I have a 2000 Chevy Blazer LT 4x4 4.3 engine. Today I was changing my oil and filter and behold the oil is orange looking and smells like gas....I can safely assume I have a blown head gasket or two. Now at my age and phy condition I don't feel I'm up to the challege of changing it out..so having said what would be a round ball park figure for a garage to do it...I use to do all my own work so I'm not use to taking my vech's to the mech shop. Any help would be appricated.

 

if it smells like gas and is an orange color. I would suspect the fuel pressure regulator/injector assembly.
You will need to rent a fuel pressure tester if you do not have one and test it.

Key on engine off, pressure should be around 62psi and hold above 55psi for 10 minutes.


if it was a head gasket, you would most likely have coolant in your oil, and it would be the color of a milk shake.

 

I would suspect the lower intake manifold gaskets are leaking internally, (very common on 96 and newer 4.3L). Head gasket issues on this engine are not common, unless you run low on coolant and cook it! If that's the case, you'd most likely have a rough idle and some serious steam from the tailpipe.

As Rich mentioned, check fuel pressure and leakdown first, (it's free). If that comes back OK, pressure test the cooling system and watch for the pressure to drop.

 

Thanks for the info, I will take it down to the mech who installed the fuel pump about a yr ago and yes it was the good one. It runs great, no ruff idle or smoke out the tail pail pipe except your usual start up mosture (sp). However I do seem to have a coolant issue (I'm always adding) and I really don't go anywhere with it anymore since I bought the 2011 Nox in 2011, I haven't put a thousand miles on it since then. Had 106K and still does....I will get back to you with the results. Either way I'm not fixing it, my mech will....Thank you all very much for your info...

 

Well got the Blazer back from the mech and he "SAID" everything if fine....He put it on a computer and it all came back fine no issues what so ever with the fuel reg and any thing leaking like the intake...He has no answer for the color of the oil and it might have just turn that color for what ever reason's....I do use Pensoil (sp) hign mileage 5W 30 as the book calls for. I have been using this kind of oil for 10 yrs and no problems no do I use any in between changes...have a small leak around the oil lines...not enough to get upset about. Now the blazer does sit alot and isn't run all that much, I try to at lest start it once a week and take it on a 20 mile drive to get it up to operating temp and shifting the gears...No smoke, use's a little anti-freeze (Living in a dry climate wate type stuff evap pretty fast , Az). I think maybe its trade in time...

 

"it might have just turn that color for what ever reason"


id take it to another shop. No offence but this mechanic is useless to say that.

 

LOL Oil can only go to one color unless something is being mixed in with it... and that color is dark brown/black (depending on how long you wait to change it)
Goes from that nice golden color, to a darker golden, to brown, to darker brown (i'm sure you get the point

So it being an off color is not "for what ever reason"
I would take it to another shop.

 

I'll see whats going on...Kind of like the guy (My mech) but.........It is what it is...

Thanks to all for your replies....and suggestions....