OK, I have spend hours reading all the Northstar overheating/head gasket/coolant /etc. threads. I get that the '97-'99 are probably the worst, etc. But obviously there are some northstars that are fine, even from that year range. So here are my symptoms, and am wondering how long do I have before the engine just stops:
Stats: '97 Deville, Florida car until 2 years ago, now in Michigan, had 35K miles in 2007, 2nd owner put 30K miles in a year and a half, I bought it a year and a half ago with 71K miles, and now have 90K miles, runs well in general.
1. Always smell coolant in the garage after parking it, even when I bought it.
2. Had coolant changed at 72K miles at Massey Cadillac with 3 pellets (should have done all 6).
3. Need to add coolant every month or two.
4. Recently, runs sort of rough from cold for about 10 sec., then fine.
5. Around town, runs about 201 degrees.
6. Flat freeway at about 70 mph, about 203-205 degrees.
7. As soon as I get into it, or have an extended slope, temp starts to climb pretty fast...up to about 230, then the fans kick on, then cools right back down to 200 or so.
8. Sometimes have a coolant puddle on the garage floor, sometimes not.
9. Local garage mechanic said he sees it leaking from the pass side head, but said just drive the damn thing and add coolant as needed...could go 1 month, could go 5 years.
10. As long as I drive it like a senior, seems to hover around 203 degrees, but I worry about any traffic jams or freeway slopes.
So my question: if I change the coolant every year with 6 pellets, oil every 4K miles, add coolant every month, baby it as much as I can, etc., how long do I have before it totally blows?