# Collant leak//Bad Head Gasket **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** gaskets, coolant, civic, leaks, honda, radiators\ **Created:** [December 16, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/collant-leak-bad-head-gasket/58811 "2010-12-16T23:29:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![penguinche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@penguinche](https://community.cartalk.com/u/penguinche)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/collant-leak-bad-head-gasket/58811/1 "2010-12-16T23:29:13Z")
I recently purchased a 1991 Honda Escort. The very next day I bought new radiator fluid and filled it up. Today (about 3 weeks later) I look down and my engine Temp is way up in the red. When I stop and check my coolant levels there is none to be found. I have never noticed a leak on the ground from my car, or a visual leak on the engine. At times there is light smoke that comes out of the tailpipe. From everything I have read thus far it sounds like a bad head gasket, or at the very least an internal leak. Any ideas on how I can diagnose this myself cheaply? ---
**Author:** ![penguinche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@penguinche](https://community.cartalk.com/u/penguinche)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/collant-leak-bad-head-gasket/58811/2 "2010-12-16T23:30:08Z")
Sorry, meant Civic ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/collant-leak-bad-head-gasket/58811/3 "2010-12-16T23:40:11Z")
You just did! The engine is losing coolant, you see a light smoke coming out the tail pipe, plus the temp gauge is in the red. That’s the indication of a breached head gasket. Tester