thanks so much for your help.
(I think I'm going to find another car shop.)
Mar 6, 2008 at 2:59 PM