Del

I went outside to play with the dog after work, when I notice there's brown colored liquid on the ground next to the front drivers side tire. After checking out the coolant overflow tank, we (my dad and I) noticed the same color liquid (oil). We came to the assumption that it's the head gasket, but we're not sure. BTW, there's no smoke coming out the exhaust.

I know some of you have had this, and my questions are:

1) Anyone know what it is for sure?

2) How long might it run without being fixed. I just dropped $1500 to fix the water pump and CV axles, so I don't have the $$ to get it fixed, and have no idea whatsoever how to fix it myself.

Oh and as for the liquid on the ground, it just came out the overflow tank, not from the engine itself.

gwhayduke

1. Probably a water/antifreeze mixture.
2. Maybe long enough to drive to a dealer for a trade in (or a bicycle shop) if they are within 5 miles.

I feel for you bud. It seems to be happening to more 3.0 owners all the time.

Del

It looks to dark to be antifreeze/water. It's basically like a root-beer color.

edit - It also threw up lots of antifreeze today. Not sure how much, but the top of the fins inside are pretty much dry. It's going to the Doc tomorrow to get checked out. Hopefully it's nothing...

gwhayduke

Dip your fingers into it and rub them together. Do they feel oily or gritty? Gritty could mean that your radiator or engine block is plugged with rust and crap and you just need to do a good coolant flush. Oil means that the fickle finger of fate chose you this week for a rebuild.