'97 blow headgasket

My '97 3.2l auto 119K mi suddenly, when engine running, it blows a lot of white steam/smoke out of tail pipe and level of coolant dropping, so I suspect broken headgasket...at least. This kind off repair is wayyyyy out what I can do. And numbers what my mech told me just the way to tell me he doesn't want to do it... to old... to expensive... economics not worky.
So it's going for sale as is.

Hmmm, very unusual in the 94-97yrs for headgasket issues, *unless* at some point that engine got real hot or severly abused.

Was your cooling system up to par with fairly new antifreeze within the last 20-40k miles?

These are all aluminum engines, and the risk of headgasket issue is high if the cooling system had or has had a weakness; namingly a worn out radiator with less cooling ability would be my prime suspect. This was exactly the reason our headgasket blew on our late toyota, no previous warning either.

The likely hood of a cracked block is pretty high, and could get quite pricey if the work can not be done yourself.

However, there are plenty of Isuzu owners that would crave at the opportunity of the body of a 1st generation Rodeo with a good or bad engine; she'll probably sale within the month. But, I wouldn't expect to get more then say $1K, at most, if the body is in immaculant shape along with the remaining drive train.

Our '97 Rodeo's, even in good running condition, are only worth roughly $3k - that's pushing it.

That's too bad though, I see someone post 119k miles on an Isuzu engine and I think of what a baby it is; but yes, if you have a shop rebuild that engine, you're probably looking at $4-5k depending on what all needs replaced and their labor rate.

Engine oil was changed every 3 mo.
Transmission fluid drain and fill was done annually, at 100k trans filter was changed.
Rear differential fluid changed annually.
Front differential fluid/transfer case fluid changed once in 2 yr.
Coolant was changed once in 2 yr, last time at 10/06.
I am original owner and I know engine never was overheated.
I done all maintanence myself so I know it was done for real.

Truck was my daily driver and family long trips/vacations carier.It was never off road, and 4WD was used only on icy/snowy road.We towed twice litle 8' u-haul trailer total distance about 600 mi on flat area.

I wasn't doubting your maintenance, I just meant that it was very unusual; and hey, we were told the same thing too, that it was *unusual* on our '85 Toyota 22RE engine. We were told over and over that we either abused the thing or never maintained it, cause the headgasket should've never blown at 199k miles on a *toyota* engine.

I'm just sad for you that you couldn't enjoy that truck longer, but I guess that is the chance we take with these all aluminum engines this day and age. And you can bet that I'd be very upset if my headgasket went even at my current mileage of 170k.

But, rebuilding an engine, can and does get very expensive, and may not always be done correctly - unless you can do it yourself. We didn't have the exportese to do it ourselves with our '85 Yota, and spent well into the $3k range rebuilding it, ONLY to have it blow again within the next 2yrs. We gave up and got rid of it, *I* personally wouldn't chose to have an engine rebuilt unless we could learn to do it ourselves.

FWIW - after reading your 2nd post, you babied your truck MUCH more then I do; mine sees a lot of mountain driving, spent it's first 8yr towing a 4k# load, and sees a lot of mild off-road trails.

Oh, and I've never changed my rear differential yearly; it gets done every 2yrs.

So don't feel like you didn't take care of your rig - you did. It's just the luck of the draw, maybe yours had a weak point from the factory.

Also, are you 100% sure it's your headgasket? Sounds obvious, I know, but could also be intake manifold with a bad leak, just throwing this out, cause I wasn't sure if you've made a definite diagnosis or not.

About "changed my rear differential yearly" I read somewhere fluid also lubricate rear wheel bearing and if start leaking no way to fix it but put new/used good rear axle, plus if you ever compare new and user fluid there is very big difference in color, and one more it is pretty easy and cheap job just suck old 2q out and pump new in... I still hardly beleive it happening to me, truck start and run just fine, no CEL, no loss of power... just huge cloud on the back and smell bad.

I would do a compression check; and does your oil have water in it?

Also, pull a spark plug or two and see if there's coolant in it.

You'd think if it's blown you'd lose power and/or rough running at least; least that's what our Yota did, it lost all power, and never regained it, even after the rebuild.

Oh, no doubt, it losing coolant badly.I filled radiator full before I drove truck to my mech about 4 mi. Not sure what he did, may be started and drove a little bit. But I have to add 2q to make it full again before I drove that thing back home. You know trucks what spay stuff to kill bugs. My truck was very like that. Oil level no change and look normal.

Is it blowing white smoke out the tailpipe, or under the hood - it's a long shot, I know, but a bad waterpump can leak just as much antifreeze; TRUST me!

If it is a gasket, and you're wanting to possibly save what's left of the engine, I wouldn't be starting and driving it - or have you decided to sale it outright?

That's still too bad, you didn't have much mileage on it, I feel for you, cause I know I was MAD hot when our Yota blew it's gasket at only 199k miles, I mean, you hear of Yota's going 250k+ easily before major engine work.

"but a bad waterpump can leak just as much antifreeze"

Nothing leaking outside. And I got perfect heat from heater after just 5 min of driving at 22 F outside. I actually used heater as extra cooling by puting fan on high outside air. So I thinking WP still working.
Let see... what choices I have, fix myself no can do it, my mech to much money not make sence, try to sell it - about right. By the way, got low bid from my mech right way, see if I can do better.

Good luck to you - that's exactly what I would be doing too.

I will not rebuild another engine, period. So believe me, I understand your reasoning.