My '03 has started dripping in the driveway. It makes really pretty designs--green circle in the middle, brown around the edges--usually two or three of them right behind the front bumper. The coolant doesn't smell like hydrocarbons and there's no bubbling when the car runs so it does appear to be an external leak. I had already bought the materials for a timing belt swap, but now I'm wondering if that's even worthwhile considering that if I do need a head gasket set, all my work will be for nothing.
I plan to put in new coolant and conditioner to see if that helps to stop the drip, but I'm wondering how much can be expected from the conditioner. I'm also toying with the idea of doing the head gaskets myself. I have a hoist and I've pulled engines before, but I'm not sure how much of a time commitment a HG swap would be, and I don't know if I need any special tools. Anyhow, to sum it up:
1) How much can I expect from the conditioner?
2) How much time does it take the average home mechanic to do a HG swap?
Thanks
I plan to put in new coolant and conditioner to see if that helps to stop the drip, but I'm wondering how much can be expected from the conditioner. I'm also toying with the idea of doing the head gaskets myself. I have a hoist and I've pulled engines before, but I'm not sure how much of a time commitment a HG swap would be, and I don't know if I need any special tools. Anyhow, to sum it up:
1) How much can I expect from the conditioner?
2) How much time does it take the average home mechanic to do a HG swap?
Thanks