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Failed Block Test -- Questions
I hope I'm not intruding here by asking a generalized automotive
question. If I am, I apologize in advance. I've been driving a 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Sierra 4-door sedan for years; it's got about 168,000 miles on it. I've taken reasonable care of the vehicle over the years and it's served me well. I recently took it on a 750+ mile roundtrip camping adventure. On the way home, I noticed the engine was running a little hotter than normal. Whereas the thermostat gauge normally was in the "center" mark (ie. right between cold and hot), it had moved up close to the "red zone" but didn't rise *into* it (and hasn't since during my normal city driving). It's still running hotter, but not dangerously so. I'm planning another trip into the mountains, so I took the car into a local Pep Boys for a coolant system diagnosis. They called me and said they couldn't figure out the problem, and tried to sell me a new waterpump (because "this one is really old" -- duh, *everything* on this clunker is old), a new radiator (this one is somewhat corroded, but "not badly"), and a replacement of all the hoses (again, "because they're old"). He said they basically couldn't find any specific cause for the problem; it says so on the invoice: NAP (no apparent problem). He told me the car could use about $800 worth of work; I said forget it, don't do a thing, and I would come pick up the car later. When I went to pick up the car, the clerk who had earlier served me -- who was now gone for the day -- had neglected to leave a *written* diagnosis of the coolant system, something I wanted in case I took the vehicle to another mechanic. I paid for the diagnosis anyway ($30.00), and the new clerk said to check back later in the day when the original clerk would be back. When I went out and started the car, suddenly the "low coolant" red light was on -- that had NEVER happened before. I stopped the car, opened the hood, and checked the raidiator. Sure enough, the raidiator -- brimming full when I had brought the car in a few hours ago -- was now only about 2/3 full. I went back inside to clerk #2, and he said he'd look into it. He went outside and I waited a few moments. He came back in and told me the raidiator just needed to be filled up with water and that they would do it. I told him I only lived a mile away and I would refill it myself -- and should I use antifreeze or just water? He said it didn't matter because the car was so old; that sounded weird to me. I went back outside to the car, only to find the actual *mechanic* refilling the raidiator with antifreeze. I then told him the raidiator had been full when I brought the car in earlier; he said the level "must have gone down" after they filled it the first time after the testing (it hasn't gone down since he refilled it -- again, it sounded weird). I was unaware that any coolant would be removed during the diagnosis, and I would certainly hope they would've replenished it. I then asked him if he thought the car could handle a 500+ mile mountain trip, and he said that as long as I babied it (ie. drive during cool hours, don't use the a/c) that it should be fine. I also asked him about the condition of the raidiator's electric fan and the actual thermostat, and he said both appeared to be working fine. I took the car and left, and the "low coolant" light was now off. I felt as if maybe I had been nearly shafted -- I mean, they said there was "no apparent problem", yet they tried to sell me $800 of *preventative* work, PLUS I never got my written diagnosis (the clerk in question has been very difficult to reach -- "they set their own schedule" is what I was told). Needless to say, I'm not going back. I called them back and spoke with the manager. He called up my workorder and proceeded to tell me that the engine had "failed the block test" and that I would need a machinist to take care of the problem. Whoa -- I might not know much about cars, but anything to with the block is serious stuff, I'm certain. All he would say was that traces of coolant were found in the engine -- I guess in places they shouldn't be. Otherwise, the car drives and feels the same: same acceleration, same oil pressure, same weird vibrations, everything. It's just running about 25% hotter than usual. My question is, is it possible that, during my recent 750+ mile trip, some gasket or seal somewhere gave way, causing the engine to run hotter? If so, should I continue on with my planned trip and just white-knuckle it and hope it makes it up the hill (I'll be driving up almost 5,000 feet over a short 15-mile stretch -- this is my biggest concern about potential overheating spots)? What, exactly, would a machinist need to do to remedy the problem? Or is it time to junk this thing (I have a 'spare' Chrysler something-or-other with under 70,000 miles on it in the garage -- I literally bought it from an old lady a few years ago -- so I'm prepared to trash the Olds if necessary)? Any and all advice is appreciated. Thank you. kErrY |
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