I have a '96 Chevy Blazer last week I had the severe misfortune in overheating it on the highway. Evidently the intake valve on the radiator went bad (specific I know) and drained out all of the coolent even though there was still coolent in the resevoir tank.
I pulled over twice to let it cool but by the time I got home it had started smoking and was running rough at idle. The next morning I drove it into the shop, it was still running very rough at idle, acting like it wanted to die. The shop guy took a look at it and told me that he could tell from the smell that it had overheated too far and the engine was burned out. He suggested I go car shopping.
I generally trust this shop and find them honest and he didnt charge me for anything.
I drove it home in the same condition but havent started it since. Still I have to wonder… can you really tell an engine is that extensivly damaged by its smell?
Fill it w/ water, see if it starts and runs OK. If so, add some coolant, change the oil and keep driving it, what have you got to lose? You smell burnt metal after running it w/o coolant, I have a strong feeling he’s right. It doesn’t take very long to ruin an engine by running it w/o coolant and even less time w/o oil. If either of these things happen, you should shut it down and make repairs, or tow it to a shop, do not try to “limp” home or anywhere else.
Yes you can. Glycol based coolants smell sweet particulary if it has run through the exhaust and is vapor.
So to review, engie o’heats, runs rough, and a shop says that the smell makes them think the engine is blown.
Sounds like either a blown head gasket or blown head gasket + warped / cracked head with engine not runing on all cylinders. Not cheap to fix. Unless the car is in pristine condition, your shop is probably right.
Sadly, the moral of this story is that if your car starts overheating, pull over immediately. If you’re really lucky, it’s just a blown head gasket. But as Rick said, it’s more likely you cracked or warped something. That gets you into engine rebuilding territory. Not a good place to be with a ten year old car.
If you are really in love with the blazer you can get a used engine from a salvage yard.
Ask the mechanic that you trust if he’ll install it.
It will be cheaper than a new vehicle.
Going rate for a non running vehicle at a junk yard is 300.00 so you can see it may be to your advantage to fix it .