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wildman3333
New User
Jan 29, 2009, 6:02 PM
Post #1 of 4
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2000 dodge stratus
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I just bought a 2000 Dodge Stratus a week ago with 123,000 miles on it. It was driving fine until yesterday when it stalled an cut off at a light, tried starting would crank but would not start, engine smoking. Checked oil and it was light creamy brown color, took it to get a oil change and mechanic once he seen the smoke he said it looks like I need more than an oil change, he looked at the oil and said that it had water in it, and that I need a whole new engine for $1700 bucks. My question is Is this my only option?
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Loren Champlain Sr
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/ Moderator
Jan 29, 2009, 6:14 PM
Post #2 of 4
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Re: 2000 dodge stratus
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Water in the oil is indicative of a blown head gasket. If the engine is allowed to run long enough with the water/anti-freeze mix in the crankcase, it can/will destroy the bearings, score the cylinder walls, and if run long enough that way, the engine can seize due to lack of lubrication.
On the other hand, just because it blew a head gasket and got water in the oil, doesn't automatically call for an engine replacement. If it happened as quickly as you said, chances are that it's repairable. Conversely, if you ran it to the point it got so hot that the engine lost compression and died, well......
Loren
SW Washington
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wildman3333
New User
Jan 29, 2009, 6:17 PM
Post #3 of 4
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Re: 2000 dodge stratus
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By what the mechanic told me it seemed to have been that way for a while, because the oil has way over the dipstick limit.
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Loren Champlain Sr
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/ Moderator
Jan 29, 2009, 6:23 PM
Post #4 of 4
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Re: 2000 dodge stratus
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Wouldn't take but a couple of minutes for the oil to look that way. When the head gasket blows, the coolant, being under pressure, shoots right into the crankcase. Hopefully, this is what happened. If it has been leaking slowly, it is possible, but you probably would have been overheating, prior to that.
To try and make you feel better, the alluminum head and the steel engine block are, obviously, dissimiliar metals and they expand and contract at different rates. Over time, it just wears out the head gasket. Or, a thermostat can stick, cause overheating, and blow the head gasket. With alluminum head engines, it doesn't take much.
Loren
SW Washington
(This post was edited by Loren Champlain Sr on Jan 29, 2009, 6:27 PM)
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