Overheating, advice to get home?

[pattypoo2]

I blew my radiator a few weeks ago climbing a mountain. It was actually a fantastic adventure and replaced it with a new one myself to get out of the bush along with a blown hose. Was feeling pretty good about my first attempt at mechanics until I just took her on another trip. I was suspecting it was running a bit hotter than before, although hard to tell as I obviously hadn't been paying enough attention to that. I have now confirmed my deli is not the same, climbing a mountain pass was devastating! I had to pull over and idle 4 times, but persisted to get over as I am heading to the coast for work. The heat jumps up to about a third of the thermostat fairly quick, and goes towards the red real quick when I'm climbing.

I was feeling ok about managing the heat (gearing down and just taking it real slow) while limping to the coast to get someone to look at it, but when I started it this morning it took like seven tries for it to turn over with lots of white smoke shooting out. From my reading it seems like I need to have work on the heads done, I'm just still half in denial at this point. So the other question is; am I going to be doing serious damage by driving this thing? I'm in Golden so there are mountains to cross and it's hot...

My fluid is a little low so I'm topping it up, I've checked for leaks, the hoses are all in reasonable enough shape, checked the fan clutch and fan fuse behind the glove box. The previous owner had installed a extra skid plate in front of the rad and I removed that in hopes of improved air flow. Going to pick up a new rad cap today, but it seems a bit more serious than an old cap at this point. Any other stuff I can check out/do?

Other details I recently did an oil change/filter and new air filter myself. Also my AC unit is shot, turning on the fan causes the belt to squeak horribly on the seized unit(?), so I can't blow hot air to cool it down. It also appears that a air hose in the little area behind the drivers seat is missing.

That is the sum of my current knowledge on my vehicle and situation right now.

Any advice, tips or reality checks are appreciated, I love this machine and I don't wanna make any more big mistakes!

[Growlerbearnz]

It really sounds like the overheating has blown the head gasket or cracked the head. This might have happened after the first overheat, before you replaced the radiator, and it's getting worse.

With the engine cold, take the radiator cap off, start it and rev it up while watching the coolant in the radiator. If there are air bubbles you're screwed. Also check the oil and underside of the oil filler cap: if the oil is milky, or the cap has mayonnaise on it, you are similarly screwed.

I wouldn't drive it. You can buy a new head or head gasket easily enough, but if you crack or warp the block, or drive with contaminated oil, you're looking at a new engine.