[Fixitup944]

Thanks for all your input. I knew from the condition of the oil that the HG was boinked. After dis-assembling the engine though I suspect that without the thermostat the "coolant" (which I have found out from the new owner of the vehicle was water...no coolant) was running at the boiling point...created steam...created pressure...exassperated the already weakened HG's and BANG!...blown HG.

Mr. Red Pony where are the "o2's" located...I figure that while I am at it I ought to replace them too.

[WickedSnake00]

Originally Posted by Fixitup944 Thanks for all your input. I knew from the condition of the oil that the HG was boinked. After dis-assembling the engine though I suspect that without the thermostat the "coolant" (which I have found out from the new owner of the vehicle was water...no coolant) was running at the boiling point...created steam...created pressure...exassperated the already weakened HG's and BANG!...blown HG. Mr. Red Pony where are the "o2's" located...I figure that while I am at it I ought to replace them too.

There are 4 oxygen sensors, two on each side located in your exhaust. Two are located high up on your midpipe near the manifolds, and two are down near the tail of the transmission. They're pretty easy to spot, about the size of a roll of dimes sticking out of the exhaust pipe with a wire.

I wouldn't replace them just yet unless you get a code. They're $50-60 a piece. What poisons them is the ethylene glycol in the coolant, but if it was straight water, you may be ok. Oil can contaminate them too, but it mostly makes them dirty, as opposed to damaging them.

Might want to keep an eye on your cats too. If the HOS's (O2's) were poisoned you could get a rich code, or too much oil/coolant could foul them. Highly unlikely, but possible.

Last, when you were checking this fluid did you notice boys kept coming to your yard?

[goren813]

I love the people who think that water is a sufficient replacement for engine coolant.

[rfcsoulja]

Originally Posted by goren813 I love the people who think that water is a sufficient replacement for engine coolant.

Real talk. I just replaced a radiator for a girl before winter last year who had been running straight water for a few months prior (her dad said it wouldn't hurt anything. The next day there was a blizzard. . . .I saved her engine and her dad a lot of money.

[Rich J]

Originally Posted by rfcsoulja Real talk. I just replaced a radiator for a girl before winter last year who had been running straight water for a few months prior (her dad said it wouldn't hurt anything. The next day there was a blizzard. . . .I saved her engine and her dad a lot of money.

I had a guy argue with me in the parking lot of BK about putting water instead of coolant in. I saw him looking in his engine bay for a good 15 minutes so I decided to go see if I could lend a helping hand. He said his car was overheating and he couldn't find where the coolant went. I pointed to the cap that said "engine coolant" on it and he then said "No, no, no thats not it. Thats where the water goes." So I asked him how long hes been putting water in it and he said for a little over a week. I went to my car to grab my half bottle of coolant I use to keep in my trunk just in case. He told me that he didn't need my handouts and I told him its not a handout that I am trying to help him and potentially save his engine. He wasn't buying it and ended up just driving off.