Please help me identify the problem

[FFORMULA78]

While at idle, it has a "mini shaking in the car"

While accelerating from a stop, it feels like the engine is weak so i have to press the gas pedal harder to make it go, the car shakes slightly while i do this.

Once i hit about 45 mph and the rpms settle down to about 1300, there is noticeable shaking from under the hood. I have to press hard on the pedal and get the rpms over 2200 to get any power back in the car.

Right now, it burns coolant pretty fast, it runs alright for short trips for about an hour but anything more and it gets hot. I dont drive it longer than that because i dont wanna screw it up. I drive it 90mph every day and it seems alright but it lost most of its low end torque.

Car had head work done to it around April before i bought it. My mechanic said it has an exhaust leak and the engine was going soon and i should replace it. That was about 6 months ago and its still running "alright", just not as powerful as it should.

Could this be something simple like plugs, wires, gaskets, intake, exhaust, fuel delivery, etc. or is it likely something more serious like heads or block? I was gonna do the plugs & wires and maybe the head gasket by a friend. Ive searched all over the forum for similar issues and answers but ive got nothing solid as of yet. Im a mechanical retard so please explain when talking to me :)

[FFORMULA78]

Re: Please help me identify the problem

Here is the work it had done on it in april when i bought it.

"Remove & replace 2 cylinder heads

R*lon 2 Cyl Heads & check all valves 525.00

head gasket set 256.42

install new water pump thermostat & anti*** 145.57

Water Pipe Bolt & S*** for head 14.27

It ran awesome for about 3 weeks than it crapped out. We got it running better in its current condition but it still has noticable power loss and it heats up too easily. My mechanic said in May that it has an exhaust leak from one of the heads, and its getting into the radiator. Its having a big problem with coolant now. He says eventually its going to overheat and the engine will blow. He says they did a bad job when they repaired it originally. Its run alright for like 5 months. I have not ran it hard since the original problem, just too scared. Only transportation right now.

[CamaroJeff™]

Re: Please help me identify the problem

your mechanic sounds like a real bright one... exhaust leak getting into the radiator? wow.
sounds like a blown head gasket. shaking (dead cylinder), loss of power (dead cylinder) and coolant loss. contrary to what a lot of people may say a blown head gasket dosent always put coolant in the oil, it depends on where the gasket blows. its likely coolant is getting in the cylinder and not allowing for proper combustion. leading to coolant going out the exhaust, not exhaust going into the radiator...

do a compression or leakdown test. itll tell you if a head gasket is bad, which from everything you say thats likely the problem. if youre a mechanical retard you should take it to a professional to have that done... not your "mechanic"...

[FFORMULA78]

Re: Please help me identify the problem

your mechanic sounds like a real bright one... exhaust leak getting into the radiator? wow.
sounds like a blown head gasket. shaking (dead cylinder), loss of power (dead cylinder) and coolant loss. contrary to what a lot of people may say a blown head gasket dosent always put coolant in the oil, it depends on where the gasket blows. its likely coolant is getting in the cylinder and not allowing for proper combustion. leading to coolant going out the exhaust, not exhaust going into the radiator...

do a compression or leakdown test. itll tell you if a head gasket is bad, which from everything you say thats likely the problem. if youre a mechanical retard you should take it to a professional to have that done... not your "mechanic"...

I might have said it wrong. He's not an idiot. It was a while ago but i think he said exhaust leak which caused the problem, causing coolant from radiator leaking into the head, not the other way around which i may have said. So if its a blown head gasket, just replace the gasket? Or ??