These are the symptoms, I have the car at the Lexus dealership now getting it looked at.

1. Temperature gauge began to fluctuate from hot to cold and back in forth.

2. Car continues to run normally after I notice #1

3. 15 minutes later, car begins to stall and de-accelerate, so I proceed to pull over.

4. As soon as I pull over, white smoke envelops my lexus but its coming from the hood and smells like coolant. Once i cut the car off, it wouldnt start back up at all.

5. Go to inspect the engine, to find that the hose that goes to the radiator cap has broken off and is spewing (white powder)coolant all over the place. Also, I noticed a charred substance inside the radiator cap when I removed it after cooling off.

6. The mechanic at Lexus hasnt fully checked it, Ill know more on Monday, but they are suspecting a blown head gasket.

I pray that it isnt a head gasket but I'm getting nervous because this came out of nowhere and I know engine work is hiiiiiiighly expensive. Any advice or input on my situation. Anything would help. Thanks guys!

 

Well sometimes on a blown headgasket if coolant gets into the cylinder you will notice the water burn off out the exhaust. It very well could be something as simple as water pump or thermostat failure which cause the engine to over heat and blow the hose, does this always lead to a blown head gasket or a warped head no not al ways. From the sounds of if the temp gauge fluxuated up and down you where experencing a thermostat failure where it lost it ability to regulate temperature right thus causing warmer than usual temps which made the gauge read higher than normal but then it would open causing it to cool back down, untill it failed completely causing the engine to overheat and cut off. Some ECM's have a built in mechanism that once the engine/coolant temp reaches overheat it will shut the engine down to preserve it. Ford started this in 1998 I would expect toyo/lexus was right on par with that and hopefully your motor shuting it self down cold have saved you. I myself would also get a 2nd opinion off anything the dealer tells me when there is anything close to catastrophic failure being possible. I tend to think they will always suggest that (he worst), that is indeed what happened whn it really may have not. GL man wish you the best

 

Lexus finally called me back. They said when the hose broke off, it caused all the coolant to come out causing the engine to fry. Said its gonna be $7500 + to fix!!!! I almost passed out when they said that. I think Im out of a car ladies and gentlemen. I just cant believe what I'm hearing. Any suggestions?

 

Whoa! Sounds steep. Maybe time to start looking for a used engine to swap into it.

 

They could be exaggerating. Cant tell until see in person

 

Word.
...............

 

sounds like a blown headgasket, worked on a supra that did the same exact thing, spent like 1k on new parts, didnt pay for labor he got the hommie hook up

 

Thanks homies! I might have lucked up and found a engine from a wrecked is300. It has less than 70k miles on it. Dealer said gs300 and is300 engine roughly the same except for the oil pan which is easy fix. Gettin it for $800+500 install=$1300 total. Gettin brand new water pump,belts, and other accesories free. Sounds good to me! Feedback!

 

That's a good deal.

 

Glad it worked out for you. Check back in with us after you've gotten the new engine installed

 

Will do! The situation seems so much brighter now, Ill check in after the install. I got a new rim and tail light setup too. PIcs coming soon

 

Yea $1300 for an engine and to have it installed thats a great deal. GL glad to see you are not out of a car.

 

RIP For now

 

Good move for $1300!

 

The true silver lining to your cloud.