[Headhunter2637]

1993 Seville (Non-Northstar)

I had my engine puke up oil today.

I was driving into work and about 2 blocks away from work, it spiked fro 217 to 235 on the temp. By the time it got parked I was leaking like it was a radiator overheat, then it just spit oil and water all over the place.

I called the local dealer and explained what happened and he said "Are you in love with the car?" No. "then I wouldn't fix it." He said it was the head gasket and it would be a minnium of $2500 - $3000 to fix.

My fear is that the car was not maintained very well before I got the car and even though I did everything I needed to maintain, it's not worth putting in $3000+ to fix it.

First, is it really that expensive?
Second, do I just scrap it and move on?

Any thoughts are apprecaited.

The interior is fantastic, I have Chrome STS rims on with new tires. It looks great for a 18 year old car.

 

[MoistCabbage]

Wow! They must have excellent techs at that dealership if they're able to diagnose a failed head gasket over the phone.
Where is it leaking coolant/oil from? The 4.9 isn't prone to hg failure like the northstar.

 

[stoveguyy]

oil and water at same time? no weird sounds like a rod thru the block? do not think the 4.9 has an oil cooler built into radiator. maybe the radiator side tank blew out. could be a badly cracked block?

 

[Ranger]

A head gasket does not go that suddenly or catastrophically. A leak THAT bad should be easy to diagnose. I would definitely get a second opinion.

 

[Headhunter2637]

Well, it is still sitting in my parking lot, but I am taking it off craigslist.

So... this day has gone by, and I noticed all the crappy oil is drying on the parking lot. I really take a look at this frothy sludge brown crap on the ground.

(first let me say i am not the most mechincally inclined)
So on a whim I check my Oil dipstick. It is just fine. I pull off the radiator cap, There is all kinds of brown sludge sitting in there. Ok, postive news.

I poured more water into the reserve and a stream of dirty sludge water is coming out just to the right of the pullies but from a place I can't see.

I will take it as good news. Now to get it into a shop and see what they have say. (different shop from the first guy)

(I forgot I wanted to lay this down as well, When I got the car it only had 72,000 miles on it. It had set alot before I got it, only driven for about 10 weekends a year for about 2 years. I know better. I should have done a complete flush and fill, not just an oil change and a once over by a mech.)

 

[Ranger]

The brown sludge you are seeing is the cooling system supplement aka sealant tab residue. Judging from the location you gave and the amount of coolant, I would venture to guess it is nothing more than a radiator hose or water pump gasket at worst.

 

[00 Deville]

I noticed all the crappy oil is drying on the parking lot.

Oil doesn't dry... which is good news. I would take Ranger's advice and forget your phone-a-friend.