2010 V6 with 81,000 miles. Coolant is coming out overflow at a temp of 217. Local place pressure tested, couldn't find problem, said to drive it. (Did not let it run to get hot to duplicate complaint as requested.) Took it to local dealership, asked them to check thermostat (we verified fluid levels were full and looked good in color before walking in.) Dealership says they plugged it in, didn't receive a thermostat code, it did throw the P0008 code; checked coolant and looked "off" so they drained it and refilled. They are speculating a head gasket or cylinder wall issue and say they think oil is getting into the coolant causing the coolant to overflow. The car does NOT have any smoke out the tailpipes when running.

Dealership suggests replacing engine...at nearly the price of the car itself.

I am NOT a mechanic and my go-to trusted mechanics are either dis-abled or passed away. Looking for some thoughts from others who may have had this experience or have some mechanical knowledge and could share some advice.

 

I'm not a mechanic either, but I knew a car-owner who had this happen (much higher-mileage, not realistically recoverable), and when there was oil in the coolant then the mechanic could see oil in the coolant (or coolant in the oil)! It seems unexpected to me that someone would "wonder if". Is there or isn't there? And why would that make it overflow?