tommy2tall

Heres what I think happened. Based on you comments. The Lexus dealer tore the engine down to inspect it. They say the wter pump looks like it siezed. The parts surounding the water pump are melted, including the rotor and spark plug wires. The timing belt was burned. Two pistons were melted at the top and the cylinder linings were scored. The head looked ok visually, as well as the head gasket on one side of the engine. The one the took apart. That side had only 50 psi compression in two cylinders. This engine got very hot after only five miles on the freeway. I am thinking that the pump froze and got hot enough tho burst an oil seal in it's close proximity. The oil cought fire and burned the timing belt and surrounding parts. The engine was not being cooled and was running off time. This caused the massive damage. I think the water pump started the chain of events but the pump failure alone could not have melted the engine. I think the oil fire burned the timing belt and that's what really destroyed the entire engine. The insurance investigator says there was no fire. Based on his inspection of the engine parts. What can you engine experts offer? Could my scenario explain this damage? TTT

I took the sc400 to an engine shop with a good reputation. It has a blown head gasket for sure but it will take a lot of labor to find out more. $2100 in labor just to tear the engine down to find out what the underlying damage will be. The engine turns over but the mechanic thinks two cylinders have lost compression. He needs an approval from me to have a machine shop check the heads for warpage. If it's just the gasket it could cost $3000. My wife said she had the fluid levels checked three weeks ago. She didn't notice the temp gauge rising when it happened. I expect the problem started with a sudden a failure in cooling system. (Pump or hose) What would my list mates do? Thanks for the help and suggestions so far. TTT Orininal Post: Hi All- My wife has a 1996 SC400 with 48K miles. Maintained by Lexus dealer until warranty expired in 2000. Never had a problem. Changed oil every 3000 miles since 2000. Coming home from a party last night the engine lost power and blue smoke coming from engine compartment. Cruising at freeway speed we pulled off and called fire department. The check engine light was on and temp guage was maxed. Fire dept opened the hood and sprayed the engine. No actual flames. I had kept the hood closed so as not to let it ignite. Engine wouldn't re-start. AAA towed it to our home. I noticed oil on the bed of the tow truck. Still coolant in the reservoir. This morning I checked the oil level with the dipstick. Normal. No real damage by the smoke. Engine still would't start, although it turned over. Do any of you have a suggestion as to what happened? I can't tow it to a mechanic until tomorrow. Thanks in advance, TTT

Hi All- My wife has a 1996 SC400 with 48K miles. Maintained by Lexus dealer until warranty expired in 2000. Never had a problem. Changed oil every 3000 miles since 2000. Coming home from a party last night the engine lost power and blue smoke coming from engine compartment. Cruising at freeway speed we pulled off and called fire department. The check engine light was on and temp guage was maxed. Fire dept opened the hood and sprayed the engine. No actual flames. I had kept the hood closed so as not to let it ignite. Engine wouldn't re-start. AAA towed it to our home. I noticed oil on the bed of the tow truck. Still coolant in the reservoir. This morning I checked the oil level with the dipstick. Normal. No real damage by the smoke. Engine still would't start, although it turned over. Do any of you have a suggestion as to what happened? I can't tow it to a mechanic until tomorrow. Thanks in advance, TTT