Coolant temp sensor blow out

[Dm03n]

The only way I've seen a sensor leave the block on it's own is a 2 piece sensor where the center pops out, or it's not tightened down and unscrews on it's own.

At the shop occasionally we do non-warrantied work. Such as would be the case if the customer supplied the part. However if we did something negligent, we'd take care of it because it was our fault, because it's the right thing to do even if it cost us a motor. You can take anyone to small claims for any reason, but if you want to have any chance, you'll need to get a second professional opinion and have documentation of that with you. Even still the mechanic can claim you should have stopped driving the truck and had it towed thereby attempting to pin it back on you. It sucks that mechanic is not taking responsibility and guys like that give the industry bad marks.

Anyhow whatever you do, the best of luck to ya!

Thank you. I drove it precisely 1 mile to the rest stop before I had it towed back to him. He sold me the motor as well.

Just a thought, coolant has something in it that feels oily. Is it possible that the coolant sprayed onto the frame area and left behind an oily film? Maybe not oil and coolant? hopefully.

I was hoping it was just oil spraying out of the valve cover due to the filler cap coming apart and what seemed to me to be excessive visible blow-by. Cleaned it all off twice after rednecking plugging that cap and swapped the side that cap went on. It was burning blue smoke off the exhaust. After double checking that no oil was coming through the valve cover gasket started her up for a few minutes with the same issue. Afterwards found oil/coolant mix coming off the manifold to pipe bolts. At this point I'm trying to weigh the cost of having another shop take it apart and trying to get something back or just doing it myself and praying to the car god's that the block/heads aren't trashed.

 

[Dm03n]

Btw thank you everyone for your feedback. I really appreciate it. Seriously thought I was going crazy or I had some incredible rare bad luck. Couldn't find a single thing about it via Google.

 

[Snoots]

Possibly a leaking intake gasket?
Check the torque on the intake bolts.

 

[fast 99]

The first picture looks like steam is coming out where the sensor should be. Antifreeze has a sticky feel. Head gasket failures on small blocks usually don't involve oil. Mostly it will fail between cylinders 4 and 6 or 3 and 5.

 

[SirRobyn0]

Thank you. I drove it precisely 1 mile to the rest stop before I had it towed back to him. He sold me the motor as well.

I was hoping it was just oil spraying out of the valve cover due to the filler cap coming apart and what seemed to me to be excessive visible blow-by. Cleaned it all off twice after rednecking plugging that cap and swapped the side that cap went on. It was burning blue smoke off the exhaust. After double checking that no oil was coming through the valve cover gasket started her up for a few minutes with the same issue. Afterwards found oil/coolant mix coming off the manifold to pipe bolts. At this point I'm trying to weigh the cost of having another shop take it apart and trying to get something back or just doing it myself and praying to the car god's that the block/heads aren't trashed.

Wait, so he sells you the motor, does the work and when there is a problem he says no warranty go away..... If that's the case that's terrible, you should look at your receipt from the shop for the warranty info. You might have a much better case than I was initially thinking. Keep in mind I'm a mechanic not a lawyer, it just sounds like this dude took you money and now doesn't give a damn. Also if you have full coverage on your insurance it is possible that they would help you out.

I would never do this to a customer, the shop has insurance so if we blow an 8K motor or drop a car off a lift we can have the repairs made for the customer, using our insurance, but I have heard of incidences where a shop drops a car off a hoist, or totals it and tells the customer to talk to his or her's (the customers) insurance. They do this because the shop doesn't want to risk a insurance rate increase, instead it becomes the customer problem, which is a terrible thing to do to a customer, but I'm just saying that might be an avenue if you don't want to take the shop to court, but if this engine turns out to be toast, you could possibly recover some money though your insurance. Again only if you have full coverage.

 

[Dm03n]

Wait, so he sells you the motor, does the work and when there is a problem he says no warranty go away..... If that's the case that's terrible, you should look at your receipt from the shop for the warranty info. You might have a much better case than I was initially thinking. Keep in mind I'm a mechanic not a lawyer, it just sounds like this dude took you money and now doesn't give a damn. Also if you have full coverage on your insurance it is possible that they would help you out.

I would never do this to a customer, the shop has insurance so if we blow an 8K motor or drop a car off a lift we can have the repairs made for the customer, using our insurance, but I have heard of incidences where a shop drops a car off a hoist, or totals it and tells the customer to talk to his or her's (the customers) insurance. They do this because the shop doesn't want to risk a insurance rate increase, instead it becomes the customer problem, which is a terrible thing to do to a customer, but I'm just saying that might be an avenue if you don't want to take the shop to court, but if this engine turns out to be toast, you could possibly recover some money though your insurance. Again only if you have full coverage.

Didn't think of the insurance avenue thank you. I'll explore that option. Yes that's precisely what it seems like he did.

I live in the greater Seattle area and have been hit and had 5 small cars totalled... In the last 4 years. I'd be homeless if I didn't have full coverage.

 

[SirRobyn0]

Didn't think of the insurance avenue thank you. I'll explore that option. Yes that's precisely what it seems like he did.

I live in the greater Seattle area and have been hit and had 5 small cars totalled... In the last 4 years. I'd be homeless if I didn't have full coverage.

Gee, I didn't see you location. You're pretty close to me except that I live east in the foot hills. I hear you, though. It's been a while for me but the drivers around here have gotten really terrible. Except for working at the shop which is Redmond, I try to stay out of the cities anymore.

 

[Grit dog]

While it appears there's multiple? issues with this engine now, before crucifying the mechanic (who sold him the engine as well), we don't actually know anything about the engine.
Like was it a rustoleum rebuild of something laying behind the shop that was installed with explicit lack of warranty, or a crate or shop reman that should be "like new."

While there are plenty of ripoff mechanics, there are also plenty of customers who have no idea what they're agreeing to, or at very least, get amnesia after the fact.

On another note, good thing you're driving a 3/4 ton now, given your luck with car crashes!

 

[SirRobyn0]

While it appears there's multiple? issues with this engine now, before crucifying the mechanic (who sold him the engine as well), we don't actually know anything about the engine.
Like was it a rustoleum rebuild of something laying behind the shop that was installed with explicit lack of warranty, or a crate or shop reman that should be "like new."

While there are plenty of ripoff mechanics, there are also plenty of customers who have no idea what they're agreeing to, or at very least, get amnesia after the fact.

On another note, good thing you're driving a 3/4 ton now, given your luck with car crashes!

You make good points. I guess I've just gotten use to fighting an up hill battle with the industry and that is one of the reasons I suggested he look at his invoice to see what the warranty is. If No warranty is printed on his invoice then there is no warranty and he doesn't have a leg to stand on. But still, if I did work, even no warranty work and something I installed fell out I wouldn't tell the dude to fly a kite. I'd at least try to work with him for a solution. Obviously none of us are there with him, but it just doesn't feel right to me.

 

[Grit dog]

You make good points. I guess I've just gotten use to fighting an up hill battle with the industry and that is one of the reasons I suggested he look at his invoice to see what the warranty is. If No warranty is printed on his invoice then there is no warranty and he doesn't have a leg to stand on. But still, if I did work, even no warranty work and something I installed fell out I wouldn't tell the dude to fly a kite. I'd at least try to work with him for a solution. Obviously none of us are there with him, but it just doesn't feel right to me.

And you literally see the other side of the coin, as a, presumably, ethical mechanic.
I also work in an industry with alot of liability. Anymore, it's more about liability and not getting screwed by the (govt agencies) customers, than actual construction, at my position.

But succinctly, the OP left out some important details (although to be fair, we took his questions one step further than just mechanical advice and he's got no onus to tell us the details of the transaction).

 

[Dm03n]

To reply, he gave the option of a used built 350 out of his El Camino or a new one. Said there was no warranty on the one he had (didn't specify it was both on labor and on parts) partially my fault for not inquiring further. My brother would verify that the engine was running good in the El Camino as it's his brother in law's. Motor was put in the El Camino 4ish years ago and only driving 22miles on occasion. I told him to use his best judgement and if it was going to be just as simple to swap those two then fine why not? I now know why not.

The reason why I asked the original question was just to know if anyone had had an experience with that cts coming out in 1 piece and not strip the threads in the process. I doubt I have a leg to stand on in court just more or less knowing if I was the one who screwed this motor or not.

Thank you all for the feedback. It's been more helpful than anyone else I've talked to about it. Just need to get this old girl back on the road again.

 

[SirRobyn0]

And you literally see the other side of the coin, as a, presumably, ethical mechanic.
I also work in an industry with alot of liability. Anymore, it's more about liability and not getting screwed by the (govt agencies) customers, than actual construction, at my position.

But succinctly, the OP left out some important details (although to be fair, we took his questions one step further than just mechanical advice and he's got no onus to tell us the details of the transaction).

Look at post #11, by fast 99, he quoted Dm03n on post #10 and it says "He definitely has. More or less is it worth it to take legal action if the motor has catastrophic failure." Later Dm03n, edited post #10 to read "He definitely has. I wanted to see if anyone has ever had that sensor pop out for anything other than it being improperly installed. Going to end up going through the entire engine at this point." So that is where some of us got the idea that was interested in possibly taking legal action and attempted to advise him of his options in our view point.

Now he finally states there was no warranty, so that's the end of that.

@Dm03n I still think a good mechanic would at least try to help you out in some way but you haven't leg to stand on with no warranty work. Possibly your insurance might help, you'll have to investigate that.

 

[Radiohead]

If insurance will take care of it, does the higher rates make it pay in the long run?

 

[scrap--metal]

To reply, he gave the option of a used built 350 out of his El Camino or a new one. Said there was no warranty on the one he had (didn't specify it was both on labor and on parts) partially my fault for not inquiring further. My brother would verify that the engine was running good in the El Camino as it's his brother in law's.

So the mechanic is your brother's brother-in-law? If so, shouldn't that be worth something?

At the very least, a reason not to screw you over?

 

[SirRobyn0]

If insurance will take care of it, does the higher rates make it pay in the long run?

Well, when I've had claims, for example I had a tree come down and smash a vehicle once, my agent was able to tell me how much my rates would go up and for how long if the claim was submitted and approved.