Ok, I have a new water pump, new thermostat, new radiator/w cap. When I drive, the car's temperature on the gauge is always on cold and slowly rises up to the low range after a ride on the highway. However, the fan doesn't come on, and the coolant is low. The car, after a highway drive, will also start to run rough and sputter white smoke. Coolant overflow tank is usually max or slightly above max level. Ia m thinking I have a bad head gasket, but when I looked under the cap I didn't see literally chocolate milk. I just saw dark brown oil as normal. I am trying to figure out if I have a bad head gasket or a cracked head. Help!

Some new developments.

Tested Radiator Fan and it works when I jump it.

When I turn on the AC, Radiator fan doesn't come on.

 

I like what you say. it could be your head gasket if its burning out white smoke.

 

100% Head Gasket Man i had same problem and the head studs were losse..and it would do same..when the white smoke comes out and starts to sputter..Means a ton of antifreeze goes into cylinder and burns

 

Head Gasket.
I had a similar problem recently, coolant overflow tank was always maxed or really high and white smoke - mostly at high rpm. Occasional over heating when stopped. Oil looked normal. Mine also had a rough/roaming idle and sometimes shook real bad on start up. Replaced the original head gasket (which actually didn't even look bad) with 200k miles on it and now she runs perfectly haha.

 

ok dude im gonna help ya out, now crank the motor and let it run for a while, or drive it till its warm and then once its warm let it keep running and open the over flow but keep the little hose in the coolant and look for bubbles if their are alot of bubbles then bam youve gotta blown headgaskit

 

Or it could be whopped head, make sure before you put on new headgasket send the head to machine shop to check it out if it need to be machined.

 

get your head resurfaced by a machine shop.

 

chances are if its a motor that hasnt never been cracked open before its not gonna be the head, im 80% sure its the headgasket