Symptoms of a 1999 Pontiac Montana Blown Head Gasket

A constant cloud of white smoke coming from your Montana's exhaust pipe points toward a blown head gasket.exhaust fulmes image by bilderbox from Fotolia.com

If you drive a 1999 Pontiac Montana and suspect your vehicle's head gasket is blown, there are several signs that can confirm your suspicion. If your vehicle is displaying any of these symptoms, it is important that it be serviced by a qualified mechanic, as a blown head gasket can create serious problems for your vehicle's engine.

Bubbles in Coolant

If you suspect that your 1999 Pontiac Montana has a blown head gasket, check for bubbles in the radiator's coolant. This should be done only after the vehicle has cooled down, to avoid serious personal injury. After removing the radiator cap, start the engine. If bubbles are visible in the coolant in the radiator, the head gasket may need to be replaced. This applies only to the radiator, not the plastic coolant overflow container.

Keep a close eye on the vehicle's fluids. It is common for a Pontiac Montana with a blown head gasket to have problems with its coolant or oil levels. Check the oil level regularly. If coolant is mixed in with oil on the dipstick, it is a sign of a blown head gasket. Also monitor the vehicle's coolant level. The presence of oil in either the coolant overflow container or the radiator is another sign of a blown head gasket.

All vehicles have white vapor coming out of their tailpipes when they are first running on a cold day. After the engine heats up, the white vapor usually goes away. If your Pontiac Montana has white smoke coming out of the tailpipe all of the time, regardless of the temperature or how long you drive it, it is from a blown head gasket. The blown gasket allows coolant to make its way into the engine's cylinders, where it boils and turns into a gas, then is pushed out of the engine and into the exhaust. The presence of coolant in the engine's cylinders makes the oil less effective at preventing engine wear.

If your 1999 Pontiac Montana suddenly feels sluggish, it could be from a blown head gasket. Because the head gasket helps to keep the engine pressurized, a broken seal can allow air to enter the engine from places other than the air intake. The extra air in the engine's cylinders means the fuel does not burn as efficiently, causing power loss.