Replace what?

[Totally5]

My coolant seemed to be going low and brought it to be looked at. They found some coolant sitting on the bottom of my oil fill cap.

So, was told head gasket was leaking. Had the blocked tested twice (with autozones block test thing) both test should no sign of exhaust gases in the coolant. So after talking with the shop about how my Thermostat had so much corrosion that it snapped a while back. They suggested that maybe my water pump had corrosion as well and around the gasket has be corroded and coolant is leaking in through there.

Has anyone seen/heard of this?

Should I go about just replacing the head gasket or water pump?

[TSi4G63T]

have you performed a compression test?

[Totally5]

Yes, the shop performed one. They told it that it didn't seem to be losing any pressure.

[Stephen]

I would start doing some self diagnosis. It may just be a small leak somewhere.

[Totally5]

Do you know which parts could leak into the top?

Also Oil shows no signs of sludging.

Edit:

Originally Posted by TSi4G63T

have you performed a compression test?

I just know understood what you meant after reading your thread, No. The shop did a test on the cooling system itself.

[BISHILVR]

A little bit of moisture on the cap is very normal, unless its showing milky on your dipstick (the cars) lol then I wouldnt worry about any headgasket issues, this is a very popular misdiagnosis by auto parts store flunkies, there is a reason they work there. The first thing I would do is replace your aging radiator cap if its original, they are old and can cause all kinds of problems like this including overheating.

[Sean485]

If the thermostat was corroded THAT badly I would normally suspect either dexcool was mixed in, or a bad HG making the coolant acidic. If you performed the chemical test properly that makes the hg unlikely and unless someone is very ignorant mixing in dexcool is also unlikely so my next thought is simply incredibly poor maintenance of the system over the years.

It needs at LEAST a thorough chemical flush, with several rinses and most likely has enough gunk in the radiator, heater core and hoses that they are probably junk as well.

[TylerLorenz]

A headgasket CAN leak from the Coolant to the Oil without getting through the compression ring. Unlikely, however still possible...

I would say do a Wet/Dry Compression test and post results.

[Totally5]

Originally Posted by BISHILVR

A little bit of moisture on the cap is very normal, unless its showing milky on your dipstick (the cars) lol then I wouldnt worry about any headgasket issues, this is a very popular misdiagnosis by auto parts store flunkies, there is a reason they work there. The first thing I would do is replace your aging radiator cap if its original, they are old and can cause all kinds of problems like this including overheating.

Yea, the oil looks just as it was when I poured it in, a nice gold color. And I have replaced my cap about 7 months ago.

Originally Posted by Sean485

If the thermostat was corroded THAT badly I would normally suspect either dexcool was mixed in, or a bad HG making the coolant acidic. If you performed the chemical test properly that makes the hg unlikely and unless someone is very ignorant mixing in dexcool is also unlikely so my next thought is simply incredibly poor maintenance of the system over the years.

It needs at LEAST a thorough chemical flush, with several rinses and most likely has enough gunk in the radiator, heater core and hoses that they are probably junk as well.

I bought that car used with 120,000 miles on it. It started smoking in a drivethru, once I got it back home. I pulled out the thermostat and saw that one of the arms that hold the spring was completely gone. I replaced it, and the top hose (no one has the correct bottom), and one of the heater hoses due to it exploding, as well I drained and flush the entire system. The radiator is OE, and looks like someone did leak fix on it, I plan on replacing once I can.

Originally Posted by TylerLorenz

A headgasket CAN leak from the Coolant to the Oil without getting through the compression ring. Unlikely, however still possible...

I would say do a Wet/Dry Compression test and post results.

I will have to find a shop to do this, or rent the tool if possible.

[Totally5]

Originally Posted by TylerLorenz

A headgasket CAN leak from the Coolant to the Oil without getting through the compression ring. Unlikely, however still possible...

I would say do a Wet/Dry Compression test and post results.

Had a test done today.

Dry/Wet
First: 185/190
Second:170/190
Third: 160/180
Fourth: 180/190

[BISHILVR]

Thats just fine, plenty enough to run.