Check the engine oil for signs of overheating and white foam which indicates water in the oil. Pull the oil fill and inspect the underside for water droplets. Remove the pressure cap on the header bottle and look for bubbles which indicates a combustion pressure leak into the cooling system. Look at the exterior of the motor for caked on oil, if there are any external oil leaks and the motor overheated the oil would have burned. Look at the cooling system hoses for any that were recently replaced which would hint at an overheat. In general the most common reason the head gaskets are blown is if the engine was overheated. Other tests are a combustion leak detecter test, compression test of each cylinder, PH test of the coolant, pressure test of the cooling system. Typical symptoms of a blown head gasket are coolant blowing out the overflow, rough running, low power, white smoke in the exhaust, water in the engine oil. The symptoms will vary depending on the extent of the damage. In extreme cases the engine will hydrostaticaly lock if enough coolant leaks into the combustion chambers. This does not need to be a deal-stopper, just make an offer taking into account the expense required to replace the head gaskets and associated work. Figure at least 10% more than estimated to be safe as there is always more to be done then you think. David Teitelbaum vin 10757 --- In dmcnews@xxxx, "paulkane45" <paulkane45@xxxx> wrote: > I'm looking at a Delorean here in MN and I have a suspicion that it > has a blown head gasket. Does anyone here have a quick way i can > check on a D without bringing it to a mechanic? > > just wondering > josh