VX SS - Dumped coolant - is this a head gasket gone?

[stovepipe]

Hi all,
After some opinions as I'm unsure and worried about doing more damage. Gut feel is I already F'd it. My 2 questions are:
1. Is this probably a blown head gasket?
2. Can I (cautiously) drive at all? 22km to get it to the mechanic.

I recently had a looong overdue service and among the issues they found, was leaking oil (unknown source) and leaking coolant at the head.
A couple days after the service I'm in a carpark and notice this on the ground after reversing into a park.

Seemingly a 1 off and nothing similar in my daily carpark.

Then after about a week and a bit, say 20-30km of driving, I take it for a short drive of a few km's to some shops. The refill coolant light was on, but temp seemed fine. When I arrive home and pull up to drop some stuff at the door, I get out to see my coolant haemorrhaging into the gutter. Video

Other sign was that it has been excessively white smokey or steamy in the mornings compared to other cars while sitting traffic.

 

[accentstencil]

How full is the surge tank when this happens?

 

[krusing]

Could be the -

1. Radiator,
2. Radiator Cap,
3. Hoses between the Radiator to the Engine,
4. Heater Hoses,

Where do you begin with out looking to see whats green & wet under the bonnet.

 

[accentstencil]

Could be the -

1. Radiator,
2. Radiator Cap,
3. Hoses between the Radiator to the Engine,
4. Heater Hoses,

Where do you begin with out looking to see whats green & wet under the bonnet.

LS1 don't have a radiator cap. They have a cap on the surge tank.
Just like a radiator cap, if the surge tank cap is stuffed coolant will leak from the overflow hose, which is on the same side all the coolant in the picture is.

 

[vr304]

Check the colour of your engine oil if it’s a milky colour most likely is a head gasket

 

[krusing]

Didnt know it was a LS1,
its not listed in his ride, as it only says a VU Ute,
Where it could of been modified, and had a L36 or L67 in it, which would of accounted for the Radiator cap and reservoir on that side.

 

[accentstencil]

Didnt know it was a LS1,
its not listed in his ride, as it only says a VU Ute,
Where it could of been modified, and had a L36 or L67 in it, which would of accounted for the Radiator cap and reservoir on that side.

Sorry, I might have jumped to conclusions, I saw "SS" and assumed it would be an LS1.

 

[krusing]

Sorry, I might have jumped to conclusions, I saw "SS" and assumed it would be an LS1.

Oops, I meant VU SS

 

[stovepipe]

Ah yes it is a VU SS (Gen III) (I just say VX because people usually get confused when I say VU). I thought they were the same under the bonnet.

Did you guys see the video I linked showing the coolant overflow(?) tank where is seemed to be leaking from?

Can I just check the engine oil colour with the dipstick or is that not enough? Oil is only about 2wks old (about 25km).

More info that might help:
It's a new radiator that was replaced about 6mths ago.
Shortly after I brought it back and they found a leak at the heater tap, now replaced.
There's been a slow(er) coolant leak ever since (but still better than how bad it leaked before I got it replaced).

 

[accentstencil]

Didn't see the video until you pointed it out.
What is the level of coolant in the surge tank when cold? If it is too high coolant will flow from the overflow hose but if the surge tank cap is stuffed it will leak from the cap which it seems to be doing in the video.
I suggest trying a new surge tank cap.

I will probably get some arguments about this but most people use the red coolant in the LS1.