1999 Pontiac Grand Am what's wrong with my car?

KIDWELL4

MEMBER
1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
123,000 MILES

My car began by over heating. I put coolant in it which would last about 1-2 weeks, but now it empties almost immediately. It's stalled a couple times and looks like theirs black chunks in the coolant tank. The hoses seem fine, however there is dripping coming from what seems to be the engine. My car shakes when idle and has milk shake looking oil. When I brought it in they said it might be the head gaskets but that I might have to replace the entire engine. I've heard bad things about Pontiac, but I don't want to get scammed fixing more than I have to nor do I want to get it fixed just to have it brake down again. Any suggestions?

1 Reply

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

It may be head gasket but may also be intake gaskets that failed.

IF you have overheated it then you may have caused a head failure beyond the original problem.

The coolant needs to be drained out of the engine oil first. Coolant into the crankcase causing the oil to get that milkshake look is not good. Keep in mind when it is alls said and done with the fix on this one, the lower bearing may fail from the contamination.

You may spend a good chunk of change on the headgaskets only to have the lower end give out.

So the cause of both internal and external leakage needs to be determined.

So you can ride the risky road of doing repairs but still may end with problems or bite the bullet and go with a remanufactured or used engine.