Okay, I know....first lesson learned....don't let your wife drive your car.....but, I needed her truck for work......she called me while I was on my way home saying that my car had overheated as she was pulling into our subdivision. I got up this morning and checked into the situation and at first I thought "broken thermostat or bad water pump" but upon further investigation, I noticed something strange. After starting the engine while in park, the temperature gauge had not even started to move when smoke started to come off of the engine (front side) and when I opened the oil filler cap.....smoke was coming out of there. My first thought was "oil pump" and then I remembered a post regarding the lower intake manifold gasket. With the lower intake manifold going bad and the mixing of oil and coolant......that would give me the symptoms I am experiencing right???
The car has right at 99K miles on it....one owner prior to me and the car was always dealer serviced. I did not notice the oil having a "milky" appearance like I would have expected. Coolant level is a little less than normal and oil level is adequate. The check engine light is on now so I am suspecting a bad sensor after the overheating event. Engine runs fine and smooth. My son said it smelled like "maple syrup" after they got home last night......no fluids on the driveway.
I don't have a lot of spare time so I am probably going to have to pay a mechanic to fix it.....but I want as clear of a picture of the potential probelm as possible prior to dropping $ on the problem......unless I can fix it in 4 or 5 hours on the weekend. Any thoughts or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I live near Dallas, TX so the recommendation of a GTP knowledgeable mechanic would also be helpful.
