suspect blown headgasket, how long will my engine last?

[dsmike]

I've had a lot of overheating lately. I've replaced the radiator, hoses, thermostat, and the battery and alternator are new, too. I ordered an engine coolant sensor, it'll be here tomorrow. The engine has had trouble turning over in the past week. Most of the time it cranks right up like a new car, other times it takes a few turns and some gas to get it going.

So the car still overheats and now there is a lot of white smoke blowing out the exhaust. I know it's coolant and from what I've read it's probably a blown headgasket. I experienced this a few times in the past couple of days, but now if I sit at a light too long I'm consumed in smoke. Labor and time are insane on a headgasket. I have been contemplating a new engine. How long can I run my car this way?

 

[oddrob]

The longer you run it, the more you risk doing serious damage to the car, i.e...more time, more money. I'd say park it until you can have if fixed properly.

 

[ryu]

The longer you run it, the more you risk doing serious damage to the car, i.e...more time, more money. I'd say park it until you can have if fixed properly.

well you probebly shouldnt drive it but, its not the same car but i had a v6 mazda that had a blown head gasket and it would eat coolent like gas. besides from overheating once in a while, the car ran fine. well ofcoarse there was a ton of white smoke all the time but i drove it for like 20k miles like that!! i beat on it once in a while. but i knew that because i over heated, the head was probebly already warped and the car had been in an accident so it wasnt worth fixing. all i had to do was keep my radiator filled and it was fine. enless the car is already in crap condition and you already plan on getting a nother dsm, i wouldnt screw around.

 

[dsmike]

Wow, 20k miles! I could the headgasket now, but don't really want to. I basically wanted to know if I could drive it until I save a bit more for a new engine or just buy another 2g. So, I think you answered my question, thanks.