Hello auto experts. Well, like I mentioned in the title of this sad country song, I strongly suspect my car has a head gasket issue. It loses anti-freeze but there is no evidence of a leak on the ground so it must leak into the engine block. When I do fill it up with anti-freeze the engine acts as if there is water in the motor.

Now the car does run okay but the anti-freeze level is always low and because of this the heater will not blow warm air. With this information can anyone give me an estimate on replacing the head gasket and any advice on how can "band aid" the problem until I can come up with the funds to pay for this expensive repair. Will stop leak help or buy me any time?

Overheating causes aluminum heads to warp (requiring machining), valves to get damaged, and head gaskets to leak. Repairs may run $2,500. Stay away from all stop leak products.