Blown Headgasket?

[Jutboy]

Hello all,
I was driving home the other day in my 99 Legacy Limited (2.5 Auto) and the car stuttered off. I tried to restart without any success. I then noticed smoke coming out from under the hood...pushed the car home...opened hood, coolant everywhere. Oil short 1 quart. Pulled radiator, no oil in what was left of coolant but a bunch of oil? sludge at the bottom. Oil (Tranny I think) lines didn't leak at all when I pulled them off the radiator?

I don't have anywhere to drain the oil yet so I'm working on that....basically I'm not sure where to go from here. I don't know why would coolant spray everywhere? How do I actually confirm its a head gasket, which side etc.

I'd appreciate any help - Justin

[lucas]

all your hoses are ok? maybe one got a small crack or hole? when you pull the dip stick whats it look like?

[kimokalihi]

This sentence doesn't make sense no matter how many times I read it: "Pulled radiator, no oil in what was left of coolant but a bunch of oil?"

[lucas]

idk man. just trying to help.

[Jutboy]

All the hoses and the radiator (as far as I can tell) looks perfect. When I pulled the radiator out, I poured out the remaining coolant (half a gallon) and it was clean (no oil in it) but at the very bottom, the last bit to come out had this sludge (not 100% sure it was oil, it was brown and thick). Haha...my original sentence was nonsense.

[Legacy777]

Here's what I'd suggest doing.

Pull the thermostat out, put the housing back on, and put the radiator & hoses back in. Then fill the cooling system with the garden hose and see where it leaks. That should help you narrow down where the problem is.