Looking to find out if its worth fixing my Blazer (2000) 133,000
I had over heating issue, heater blew cold air, once it overheated I took it to a mech... Mech filled radiator and then checked oil stick, oil stick was milky brown.

I had taken it to him 6 months ago asking about a radiator leak a few drops when I parked. He told me there was a leak between the engine and the coolant gasket, he told me about six hundred to take engine out and put gaskets in parts were only 40 bucks but labor. now he says it prob the head gaskets since the oil is milky brown, 800-1200 hundred dollars

Does that sound right for the problem and is that about price also could it be something cheaper or better to replace engine? If anyone knows my problem and could give me advice please reply thank you have a great day


2000 blazer 2door v6 4.3L

 

1200 bucks? friend had his done for 400.00. time to look for a new mechanic my friend. It might be cheaper to just replace the engine with a junkyard engine.

 

He said headgaskets, Chris. I wouldnt trust any shop mechanic who will do headgaskets for $400. In his OWN backyard garage, then... maybe,

But it might be the lower intake anyway. Why everyone with 4.3 needs to check oil a couple times a week

 

thanks he said he would have to take it apart. to find out what's wrong with it. is there anyway he can pin point whats wrong with it without taking it apart?

 

No. You can prove it is or isnt a headgasket to cylinder leak. Other than that, I cant think of an easy way to prove the hg isnt leaking into the block, other than replace the intake.

I would tell him to look for the intake leak into block. If there is, assume that's the problem then assemble it far enough to do a pressure test.

I'm only saying that because that's how I would do it. If I couldnt see an obvious leak on the LM, then I would pull the heads.

 

how much you think it prob cost in your opinion?

 

The price sounds with in the high range,GM flat rate at dealer is around 5 hours ($80 x 5)
But you should first ask your self is it worth it? I ask this because it also depends on how long you drove it with the coolant in the oil. If you noticed something right away & shut it off you are ok, if you continued to drive while overheated then the bottom end may go after you put the money in it. Most likely its your intake gasket. . I just did mine this past Saturday, same issue ( 2 gallons of coolant in oil pan, at least that what went back in after fix) but i shut it down as soon as i noticed something was up. Not to bad of a drive way job.Pretty common issue for 4.3l. 184,000 & still going! of course some band-aids along the way.

Good luck

 

sounds like intake gaskets, i doubt its the heads....

 

If it was driven a long time with coolant in the oil then it may have put a lot of wear on all moving parts.

If the WHY behind the over heating was known that would be helpful. Engines with cast blocks and heads can deal with one time over heating issues better than most newer type engine materials.

I just picked up a 1998 complete used 4.3 with 119K miles with very clean oil still in it and the filter looks relative clean on the outside. You can expect to find a good used 2000 engine pulled for $600-$800 and another $600-$800 for labor. Unless just done (signs should be clear if it has) personally I would redo the intake gaskets before installing even a good used engine. Many suggest replacing the pan and rear main seals.

If you trust the shop I would agree to pay the labor to get down to the problem then decide from there. Get the old oil/filter changed if it needs to be ran to test the head gaskets.

Used trucks are in high demand locally.