[69GPModJ]

Just be careful if you *do* run the engine without tearing it down. If the engine fails, you could end up with a boat anchor that will take a lot of money to make into a working Pontiac engine.

I was told by a very experienced engine builder that *every* time he tried to let an engine that had antifreeze in the crankcase go without a tear down the engine failed. Not once did he have an engine run okay after having antifreeze in the crankcase.

But if you do run the engine, change the oil as often as you possibly can and open up the oil filters to make sure there aren't any bearing flakes.

[lust4speed]

With all the anti-rust additives in new antifreeze, how could it it corrode or rust the crank or lift the babbit material? It just seems odd that something that was designed to prevent damage would attack any metal product when new. Now I could see how old junk yard dog engines with worn out antifreeze that were left for years with the mixture could be damaged. Anyone know why new antifreeze would damage the parts?

[69GPModJ]

By no means am I an expert but in talking to experienced people when I had my problems, almost to a man they told me to be very careful and to tear everything down. I had very little coolant leak into the crankcase--say 5 to 10 ounces over 150 miles or so.

I was told that antifreeze actually seems to have some sort of reaction when it contacts bearing material and that you don't have to run it very long like that to create problems.

If anyone out there can shed more light on this, I'd be interested in hearing it. I tore my engine down as advised and found everything was okay. I'd have preferred to keep running it, as that was the third time I had the engine out in 4 months.

[dyingbreed]

Thanks for all the replies and advice. I guess I'll try replacing the waterpump and divider plate in the near future. Stay tuned.... I'll most likely have some questions about that task as well!

db