Water runs through tail pipe

My son has a 1999 Chevy Cheyenne Pick-up truck. It will crank up but runs hot almost immediately. If you put water in the radiator, it runs all way through to the tail pipe. I am guessing a crack block or something along that line but how do you know without spending a pile of money to find out?
Thanks Tamera

My son has a 1999 Chevy Cheyenne Pick-up truck. It will crank up but runs hot almost immediately. If you put water in the radiator, it runs all way through to the tail pipe. I am guessing a crack block or something along that line but how do you know without spending a pile of money to find out?
Thanks Tamera

with coolant coming out the exhaust removal of the spark plugs will reveal if your head or head gasket is damaged..

whatever the case this will amount to several hundred to repair.

make sure the repair shop will guarantee the repair. some of the bolts for the heads will need replacing .

remember only use dexcool with distilled water with atleast 50% GM approved dexcool..adding anyother coolant even if it states compatible with all coolants is a disaster in these engines...

I use 66% dexcool ..with less than 50 % you will have corrosion issues...and many leaks..

Thanks for replying... my son just wants to go get a new or rebuilt engine because he "thinks the block is broke" but he does not know anything about an engine. I know I can get new heads and I know how to replace the gaskets but if I do all this and there is a crack in the block is there any way to know that before replacing the gaskets? or, if I pull the spark plugs and there is water on the end how will I know weather it is the gasket or the heads? I do know when he pulled the oil pan off, it had milky watery oil in it.

A crack in the head or block, it most easily found by removing the head.

Usually they crack at or near the head gasket so the gasket fails as well, so symptoms can be the same for both.


That said, if it is consuming large amounts of water through the combustion chamber, then chances are lots of damage has been done and a new, or reconditioned engine is not a bad idea.

Thanks for replying... my son just wants to go get a new or rebuilt engine because he "thinks the block is broke" but he does not know anything about an engine. I know I can get new heads and I know how to replace the gaskets but if I do all this and there is a crack in the block is there any way to know that before replacing the gaskets? or, if I pull the spark plugs and there is water on the end how will I know weather it is the gasket or the heads? I do know when he pulled the oil pan off, it had milky watery oil in it.



since you can work this remove the heads and send the heads out for inspection of any distortions or cracks. some GM heads are defective ,it is possible you may have those heads.

cracked blocks can happen. most times boat engines not properly put away in the cold areas have this occur. on a motor vehicle in a warm region I doubt this occured NOW.....

If you live where the temp had been below 20 deg f and just water in the engine this could be possible.

water in the oil is normal when the engine is getting coolant in the combustion chamber. when you remove the heads the gasket failure will be revealed easy...the heads sent out for inspection will confirm if good.

replacing of the head bolts is recommended and get the proper torque and sequence proceedure . not that hard of a job.also much cheaper than a new engine.

dexcool must be used. avoid only adding just water. if you find the block passageways are corroded badly then I would get a new engine.

I would not install a new engine in a 1999 vehicle. get a scrap yard engine and put it in yourself..

flush out the coolant system and replace the O2 sensors. coolant destroys the sensors. you may find the cat converters may also need replacing.