Exhaust smell in coolant

[truetexan71]

Along with the "disappearing" coolant I have noticed a strong odor in the coolant that resembles exhaust. Is this an indication of a blown head gasket?

95 s-10
2.2 l
manul tranny

[kenyonja2007]

I would say definitely, especially seeing that you have a 2.2. Is there a smell of coolant when you get out of the truck after running it? Is it running a little strangely on startup or at any other time. When my head gasket was going the truck smelled like coolant, it idled roughly for 4-5 seconds after I started it up (I'm assuming from coolant leaking into the cylinder), and coolant was disappearing. Also, check your plugs. If one of them looks whiter than the others, then the head gasket is a good possibility.

[truetexan71]

It's been running rough on startup, like it's missing. BUt that has just started in the last week or so. I don't smell coolant, but I can smell the exhaust tainted liquid that is SUPPOSED to be my coolant.

Off to the parts store for me. Looks like the weekend is pretty much shot.

[kenyonja2007]

Good luck with the head gasket. Sounds like that is definitely the problem. When you change it, it was recommended to me to machine the mating surface on the cylinder head. Also, when I brought it to the machinist, he said, "let's take a look at the head to see if it is damaged, because the head gasket problem on the 2.2 is very common and 99% of the heads i look at for these are cracked". Take a look at your head for hairline cracks and be prepared for the worst. It cost me $300 for a new head ($500 for the reconditioned head with valvetrain and $200 core) from advanced auto. I have done this fix just recently, so if you have any questions on specs or the procedure, definitely let me know.

[whitetrash982]

DO NOT MACHINE THE HEAD! its not and over head cam engine , so if you machine the head , itll throw the pushrod clearance off and give you aworld of trouble...but as for the head gasket itself , terrible probs with the damn head gaskets...i hear there was a HUGE recall on them , cuz the always leaked at the back corner on the drivers (exhaust) side...its really not that hard to pull off...just get it off , if you havent over heated it , get a stright egde and check it for strightness.....if its off i think over 3 thousanths gotta get a new head , but dont quote me on that , i dont remember the tolerance , and o yeah , clean off the head real good with some fine grit sand paper as well - also , GM makes an updated head gasket for it with more material at that back corner on the gasket , i dont know if the old one supercedes to the new one , so just ask them for the updated head gasket anyway - and also , if you have any sort of lifter noise , change thos while you have the head off cuz you cant get em out while the head is still on...GM says about 16$ each , kinda pricy , but worth the silence , good luck

[rlith]

The 2.2 head gaskets are notorius for going bad... When you pull the head, you will need to have it magnifluxed to check for cracks...IF there is a crack, don't bother milling it. Get a new one (complete they are about 300 bux)

[truetexan71]

I want to thank everyone with their helpful replies.

I did manage to "fix" my problem. I traded the 95 on an '02 black on black extended cab S-10 with a V-6.

[kenyonja2007]

Geez, good deal.