My trusty 1986 740T met his maker....
All was well as I cruised up the highway.
Suddenly, temperature gauge went from normal all
the way to the right, beyond red. I could smell the coolant.
I knew this wasn't good...
Got off at the very next exit, and I could feel the car getting
weaker, loosing power. Parked behind convenience store, popped
the hood and waited... There was no hot steam, or leaks bellow.
An hour later I tried adding coolant. It kept disappearing....
I kept adding....This was strange. Pulled the dip-stick. It showed
level 6 inches above normal ?! It was covered with brownish,
milky substance. I swallowed hard....I could feel the rocks in
the pit of my stomach. This was not good....
Had wife bring me some tools, and oil changing kit.
Opened the engine drain plug, and guess what came out....
Yes, mostly coolant, and some oil mixed in.
When I added more coolant, it would go out through the engine
drain plug. Closed everything up, and had the car towed home,
upset and disgusted. Why didn't I have more warning ?
None of my hoses were busted, and I check coolant level every
week. Car obviously overheated very rapidly. It probably needs
head gasket, and head rebuild, at the least. Probably more...
Who knows what kind of damage the engine suffered.
I'll be hashing some of my options this week end.
One that appeals to me the most, is the call to the junk yard.