Hi,

I do have a charger with a 426 Hemi engine. It is a 1996 crate engine. It started leaking water on the drivers side cylinder head gasket in the front direction to the power steering pump. It only leaked when the engine was cold. After it warmed up it stopped leaking. It didn't use a lot of water so I didn't worry to much about it.

While my car was at a local repair shop sometime ago they freshend up the cosmetic on my engine. And sealed the the waterleak from outside due to partly painting the engine. Since that time the water can't run out of the engine anymore. But the leak must be still somewhere as the gasket hasn't been changed.

I didn't drive the car for a while but noticed now that it has a water consumption of around a quart on a 100 miles. So I have to add up water regulary. I drove now already 1.000 miles this summer, it hasn't gotten worse

Is the water going into the combustion chamber?
Is it a 426 Hemi specific problem?
Any idears what is happening?
How risky is it to continue to drive?

Carsten