My car over heated and after it over heated I refilled it again but it was just running out the radiator a little bit. So I was just going to try and make it home until it tried to over heat on me. The temp gauge stayed in the middle like normal the whole time. Then all of the sudden I lost power slowly and it shut off. It won't start and I'm having it towed. Is my head gasket blown or is this possibly a fail safe that it shut off?

 

Most likely death by blown headgasket. Let it fully cool down then try to start it.

 

If it is the head gasket, is it hard to replace? Are there any guides on here to do it?

 

that is relative. if you have good mechanics abilities, its not bad. takes a bit of time, about 8 hours. however, since you have to pull out the head, it is a good idea to take it to a machine shop and have it tested. if it tests ok for cracks, rebuild it. then buy a good head gasket (fel-pro), and a valve cover gasket (fel-pro) and rtv sealant. since you have to remove the timing belt, replace the belt, tensioner and tensor. and the water pump. removing the heads involves 95% of the work needed to replace the water pump. also, the thermostat.

 

Well the shop said the head gasket is definitely blown. There was water on the pistons though he said and that means the whole engine is probably bad he said. What do you guys think? Where should I go from here? I would like to put a whole new engine in it if it calls for that. What route should I go and how should I get a new engine in it? I would like to replace just the head since its blown.

 

Get a quote for a headgasket replacement, and a quote for a 2nd hand engine replacement. Weigh up the pros & cons eg, mileage, vehicle condition, costs etc.

 

Alright thanks for the tips! How will I go about getting a 2nd hand engine? I don't have equipment to pull one or anything.

 

Junkyard from a recent wreck