Our '04 Silhouette started overheating I believe due to the 2nd fan not working. The repair shop said the head gasket is now warped, and heat is being sucked into the cooling system. I trust this shop, especially since they don't even do this kind of repair work. The car has 157,000 miles on it, and we were hoping to get a few more years out of it. The repair costs will be more than it'* worth. My question is: Is it safe to drive the car for short distances as long as the temp gauge stays within acceptable limits? Would block sealant or gasket sealant be a temporary fix? I appreciate anybody'* advice/input. Thanks.

They don't even do that kind of work, yet they have come to the conclusion that you have a blown head gasket and your head is warped? What other symptoms have they found?

I would take it to another shop and get a 2nd opinion. Don't even mention that you took it to another shop.

YOU can do a little diagnosing yourself.
1. Check the oil level. Is it normal? Low, Overfull, or is it milky
2. Check the coolant level. Is it normal? Low?
3. Watch your exhaust. Is it smoky? Dark, blue, white? Does it smell sweet? Or like burning oil?
4. What are you seeing on your dash for actual temps? Is it getting high? But in the red?
Most computers will turn one fan on at 212 and the 2nd fan at 226. A/C on should turn them both on regardless of engine temp.

And never EVER use gasket sealant in the cooling system. It will seal other things up and cause more nightmares later down the road.

Your overheating could be caused by a sticking thermostat, clogged radiator(needs flushing), bad water pump.

Mike,
I took it to Tires Plus...they performed a block test(?) and said the dye was pulled into the cooling system almost immediately. The car is definitely running hotter than normal. The temp gauge is just C-H so I don't know what the actual temperature is. I followed your advice on some self diagnosis:
1. Oil level is fine and not milky
2. Coolant level looks ok. A little low in reservoir, it'* hard to tell about the actual radiator.
3. Exhaust looks/smells fine
4. Can't tell actual temps, but I did notice that both fans are working.


The car red lined on my wife, and she got a warning light. It was a hot day (95 degrees), but she turned off the a/c and drove it home (about 5 miles).


We will definitely get a second opinion. I can flush the radiator, but is there a way to test the water pump?
Thanks.

Probably the best way to test the pump is to remove the thermostat, reinstall the housing, remove the radiator cap and start it. You should see coolant flowing inside the fill neck.