98-Pontiac Spewing Coolant Then Died

[Deblaster]

I first this posted this in the wrong area, as a reply instead of a question.
I think I am having the same problem but I so happen to be automotive inpaired. I have a 98 Pontiac Transport that drove beautifully, no problems. Over a year ago, it would cut off; I would turn the car off and back on and it would go. I had someone to look at it and they discovered that the coolant was coming out the exhaust pipe. I was told to keep putting coolant in until I could make it to the mechanic. Unfornately, I ended up in the hospital and when I got out, I drove the car a 1/4 mile and it died. It has been in my garage for over a year. When I had asked a mechanic what could be wrong, he said either the head gasket or the head. I need suggestions from this forum as to what you think the issue is and is it worth repairing. Know this, I loved this car. It gave me good mileage and in the snow and rain storms it kept going while other vehicles gave up. The battery is just over a year old (changed the battery just before the van started acting up) and new tires were purchased 6 months before changing the battery.

[LMP]

Well....the blown head gasket syndrome is a common issue with that engine. IN most cases, this comes progressively annoying as heater stops providing warm air randomly, temp needle erratic, overheating, blowing steam from radiator....and provide fine details of symptoms so any conclusion here would be speculation. As for water coming out of exhaust, this can happen without meaning any harm...as water is a normal combustion byproduct and goes out of exhaust as vapour at a rate of 1.3 gallons for each gallon of fuel burned....and does condense in the exhaust when cold....
The fact that it cuts off and dies is probably a separate issue, either fuel or spark related.....unless you tell it was accompanied by the array of symptoms described above.
Can you check radiator fluid level, top off, and start it in the garage....open the doors for the exhaust....and let engine run for some time...then tell what happens looking for the symptoms I described...in the end, if it overheat and blows steam out. you more than probably have a blown gasket..
This is typically a 1500$ repair bill.
And...if coolant has seeped in the engine, there are more symptoms you can check for:
- oil filler cap inside is covered with disgusting whitish/browny goo
- at start up, a dense cloud can get out of exhaust for several seconds as coolant can have seeped in cylinder and expulsed to exhaust manifold and vaporized by exhaust.

[Deblaster]

Thanks LMP, that gives me something to consider. I had no problem with the warm air or temp needle. As for the exhaust, the water had a greenish tint, the same as the coolant. I will have the radiator fluid checked and have my battery charged, since the car has been sitting without anyone going out to the garage to start it.

I know the oil filler cap had no whitish/brown goo and never noticed if a dense cloud came out of the exhaust. I will check it out. Never considered that it could be a fuel or spark issue either.

All this is very helpful and I thank you. I will let you know how it turned out.