Head Gasket Leaking

[sigi]

On my 88 camry my head gasket is leaking prestone onto the front of the engine only, the car is it 215 000k

Should i change the gasket? or just keep on adding prestone, is it worth it...

If it should be change, ill do it myself i help a friend do it on his pickup, but if you have any tips on changing the head gasket i would apreaciate.

Also have 3 other problems,

-the car hessitates when i start from a full stop, any ideas what could it be??

-the transmission shift hard from 1 to 2 (auto transmission) most of the time (fluid level ok)

-in winter the heating doesn't get very hot, only about after 1 hour of autoroute (but the engine warms up fast)

any ideas about thoses problems would help, thanks

[Wombleman]

Not sure what 'prestone' is? Sorry for ignorance.

If the head gasket is leaking this would also explain your heating problem - do you have to keep topping up the radiator level? If you do then it could be water is escaping through the gasket into the combustion chamber. Check under the oil filler cap for a white substance which looks like mayonnaise - this indicates water is mixing with the oil and a sure fire sign of failure. Also the exhaust will show white clouds (steam).

If you can do the job yourself with your friends then change the head gasket - at 215000km check you don't spend more than the car is worth.

[Wombleman]

Checked it out - Prestone is antifreeze! The wonders of the internet!