Can a car have a blown head gasket & NOT overheat?

[93 Camry]

The oil was sludge and there was that smell of radiator fluid mixed with oil.

Even with a bad radiator, I drove the car nearly 30 miles to a mechanic and it didnt overheat. Radiator fluid bubbled out of the crack on the top of the radiator but the car didnt overheat.

The seller is willing to take the car back or pay for repair. Naturally, he is cheering for a second opinion. The oil was sludgy after I checked out the car the day after I got it. When I first looked at the car, the oil was fine. I bought the car 3 days after looking at it.

Last fall, the seller had the timing chain replaced and claimed they reccomended to go ahead and change the water pump as well. When the radiator started leaking he decided to sell it. He even sold it with a new raditor in the trunk but didnt have time to have it installed.

I paid $2400 for it with 151000 miles and absolutely pristine condition.

The seller is getting a second opinion on the head gasket and is claiming that because it wont overheat, its not blown. I am convinced its blown and have a mechanic ready to do an used 2.2 engine swap for $1200.

[Tercel GTS]

Does this car have an oil/water cooler under the filter? If yes that's a possible mix spot. The gasket can be blown allowing the oil/water to mix, but without running hot that's very rare on a toyota. Contact the shop that did the repairs and ask the tech what he can remember about the car. By the way, that car should have a belt, not a chain.

[93 Camry]

Originally Posted by Tercel GTS

Does this car have an oil/water cooler under the filter?

I have no idea.

[Tercel GTS]

Look at it, are there 2 small water lines going under the filter?

[amerikim]

Yes its possible, why not? As long as you have coolant running through the cooling system.So keep topping it off. However the engine is taking a beating if its getting coolant in the oil. If it is a headgasket, change it out soon because it gets worse.
Also, you may have a cracked block or head though. If your oil went sludge in one day, seller probably already knew something about it.
Don't guess, see a mechanic.

[karazy]

A car won't necessarily overheat with a blown gasket, but you should get the telltale plume of white exhaust smoke. Seeing how you can't pressure check with a cracked rad, it will be a little more difficult to find.

[Beaver]

Mine has a blown ghead gasket and does not over heat if I keep my coolant topped up.

[fredk]

it sure can

[ArmyofOne]

blown head gaskets play hell on rod bearings. the coolant will not lubricate.

[93 Camry]

My mechanic has a 2.2 from a 93 Camry with 60,000 miles. He figures he can do a swap for $1000 as he got the motor for around $500. He will check out the motor and likely do a swap on Tuesday. The seller had his neighbor sell the car for him. His neighbor is not a full pledged mechanic - he just cleaned it up, changed one of the rotors, changed some of the tires and sold it. The only time it was driven to my knowledge was when he delivered the car to me. When I first saw the car, I couldnt test drive it cause of the bad rotor. I checked the oil, started up the motor and did a basic visual. When I finally drove it, it ran fine but it had a leaking radiator which he told me beforehand. As I mentioned, he had brand new Modine radiator in the trunk and didnt have time to install it and took a $100 off the price to let me do it.

The seller is obviously trying to hope for the best in that he wants a second opinion and opt for a low ball head gasket change but if the head is cracked and this has been a long term condition, I would rather swap the motor.

Thanks for the input.

[ArmyofOne]

IF the head is cracked. toyota heads are pretty tough. takes alot to crack one. i would say replace the headgasket, since they go on most motors at one time or another, and machine the head.

[93 Camry]

Originally Posted by Tercel GTS

Look at it, are there 2 small water lines going under the filter?

Just checked and it does.