My truck just passed 140,000 miles and I have a huge problem. When I start it up I get a lot of water vapor coming out the back. From my understanding this is either the head gasket or the intake gasket, both of which are bad.

I just had it in the shop to have the starter replaced. The mechanic told me that the engine hydrolocking could've been the reason the starter went bad. They also told me that when they drained the oil there wasn't any water in it. What does this mean for me exactly? Is there any way to tell which gasket it is?

If I do need to get it replaced what's a fair price?

 

I just paid $1,853 for both head gaskets-------parts and labor including machine flat both heads Local garage in WV. They said the job calls for 19 hrs. labor.

 

sounds like it could just be condensation in the exhaust. is it when you start it up in the morning? or does it matter when you start it? what makes your mechanic think that the engine hydrolocked?

 

sniff the exhaust if you dont smell antifreeze its normal condinsation if you do you could have an intake leak or a bad head gasket.

 

The exhaust smells like antifreeze. It only does it when the engine is cold, regardless of if it's morning or not. Also, there's a lot of water vapor for it to just be condensation.

I just had the starter replaced for the second time because the first one shattered into pieces. Their guess was the reman starter couldn't take the stress.

Is there any way to know if it's the head gaskets or the intake gasket?

 

You are asking for advice - and here's mine. If you are getting coolant into the cylinders, and you trust your mechanic, get it in RIGHT NOW to be fixed before you DO hydrolock it and bend a rod. There really isn't a sure fire way to tell where the leak is without disassembly. If your mechanic is good with a compression gauge, he MAY be able to detect whether it's the head gasket or not, but that's not even a sure thing unless he gets widely varying readings.

EDIT: Get your coolant tested for combustion byproducts - if it's positive, it probably does need a head gasket.

 

start by taking off the intake if no (obvious) leaks are found start taking off the heads..

 

ok. Thanks for the advice. I guess I just need to bit the bullet and get it done.