YACT: Overheated engine *UPDATE*

[Sureshot324]

Last friday i overheated the engine on my '92 gmc suburban which was given to me by my parents in late november. This is my first vehicle so i know basically nothing about cars. It overheated because the radiator was very corroded and leaked out all the coolant. I was on a highway and all of a sudden i lost all power (nothing when i pushed the gas, though the engine still seemed to be running). I pulled over and stopped and saw a ton of white smoke coming from the hood.

Anyway, i got it towed to Midas, and once i got it there we discovered that the truck still ran, though not very well. They said that the radiator needs to be replaced, and the heads need to be taken off and replaned. Their estimate for all this was $2920 canadian, though they said once they take the heads off they may find furthur damage (such as valves that need replacing) which will increase the costs. I told them to take the heads off (about $400-500 in labour) and tell me what else is wrong.

So they did that, and called me back and said all the valve guides need to be replaced and i need a new water pump, so the estimate goes up to $3840, incuding the labour to take the heads off which i've already had done. My question is, is this a reasonable price? Or are they taking me for a ride since i obviously don't know much about cars? Also can anyone recommend a good car forum for questions like this?

 

[zixxer]

i fail to see how you drove without coolant without knowing it.





are you female?

 

[CrackRabbit]

At this point you are probably better off junking the car. If the car was overheated that badly there is a good chance the heads have warped or cracked and will cause serious problems if put back on it.
There could also be scoring on the cylinder walls and burned bearings.

 

[kehi]

why didn't you pull over when you saw the temp gauge rising? That is what gauges are for. to watch the vital components of the engine . Manufacturers don't put them in there for nothing



On a brighter note, you are probably better off junking the ENGINE not the whole truck because you can probably get a low miles engine from a salvage yard or even a rebuilt one from many retailers, even Advance Auto Parts and such sells them.


RANT: It amazes me that people today think that once their is an engine problem with the vehicle that it is crap or unfixable. If you want to get a new vehicle then fine, but just because the engine is blown does not mean the vehicle needs to sent to the scrapyard.

 

[Pepsi90919]

$3840 is not a 92 gmc suburban worth.

 

[DougK62]

If you can't do the work yourself then junk it. It'll cost you too much to have a shop do the work.

If you have a friend with a nice garage and tools, you could buy a junkyard engine for ~$500 and put it in over a weekend. It pays to know how to work on vehicles.

 

[Sureshot324]

No i'm not female. But like i said i've only had a car for 2 months, so i'm not very knowledgable, and it had a bad radiator right when i got it.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Sureshot324
No i'm not female. But like i said i've only had a car for 2 months, so i'm not very knowledgable, and it had a bad radiator right when i got it.

And you drove on a bad radiator? Thats one of those bad ideas.

 

[AMCRambler]

Well if the temp gauge is not something you watch all the time, then it's easy to see how you could miss it. Usually a big friggin red light comes on just before it goes lunch though.

 

[Sureshot324]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Sureshot324
No i'm not female. But like i said i've only had a car for 2 months, so i'm not very knowledgable, and it had a bad radiator right when i got it.

And you drove on a bad radiator? Thats one of those bad ideas.

I didn't know it had a bad radiator. I didn't think to check the temp gage, and the only light that i saw come on was the service engine soon light.

 

[kehi]

Usually a big friggin red light comes on just before it goes lunch though.

LOL. Priceless quote

 

[kehi]

the only light that i saw come on was the service engine soon light.

Was this before or after the engine overheated? I suspect before?

 

[amdskip]

I would not drop that much on it. The heads could be cracked and the motor junk. I would find a new motor for it.

 

[Sureshot324]

Originally posted by: kehi

the only light that i saw come on was the service engine soon light.

Was this before or after the engine overheated? I suspect before?

Yes it was before, didn't think it was that big a deal, but i guess now i know better.

 

[Sureshot324]

Originally posted by: amdskip
I would not drop that much on it. The heads could be cracked and the motor junk. I would find a new motor for it.

Is there any way they can check if the heads are cracked? The said they were warped pretty badly.

 

[kehi]

To check the heads for cracks they have to sent to a machine shop and put through a process know as magnafluxing. This involves coating the head mounting surface with tiny metallic particles that show up cracks in the surface

 

[Sureshot324]

They were going to send it to machine shop anyway to replane the heads, so i assume they will check for cracks as well. The reason i'm considering putting this much money into it is because my parents already put $3000 into fixing it up right before they gave it to me, still not sure though.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Sureshot324
They were going to send it to machine shop anyway to replane the heads, so i assume they will check for cracks as well. The reason i'm considering putting this much money into it is because my parents already put $3000 into fixing it up right before they gave it to me, still not sure though.

GET A NEW MOTOR!!!!! Sheesh, a GM crate motor (brand new) shouldn't cost that much.

 

[Vic]

What I want to know is: WTF are you doing taking that kind of a major repair to Midas for? Their "mechanics" are rarely qualified enough to change brake pads, much less do major engine repair. Before you do anything, get the truck to a REAL repair shop.

Originally posted by: kehi
RANT: It amazes me that people today think that once their is an engine problem with the vehicle that it is crap or unfixable. If you want to get a new vehicle then fine, but just because the engine is blown does not mean the vehicle needs to sent to the scrapyard.

It's a simple equation actually.

A = the cost of the repairs
B = the resale value of the vehicle after the repairs are completed

If A > B, then it's time to cut your losses and junk the vehicle.

 

[blahblah99]

If your car overheats to the point where the head needs to be replaned, the engine is pretty much done for. Get another used engine and drop it in instead. Or better yet, dump the car and get another one.

 

[Sureshot324]

Ok, they told me that putting in a brand new motor would cost $4600 (canadian), all labour and taxes included, and also they found a smaller 305 motor (there's a 350 in it right now) for $850 in a scrap yard, and the total cost of getting that put in would be about $2600, though there would be no warantee and they don't know much about what that motor's been through.

 

[mcvickj]

I would get a quote in writing for the "out the door" cost and then call around. How many miles are on the engine?

 

[NutBucket]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get to another shop. I'm willing to bet you can get a crate engine (or at least a rebuild) put in for maybe $3500 total.

 

[Heisenberg]

Yeah, find a good local shop to do the work. I wouldn't trust Midas to change oil let alone drop a new motor in.

 

[Toastedlightly]

This could be a learning opertunity....