What indication of blown or crack head gasket in my 2005 caravan

SOURCE: I have a 1991 Dodge

This sounds like a typical head gasket problem. Check the block and make sure it is not warped or cracked if it is not replace the head gasket and your problem should be fixed. Avoid using it this way as you will do more damage and crack the head until it is fixed.

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Often (but not always), a blown head gasket will also cause deposit of water on a piece of cardboard held an inch from the tailpipe output while the engine is running (when this is happening, it is likely that the catalytic converter has been ruined and the muffler will corrode in short order as well).

Sometimes drops of water will be seen dropping from the end of the tailpipe. Another clue: turn on the heater; often when the head gasket is blown an odor of antifreeze and synthetic rubber will emanate from the heater vents.
Many of the symptoms of blown head gasket can be caused by some other problem in the cooling system, without the head gasket being damaged. Conversely, other problems with the cooling system can cause a blown head gasket and/or warped head.

When checking for a blown head gasket, one of the most common tell-tale signs is a milky-gray ring around your oil cap. When coolant enters the engine oil through a crack in the head or through a blown gasket, it evaporates and leaves a milky ring around the oil cap. Another easy way to tell is to check your oil dipstick. Change your oil and pull out the dipstick. Make sure that you take note of how far up the dipstick the oil is. Top off your cooling system and fill your cooling reservoir to the top. Screw radiator cap back on and start engine. Run engine for about 20-30 mins. or until it reaches normal operating temperature. Allow engine to cool (engine must cool completely to get accurate oil reading!!). Check oil dipstick again. If the oil has a watery appearance and has risen noticeably up the dipstick, the you probably have a blown head gasket or a warped head. Also look for a dripping, sweet-smelling liquid coming out of your tailpipe. Any of the above symptoms could be the result of a blown head gasket. The easiest way to tell is with a compression meter. This replaces the spark plug and lets you know what compression each cylinder is running at. If your compression is abnormally low, then you have a blown head gasket or a warped head. (note: consult repair manual for appropriate compression of each cylinder.)

SOURCE: My 2003 dodge caravan SE

i would not sujest doing this kinda work your self if your not into working on engines the only reason i say this is that there is a lot that goes into replacing these gaskets you dont really need any special tools you will need a tourge wrench i would go buy a haynes or chiltons repair manual it will give you step by step instructoins on how to do the repairs and after you read the steps then you should be able to decied weather you want to do the repairs. as far as the cost from a shop would charge normal around 350 to 600 depending on if the head needs to be replaced or machined.

SOURCE: 2005 dodge ram 1500 hemi blown head gasket replacement diy

pcv blockage pcv positive crankcase valve maybe a collapsed hose in your pcv system