Coolant Leak

[canderson]

Originally Posted by vctr

It must be a **** of a leak if it's making it to the floor.

Not if it's a freeze plug instead of a head gasket.

Makes perfect sense, and I'm still sticking to my story on this one (for now!)

[budmelon]

Hello all,

Update on my fix. Well, it wasn't the head gasket after all. What a relief! It was some kind of gasket around the engine block? I don't quite understand their write up but it was still quite a bit of work for them to fix that gasket. Happy ending.

Thanks again everyone for your help.

[skoot]

I have my 2009 Sante Fe in the shop now with a similar problem. The only way they found out about the leak was that coolant had gotten into the 1st cylinder but not into the oil. We originally had gone in with flashing engine light and rough engine. (diagnosed as engine misfire and when they pulled the plugs, saw the coolant on the plug). I'm a bit mystified how this can happen on a vehicle with under 90,000 km.

[canderson]

It shouldn't, and we don't see it here to speak of, but if it's a head gasket, you're lucky there wasn't any migration to the oil. When that happens, you get what looks like a chocolate milkshake in the block, and the stuff doesn't lubricate for crap. Hope you were the original owner with the full engine warranty!

[skoot]

The dealer is replacing all the gaskets under warranty.

[skoot]

now, here's my question....now that they have replaced the gaskets, do I dump the vehicle? I've only had it for 2 weeks and it was a certified used vehicle from the dealer. All my friends are telling me to get rid of it, (still can with the no questions asked return policy) as they say that its probably a lemon and who knows what other problems are going to occur next due to this major repair. I have the extended warranty, but I can't be bringing this to the shop every other week if more problems are going to occur. Would love some opinions from other Sante Fe owners or those in the know.....thanks

[skoot]

Now here's my question....after all the gaskets have been replaced, do I dump the vehicle? This was a certified used vehicle from a dealer and I have only had it for 2 weeks. My friends are telling me to return it and get something else, because we don't know what other problems are now going to occur after this repair. I have the extended warranty, but I can't be bringing this to the shop every other week if more problems are going to occur. I would really like some input as this was supposed to be a reliable vehicle from all reviews I have read, but I'm not too impressed when the head gasket blows the first day I own it. Would love some input from other Limited owners and those in the know.....this is my first Hyundai (have driven a Mazda for the past 9 years with nary a problem) Thanks.

[johnaauld]

Originally Posted by skoot

Now here's my question....after all the gaskets have been replaced, do I dump the vehicle? This was a certified used vehicle from a dealer and I have only had it for 2 weeks. My friends are telling me to return it and get something else, because we don't know what other problems are now going to occur after this repair. I have the extended warranty, but I can't be bringing this to the shop every other week if more problems are going to occur. I would really like some input as this was supposed to be a reliable vehicle from all reviews I have read, but I'm not too impressed when the head gasket blows the first day I own it. Would love some input from other Limited owners and those in the know.....this is my first Hyundai (have driven a Mazda for the past 9 years with nary a problem) Thanks.

For the most part these are very reliable vehicles. I think it is all luck of the draw. I wouldn't get all upset since they seemed to have taken care of you. BTW- I've had Mazda's that have given me grief in the past too-so there are no perfect vendors.

[budmelon]

Originally Posted by skoot

Now here's my question....after all the gaskets have been replaced, do I dump the vehicle? This was a certified used vehicle from a dealer and I have only had it for 2 weeks. My friends are telling me to return it and get something else, because we don't know what other problems are now going to occur after this repair. I have the extended warranty, but I can't be bringing this to the shop every other week if more problems are going to occur. I would really like some input as this was supposed to be a reliable vehicle from all reviews I have read, but I'm not too impressed when the head gasket blows the first day I own it. Would love some input from other Limited owners and those in the know.....this is my first Hyundai (have driven a Mazda for the past 9 years with nary a problem) Thanks.

Just want to let you know that ever since the dealer fixed the gasket, we had no problems.

Never crossed my mind that we got a lemon. I had gasket failed on me before and it is really a simple fix.

Hope that helps.

[fatabbot]

Originally Posted by skoot

Now here's my question....after all the gaskets have been replaced, do I dump the vehicle? This was a certified used vehicle from a dealer and I have only had it for 2 weeks. My friends are telling me to return it and get something else, because we don't know what other problems are now going to occur after this repair. I have the extended warranty, but I can't be bringing this to the shop every other week if more problems are going to occur. I would really like some input as this was supposed to be a reliable vehicle from all reviews I have read, but I'm not too impressed when the head gasket blows the first day I own it. Would love some input from other Limited owners and those in the know.....this is my first Hyundai (have driven a Mazda for the past 9 years with nary a problem) Thanks.

It's just a headgasket, not an unheard of issue on any car. It shouldn't lead to any additional problems unless the failed gasket was a result of severe overheating, etc. or the repair was not done correctly.

As for it (coolant) not making it into the oil, if it was in the cylinder, it was in the oil.