Chevy S-10 pickup truck head gasket?

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Digby McSnuffernutter - 31 Aug 2006 01:24 GMT

Hi,

I noticed my truck was smoking yesterday but water was dripping out of tail
pipe and then I realized it was mostly steam and not smoke coming out of
tail pipe.

Guy at work said I need a new head gasket. Nothing at all in the manual
about how ofter to do these.

Does this sound right? 4 cylinder engine. 5 speed standard shift. 174,000
miles on truck. Seems to run good otherwise.

How expensive a job is this?

thank you for any ideas on this.

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ShoeSalesman - 31 Aug 2006 03:27 GMT

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> thank you for any ideas on this.

That sounds right if it isnt just condensation in the exhaust from
sitting overnight when its cold. If so, it will go away when its been
run for a while. Also if its the head gasket, the steam will smell funny
and be kinda sticky(coolant). Condensation is pure water (with a little
black soot from the exhaust.) If its just puffing steam like crazy-head
gasket. My *guess* on how much is......$800 Also, if it is the gasket,
it will get worse and it is loosing coolant so it might overheat on you
at any time.

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Whitelightning - 31 Aug 2006 23:17 GMT

> gasket. My *guess* on how much is......$800 Also, if it is the gasket,
> it will get worse and it is loosing coolant so it might overheat on you
> at any time.

That would be my first question to the poster, are you having to add coolant
all the time? If its a head gasket the radiator is going to be low on
coolant. Also pull the plugs and look at them, one or two of them are going
to be very very clean.

Whitelightning

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