Automotive → [Help] Thermostat Housing?

My (ex) wife has a 2003 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition SUV. It has been a complete headache ever since we've owned it. We have noticed there is a smell of burning oil and my mom has seen colored (I think bluish) coming out of the pipe one morning. Today, my (ex) wife took it to a mechanic and was told that the Thermostat Housing is busted and that the intake sounds like it is leaking. She was told that if it busts, fluid will mix and the engine will be damaged.

In addition, the SUV has many, many other issues. It has bald tires, transmission won't go into reverse sometimes, etc.

My question is... what exactly is the mechanic saying? I had a Buick that had a lower intake gasket that was bad and could cause fluids to mix... is this the same thing or is this something different?

She was told to park it and not drive it. We (she) owns it free and clear title (other than repaying her dad some money) and I am starting to think it might be best just to sell it or trade it at this point.

Suggestions? Thanks in advance.

If the intake manifold gasket leaks, then AF can be injected into the combustion chamber. Result: engine could be toast very quickly. A $700 bill, or so to replace.

Oil burning smell? It may be as simple as a valve cover gasket leaking, or the oil pan gasket leaking and hitting the exhaust.

A thermostat housing is cheap, but you should replace the thermostat while it's being changed as well.

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Personally, I'd get a second opinion from a trusted mechanic, but if the tranny is full of fluid, it may be time to let it go.

Thanks. She normally takes the car to work, but I had to have the oil changed on it today so she took the SUV to work, which is 75 miles one way. She went by a mechanic close to her job which is a very rural town and only a couple mechanics there... so I told her to go ahead and drive it home and to keep it at 55 MPH on the interstate to keep the RPM's low and to keep an eye on the temps. I have several mechanics here that I've known for many many years and trust so I'm going to drop it off at a couple of them to get some insight to the problem.

In addition to everything I've said... the SUV has died (shut off) on us a couple times while driving but would start right back up and other times it would idle rough as if it's about to die but doesn't.

There are some problems, that's for sure.

Might be a fuel pump, or associated that causes that. Fuel pressure regulator?

It sounds like it has a few problems to be sure.

Yeah. We shall see. She is really wanting a Toyota Camry again (her last one was totaled by a driver who pulled out in front of her) so it might be time to start looking into that. Either sell this on on craigslist for $5000ish or trading it in as a down payments.

If it has that many problems, trade it in. I couldn't stick a person with those potential problems.