Hello friends,

first the description of the car: 1994 Doge Caravan se
3.0L front wheel drive
bought used with rebuilt engine.

Heres the problem: Yesterday I changed the thermostat because I wasnt getting heat and the temp gauge would rise to maximum before returnning to normal after 10 seconds. So I immediately had my mechanic change the thermotat. Later it was like an oven when I put the heating on...nice !

Today, as I was driving, the car suddenly started to miss, then on the highway...I saw smoke blowing from the exhaust. First I thought its cause of the weather, but then it started blowing clouds of smoke, so I knew something was wrong. I pulled off the highway and onto a side street where it was safe. Shut the car off. checked the exhaust, there was liquid comming out, I think it was like antifreeze not sure if it was oil too. The car wouldnt turn on after that. The temp gauge was normal. Antifreeze expansion tank was threequarters to full. Had the car towed.

What could be the problem? someone on the street said, head gasket. Could it be so? or an engine seizure? If its head gasket, how much do you think it will cost? Is it a big job?

Kindly let me know what a mess Im in.

Thanks.

D.H.

Hello friends,

first the description of the car: 1994 Doge Caravan se
3.0L front wheel drive
bought used with rebuilt engine.

Heres the problem: Yesterday I changed the thermostat because I wasnt getting heat and the temp gauge would rise to maximum before returnning to normal after 10 seconds. So I immediately had my mechanic change the thermotat. Later it was like an oven when I put the heating on...nice !

Today, as I was driving, the car suddenly started to miss, then on the highway...I saw smoke blowing from the exhaust. First I thought its cause of the weather, but then it started blowing clouds of smoke, so I knew something was wrong. I pulled off the highway and onto a side street where it was safe. Shut the car off. checked the exhaust, there was liquid comming out, I think it was like antifreeze not sure if it was oil too. The car wouldnt turn on after that. The temp gauge was normal. Antifreeze expansion tank was threequarters to full. Had the car towed.

What could be the problem? someone on the street said, head gasket. Could it be so? or an engine seizure? If its head gasket, how much do you think it will cost? Is it a big job?

Kindly let me know what a mess Im in.

Thanks.

D.H.

If it was white smoke than it's probably a blown head gasket or a cracked cylinder head. Check the oil and see if it looks milky.

Look for a coolant leak on the passenger side, halfway back and underneath your van. If you have two-zone heating, it is possible one of the coolant lines broke or the fixture corroded and coolant is spraying onto the exhaust pipe underneath your van creating great plumes of white smoke.

Something similar happened to me and I thought for sure I blew a head gasket. Happily, I did not.

If you blew a head gasket, engine power usually drops a little or a lot, depending on the severity of the gasket breach and how many cylinders are filling with coolant. In any event, engine power gets sluggish. Check your oil dipstick for the presence of coolant and your radiator for the presence of oil.

If you have a 3.3L or a 3.8L motor like I do and you have religiously maintained your vehicle, I seriously doubt you blew a head gasket. I kid you not, my 3.8L Mopar motor is the BEST engine I've ever owned over the past 30 years and better than anything I ever bought new from Germany or Japan... bar NONE.

I own a '94 Plymouth Voyager equipped with a 3.3. At 50,000 miles the head gasket blew. I was told by the garage that it is very unusual for the 3.3, but it was somewhat common for the 3.0. The bottom line...about $600. and I was driving again. It happened several years ago and haven't had a problem since.