Bad Head Gasket?

[5zigen]

'94 Q45. 88k miles.

the situation:

I am driving my beautiful white Q45 on a hot day, around 90 degrees. While getting onto an on ramp, my power steering belt breaks (edit: this belt is connected to the fan/water pump so this is a big issue) forcing me to get to the side of the road. While this is happening, the temperature gauge goes MAD... it starts rising rapidly and passes the "H"

So at this point I'm at the side of the road, and my engine is just HOT. Coolant in the reservoir is bubbling

I decided to turn the car back on after a little while and go for a drive to my friends house. It's still overheating, and when I get to my friends house the coolant in the reservoir is still going mad

I wait about five hours, then get back in the car and ride home. It begins to overheat again. Turn the car off. Left it sitting for about 3 days then I started it up again, no white smoke from the tailpipe. There is no coolant present in the oil, I checked the oil cap and dipstick. I then let it sit for another 3 days, started it up again and drove for 5-8 mins and the car started overheating again.

When I popped the hood, my car was leaking what is probably ATF. Drove back home and now I'm making this post.

Any leads on what could be wrong? The no coolant in the oil stumps me, but this sure does sound like a headgasket issue.

[DrewQ45]

'94 Q45. 88k miles.

the situation:

I am driving my beautiful white Q45 on a hot day, around 90 degrees. While getting onto an on ramp, my power steering belt breaks (edit: this belt is connected to the fan/water pump so this is a big issue) forcing me to get to the side of the road. While this is happening, the temperature gauge goes MAD... it starts rising rapidly and passes the "H"

So at this point I'm at the side of the road, and my engine is just HOT. Coolant in the reservoir is bubbling

I decided to turn the car back on after a little while and go for a drive to my friends house. It's still overheating, and when I get to my friends house the coolant in the reservoir is still going mad

I wait about five hours, then get back in the car and ride home. It begins to overheat again. Turn the car off. Left it sitting for about 3 days then I started it up again, no white smoke from the tailpipe. There is no coolant present in the oil, I checked the oil cap and dipstick. I then let it sit for another 3 days, started it up again and drove for 5-8 mins and the car started overheating again.

When I popped the hood, my car was leaking what is probably ATF. Drove back home and now I'm making this post.

Any leads on what could be wrong? The no coolant in the oil stumps me, but this sure does sound like a headgasket issue.

I don't see any mention of you replacing the belt. Why are you driving the car at all? When you're overheating, you STOP and shut the engine OFF, period! A tow truck is cheaper than an engine.

Anyway, if you haven't replaced the belt, with no waterpump, your coolant is stagnant and overheating is going to take very little time.

[elwesso]

This thread baffles me. You know that you are running WITH NO POWER STEERING OR WATER PUMP! WHY WOUDL YOU CONTINUE TO RUN THE CAR

at 88k miles, oh the humanity!!! I cant believe this would actually happen. Sorry for going apesh1t on you but you potentially just killed your car and you knew exactly the problem but continued to drive for some reason, and by what you say you didnt have to continue to drive (IE no emergencies).

Some people simply do not deserve to have high tech 32 valve all aluminum racing motors.

[Q45tech]

When an all aluminum engine overheats you must flat bed it to shop IMMEDIATELY..................even a few miles can cause thousands in damage.

There is a fine line between 220F max normal and 300F where internals start degrading. By 350F the aluminum heads are forever changed.

[senatorjames]

This post has to be a goof.

[maxnix]

This post has to be a goof.

Wish it were.

I fear it is not.

[gotspeed]

As i was reading this thread, it felt as if i was watching a horror movie, I cant believe what i was reading. I dont mean to jump on the band wagon, but if i dont vent about it, im gonna overheat like your car. hey ya know that temperature gauge in your car its there for a reason. I just hope that you havent damaged anything. Such a nice engine

[Q451990]

This is painful to read... Q abuse at it's worst... I don't know - maybe a close second to the drifting video/wreck.

Anyway, the ATF is probably your power steering fluid coming out of the resivior - it will overflow if you're using it without the pump running. Time to get a new belt and probably idler pulley. Flush the coolant, change the oil, flush the A/T (it overheated too), flush the p/s fluid - and then see where you are. There's no doubt that your engine is inalterably damaged, but it may still run for a while.

Heath