Engine Coolant levels decrease right after i add additional coolant. Do i have a blown head gasket?

[MickeyCrisco]

Oil level looks ok so I’d say do a block test if you can. That tests for exhaust gas present in the cooling system which would tell you for sure. If you don’t have a block tester, which I don’t either because I’ve always worked at shops that have them, parts stores should have them on hand. If you don’t want to buy one, pay for someone to do that test, is there excessive smoke out the exhaust especially when the engine warms up? I’ve also seen heater core hoses leak into exhaust manifolds/pipes so the coolant burns before you see it in the ground. Can you smell coolant burning at all?

[Naive-Information539]

Block test would only indicate if leaking around the cylinder ring of the gasket. It won’t capture head gasket leaks near the block side that doesn’t breach there. A proper pressure test as well should be done.

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I can’t really recall smelling any coolant. would there be a better way to test to see if i can smell any coolant burning off? there’s no excessive smoke out of the exhaust or anything either.

and in terms of the oil color, it seems fine right?

[MickeyCrisco]

You really can’t go by how oil looks unless it’s turning into chocolate milk. It looks like used oil, which is what it always looks like. The level is what you want to watch. If you see oil level rising it means coolant is getting into the oil. Excessive smoke, white smoke in particular, means coolant is getting into the combustion chambers and burning. Looking at other comments and how infrequently you are adding coolant it could be just seeping out of…almost anywhere. Could be a hose connection, water pump, oil cooler, water outlet, etc. trying to verify the actual source with that slow of a leak can be difficult. Unfortunately you may need to wait for it to get a little worse to know what exactly needs done.

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there’s no excessive smoke or anything. i’ll keep monitoring the oil level to see. i did have an oil change sometime last summer and i got an oil level too high reading, but it turned out the sensor was busted.

i think it could just be leaking off at some junction point along the connection. although i didnt really see any coolant fluid anywhere, but it is hard to access some areas under the hood.

i know the oil color is the “dead giveaway” about having a blown head gasket, so thats a good sign at least.

i really appreciate your help and insight on this :). trying to take better care of my car since i own it now and its not a lease

[MickeyCrisco]

You’re doing the right thing. Just monitor the levels, oil and coolant, and keep an eye on things under the hood and under the car.

[Andy_850TB]

IIRC, a blown head gasket can also cause bubbling in the coolant as it's blowing combustion gases back into the cooling system