4.9 Engine Block Failing?

:banghead: I own a 1995 Sedan deVille, with 75,000 Miles on it, that I LOVE (a bit more than my 05!) I bought the car one year ago from an estate (one owner) and have put over 20,000 miles on it. I had the Caddy Dealer change belts and hoses, and service it when I bought it as sleep insurance.
Recently, I noticed the car was using an unusual amount of coolant and that the transmission pan gasket was leaking. I took it to the dealer to have a Tranny Service done and mentioned the coolant issue. The dealer "pressure tested" the block and told me I had two issues: 1) the water pump was on its way out-no biggie. 2) the engine block was failing- a biggie! The most likely reason was that the car had had coolant flushes over the years without the benefit of the three mystery tablets added to the coolant to prevent the block walls from becoming thin. They went on to tell me that the car was not worth repairing and I should trade it or sell it before the block fails.
I LOVE the car and would like to keep it. I was wondering it anyone has heard of the block failing because of the collant issue. Also, if I flush the system and add the tablets now would that stop the block from thinning out more (if in fact hat is what is happening.)

I really need guidance in with this.
Anyone and everyone that can weigh in on my problem would be greatly appreciated.

RASCARS

Get it looked at by someone else who will put a pressure tester on the rad and give you another opinion about the coolant loss. The pellets should have been used, but at this point you don't know if they were or not. Neither does the dealer.

Try this.......... have a mechanic do a cylinder leak down test to make sure you do not have a blown head gasket.
As noted above do a pressure test on the cooling system and look for external coolant leaks where the block meets the head. As I recall, these engines have exposed head bolts on the side of the block, and coolant leaks can originate where these bolts are exposed. This problem can be fixed.

Then, if you like, change the water pump and install SIX (not three) cooling system tablets. Place them inside the lower radiator hose, so they will dissolve and be circulated thoroughly. Dont just stick them in the top of the radiator.
These blocks have a tendency to leak a little, even when new, which is why the tablets are installed at he factory and GM recommends they are replaced at every cooling system refill. Its much cheaper to try the tabs before condemning the whole engine.

I've never heard of a engine block failing from improper cooling system maintenance! I would do as others have said, and have it checked out elsewhere. If it's not a head gasket that is leaking, it could be a leaking intake manifold gasket, leaking coolant into the oil. It might not hurt to have the engine oil tested by a lab to see if that is where the coolant is going. My '94 Deville currently has a slowly leaking intake manifold gasket. I've tested for head gasket failure and that was negative. I used a tester kit from NAPA that tests for exhaust gases in the coolant. It only costs about $50, and is easy to use. But my oil shows coolant in the oil, per the lab test. So it wouldn't be a bad idea for you to try the same!
As for the coolant supplement tablets, on this engine you CAN put them in through the radiator cap. It is on the Northstar engines that you cannot.

Thank you, Thank you Thank You, one and All for you input!!!
I am truly grateful and I will be taking the car elsewhere for an opinion. I did pick up the tabs yesterday. They came 5 on the card from AC Delco. I will also invest in the $50 tester from my local NAPA store. So far the car has not shown any of the typical head gasket failure sysptoms(ie white exhaust or noticiable coolant in the oil) but that does not mean that is not an issue.
I will let you know my findings.

Have a great week!
RASCARS
:)

Ok, I'm a Cadillac technician and here's my opinion on this subject. As far as I understand those supplement pellets are coolant leak sealer...and thats it. Thats all they do. They are there to seal block porosity and other problematic coolant leaks/seapage associated with aluminum engine blocks.
Coolant, over time becomes, an electrolyte which can cause it to corrode away the metal. I've seen 4.9 block galvonically (sp?) corroded away from lack of coolant flushs, but we were in the process of doing a head gasket repair when we discovered that. We were unable to reliablly seal the head gasket because the corrosion had thinned the block away.
So either the problem your experiancing wasn't explain well to you, or they are mistaken.

I'm sorry I've not followed up with all of you that lent a helping hand of advice, but after a few tries and a month to verify the results my baby is running leak free.
I found a wonderful new mechanic that understands and likes older Caddy's. We replaced the water pump (faulty previous replacement), replaced the radiator (hair line crack in the plastic tank-13 years old) added the mystry tablets to the new coolant and serviced the transmission with a new filter, gasket and fluid.
It has been 3,000 leak free, smooth miles!
Thanks to everyone for your input. I would not have been able to resolve these issues without you.

:biggrin: