Okay so I let someone use my truck (95 runner 3.0 auto with 134k) for a lil while and we got some real cold weather. (here is what I was told). Hey the truck overheated got it to the job and parked it, coolant was pouring out from underneath looks like where the tstat goes. I haven't moved it since.

To prelude this next part I have a 97 yukon that overheated once in the low low temps. I got it home let it sit a few days, added coolant/water and never had the problem again, probably ice in the line or something like that I think/hope.

So I go to the runner on a warmer day above freezing, added water to the rad didn't see anything leaking. Seemed to run normal. Attempted to drive it home. Saw that it was overheating gauge did not show overheating, and pulled it over, still not seeing any leaks. Drove it about 2 miles to where I could park it and have it towed.

Today it is about 50 degrees and I fill the rad with water noticed water running out of tstat location. I check the hose and find broken hose clamps, replace them and no more leak fill er up again and start her up. Without cap on I have steam coming out of rad within a few mins and a lil bubbling. White smoke from exhaust never went away. Gauge readind right around the middle. I put cap on let it run for about 8 mins before shutting if off, good pressure built up in rad but just visual checking.

Only reason I used water is so not to waste money on antifreeze just yet. There is a tad more of a miss than it had before but idles right around 1k.
I am fearing HG, What direction should I go from here for finding out the true problem?

sorry for long post thanks for any help

 

If it continues to bubble after you get it topped off an purged, that is a really bad sign for the headgasket.

Otherwise, check for the milkshake in the oil. White smoke is a bad sign too, does it smell sweet?

 

smoke smells kinda sweet, oil looks normal. We are going back down to the 20s for the next couple days, after that will be messing with it some more.

 

You're leaking coolant into the exhaust stream, and exhaust into the coolant. I am hopeful it is just a blown head gasket.

Is it your guess that you had too little antifreeze, froze a coolant line solid, and then ran out of coolant?

 

Yea I'm thinkin The mix wasn't enough for the low temp while he was driving that day.

 

Anyone else have ideas?