Head Gasket

I have a 97 lt1 and i was letting it idle.Came back out seen coolant everywhere and seen i had busted a upper radiator hose?But it sounds like popcorn popping in my radiator when i get's hot or i turn it off.Now it's running out i changed thermostats to see if it was that still does the samething.I even took it out it just heats up slower.I have coolant bubbling back up and my collant tank is full.My friend said it's bubbling back up cause the head gasket is blown in the center of the head.My oil and stuff still looks fine for now.If it's ok my work is like 5 mins from my house.I was going to drive it straight there and back tomorrow to see if i can get it milky or something.I haven't had time to do a compression test cause by time i get off it's cold and dark.Is it anyother way to find out.There is no loss in performance yet.

You can borrow a coolant pressure tester from AutoZone, O'Reilly's, etc., Then use it to apply 20 psi pressure to the cooling system to see if the pressure holds.

if it doesn't first look for a leak somewhere, like a hose, radiator, heaterr core. If pressure doesn't hold and no leak is seen, could very well be a head gasket.

The Factory Service Manual lists another test I can look up for you if you need me to.

Jake

yes please if you don't mind

not all head gasket failures will cause milky oil you might just have a failure that goes from a coolant hole to the combustion chamber which would cause your symptoms is it safe to drive not really because you could hydro lock the motor and bend a rod or you could cause the failure to expand and then water in the oil can kill the bearings

Several other things are listed to be checked:

Blocked/obstructed radiator (debris)
Faulty Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor
Incorrect concentration of coolant/water
Damaged water pump drive shaft
Stuck thermostat
Missing/damaged air deflector
Inoperative cooling fans
Defective radiator filler cap
Cracked: plenum, throttle body, cylinder block
Leaks (several different locations)

Jake