I have 97 Blazer i believe the head gasket is blown.Its blowing steam out the tailpipe, the coolant is disappearing out the radiator, but its not running real hot only reaching 210. Its still running perfect like always. Has 224k miles. Wondering if its worth fixing or put another 4.3 in it. And if anyone in South Louisiana has a good running 4.3

 

do a cooling system pressure check first. I would bet on a intake gasket failure over the head gasket. It explains everything you're dealing with. If you have a 1997 and especially if you're running dexcool, your intake manifold gaskets are probably trashed. Such was the case with my 2000 Jimmy. I was losing fluid, was not overheating, the oil was filled coolant, and the car failed a cooling system pressure test. After pulling the upper and lower intake manifolds, my gaskets were TRASHED, my coolant was draining into the top of the engine, I had a few clogged intake ports, and EVERYTHING from my airbox to my distributor was coated with a thick, melted milk chocolate looking fluid, the result of the antifreeze and water combining with the oil. Here's a video I made after pulling it all apart.

 

If it were me to a cooling system pressure test to find your leak.My neighbor had a similar problem on his 96 chevy truck,ran fine but was leaking antifreeze inside the engine.It ended up being the intake gasket.

 

Thanks i really appreciate the help

 

It failed the pressure test. Mine isnt as bad as iamchevy's but i see the melted milkshake in the oil filler neck. So gotta definitely change the oil again, changed it the day before this happened. I got the gasket set gonna tackle it in the morning. Im pretty mechanically inclined so shouldn't be too bad. Used to older vehicle though. Anybody got any tips or tricks i should know about.

 

so your leak ended up being on the intake gaskets?

 

Yeah it was on the lower intake gasket in the front just barely. I replaced the gaskets today they fell apart when i opened it up, but it wasn't too bad under there. I can see where the coolant was going passed the gasket.

 

You're quick. I took several days to finish that job.

 

I had help by somebody that done it before, but i messed up, the distributor turned when i took it out.

 

My 1999 is having a similar issue with white exhaust and losing coolant. I can see where the intake manifold meets the heads there is coolant escaping. My thought was failed head gaskets allowing coolant into the combustion chamber and then burning off. I would be wrong about this and have the intake gaskets be the problem. How can I be certain that it is the intake manifold leaking and not the heads?