MG Car Repair: 1976 MGB, blown head gasket, coolant level

Question
I had just had a lot work done on my MG last year.  I got it out of the garage this year and it started right up.  I drove it around a few times not very long distance and everything has been good.  The other day I was out for about 15 minutes.  turned the car off and it sat for about an hour.  then when i went to drive home, the car got very hot and sputtered a few times down the street from the house.  I pulled in the garage and there was a trail of coolant and what looked like water dripping on the engine.  the engine was very hot and something was making a loud hissing.  I let it sit for a day and tried to start but still makes a loud hissing noise and didnt try to fully start it once i heard the noise again.  any suggestions

Answer
Hi David,

Wait until it is cold and check the coolant level and fill it up and leave the cap off and start the engine. If it blows coolant out right away or the level raises right away shut it off.

You would then need to run a combustion pressure test. If you don't have the equipment you need to get it to a repair shop and not try to run it any more.

It sounds like you have a blown head gasket. Hopefully you have not done any major damage by driving it that way.

I always tell my customers that if you see an oil light come on while driving, you have only seconds to shut off the engine before major damage is done. If you see the engine over heating you only have very few minutes to shut the engine off before you do major damage to the engine.

Howard