greetings maximaliens:

methinks my 87 has reached the end of the road after 240k miles. i was cruising home tonite like i always do and came up to the toll plaza at the bridge. i slowed for the fastrak and when i went to accelerate i felt a very noticible vibration. my power suddenly was gone and as i looked in my rearview i noticed plumes of smoke. when i finally pulled over, the engine died, i noticed smoke coming from all over the engine compartment. the radiator was completely dry as well. the smell was real bad. i was able to refill the radiator after a while and restart the car with a jump. i managed to get another 10 miles when it crapped out again. this time no restart. i was able to tow it home. i didn't hear a bang or pop or loud noise before the loss of power. i'm wondering if i may have a blown head gasket or valve cover gaskets, or what??? has anyone had a similiar experience? now i have to decide whether it's worth repairing this car that has been very reliable but is also starting to show it's age. up til now i have been able to do the repair work other than a timing belt or clutch. mainly minor stuff. but this may be the big one. i know that there are the used engines from japan, but when is enough, enough. i hate to get rid of the car, but is it still cost effective? anyway, thanks for letting me vent.

 

sounds like a head gasket. can you check the compression? you might be able to get a junkyard engine too. a valve cover gasket wouldn't do the immediate damage that you're describing. it would just leak oil. I'm leaning towards the head gasket. but what's throwing me off is the fact that somehow your battery died in the process, although I guess it's possible that the massive coolant leak got your starter terminal wet and caused the battery to drain, or got in the alternator and killed the diodes.

if you think that's bad, how bout a '94 sentra with 142,000 miles on it, and the crank seal and every bearing in there went bad, losing about 1 to 1.5 quarts a week, and sometimes runs with the oil pressure light on? I'd rather be in your position cos then I could just say... "ehhh.... it's just old." the bearings are wasted and are so loud I can't stand it. lucas quiets them down a lot, but it's putting off the inevitable. I think the sentra will be sent on to the next life.

Dan
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1994 Nissan Sentra XE (142,000)
1994 Nissan Sentra Limited Edition (209,000)
1986 Chevy S-10 Blazer (197,000)