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I have a 4th gen ’95 with a serious engine problem. It all started about a week ago when the temp gauge went up to about 85% of “all the way” it typically stayed at dead center. After a few minutes it would come back down to center, stay for a few seconds and then swing back up. The engine never did actually overheat and the coolant levels were normal. So I thought “thermostat”. Change it out and still had the same issue, then I thought temp gauge sensor, or engine temp sensor. Bought the new sensors but before I installed them my son took it out, only ran it for about ten minutes, when it blew up! He said the temp gauge was doing it’s routine of up and down when all of a sudden the engine started running a little rough then he heard a POP! and tons of steam came out from under the hood and engine started knocking and chugging and then died, He was on the highway near our house so he shut off the key threw it in neutral and coasted off the highway and into a parking lot.There is coolant in the oil, bubbles and murky brown on the dip stick, under the radiator cap and under the oil cap. There is also coolant pooling in the air breather tube, the large black plastic one that connects the filter box to the intake. He said he did not notice steam coming out of the exhaust, then again he was in panic mode and focusing on getting off the highway. I’m 53 and a shade tree mechanic at best from the 80’s and don’t normally work on engines but I rebuilt 2 in my teens. Is it possible for the intake manifold gasket to blow? I’m going today to rent a compression tester to hopefully eliminate a blown head gasket or cracked head or block. If I still have compression then maybe it is not a total loss. Any advise before I move forward with diagnosing or attempt a repair?
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I’m going today to rent a compression tester to hopefully eliminate a blown head gasket or cracked head or block. If I still have compression then maybe it is not a total loss. Any advise before I move forward with diagnosing or attempt a repair?
I would think a leak down test on each cylinder would be more informative.Did you notice any coolant in the oil prior to this? Or was it checked recently? I’m thinking the head gasket possibly blew out some time ago and began mixing overtime, oil lost its lubricity and engine failed.
Yes I checked it last week it was just dirty but no water so I bought New oil and filter, just hadn’t gotten there yet. I’m doing compression and leak down testing tomorrow. We’ll see what that reveals. Still puzzled on how so much coolant got in the air intake tube. It was literally pooling in the MAF. And if it is just a blown head gasket, why did it bellow steam out from under the hood when it happened and died?
I don’t think a head gasket blowing would be so dramatic. Seems like a cracked head or block would do that. It is a bit puzzling to me unless there was some kind of material failure in the metal.
I guess coolant could get into the intake hose via the PCV system or a breather if enough coolant made it into the oil passages.
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