I was talkin to my friend this morning, and we started talking about his truck. he says a couple weeks ago, the mechanic looked in the radiator, and the coolant was black. My friend ignored it because he was quoted $90 to replace the fluid. Today his truck wouldnt start. Does this sound like a headgasket gone bad? If not, what else could it be? I told him to check his oil too. Its a 91 toyota truck, he doesnt know what model.

 

anyone?

 

If you pull the oil cap and it has some white-ish frothy stuff, that could be coolent. Coolent could have had a additive sealer put in it that made it darker in color, though. Does he know the last time it was flushed and what has been put in there since? All in all it sounds like it's not a good situation, though.

 

nope, he doest know the last time it was changed. I already told him to check his oil, hes gonna do that tonight.

 

Doesn't know the last time the oil was changed and ignored black coolant?
Is this vehicle new to him or is it not his?

Just curious.

 

Black sounds like its just old coolant maybe with some rust in it. If the head gasket is blown out anywhere there is a coolant passage, the coolant and the oil will look like chocolate milk. I've seen a few blown head gaskets on some 5.0's.

 

he doesnt take good care of the truck at all, he just sees it as a way to get around, nothin more, and its not gonna last to get him around with this way of thought

 

What kinda truck and when do you estimate he will blow the engine? I like trucks that are quickly driven into the ground because there usually isn't much wrong with it and they figure it's totalled, so you can get 'em for about $500 bucks!

 

if anything i think he will wreck it, lol. The other day he ran me off the road, forgot to check his blind spot, and just came right over. He realized what was happening once i was slowing down and halfway off the road and honking at him.