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1992 GMC Jimmy

Question: 286,000 miles, rebuild or re-gasket?

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Visitor, Cramerton, NC, November 20, 2010, 18:21

I have a '92 Jimmy 4WD with high miles on it. Seems to be losing oil and coolant. I just replaced the water pump, coolant temp sensor and thermostat. When I drained the coolant, I noticed heavy traces of oil floating on top. Is there a tell-tale if it's either the cooler or head gasket without having to pull heads?

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Answer #1

delane 72 garage and body shop November 20, 2010, 18:44

Master

best ot rebuild that kind of mile

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DaveJHM November 20, 2010, 19:39

Master

I recommend pressure testing the cooling system. That can tell you if you have a cooler leak. Head gasket failure will also result in exhaust gases getting into your coolant. A quick smell of your coolant may yield an exhaust odor, which is a good clue. Then your coolant can be checked for the presence of hydrocarbons with an exhaust gas analyzer. You could also pull the spark plugs to check for signs of coolant.

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Visitor, November 21, 2010, 14:27

Hey Dave, thx for the input! What would I look for if I pulled plugs that would indicate coolant? I've always assumed that coolant would burn off during combustion due to the alcohol ingredient. Also, how would I tell wether or not this engine is a Vortec or just a plain-jane?

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Answer #3

todays tech November 21, 2010, 09:05

Journeyman

Likley intake manifold gaskets are leaking, with 286k rebuild would be nice.

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Visitor, November 21, 2010, 14:34

Thx for the response! I found a place not too far from here that sells rebuilt engines for a nominal fee... $775 to $875, depending on wether it's a Vortec or not...

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