On the highway, there is white smoke from engine hood, stopped the car on the highway ramp and could not start the engine again, towed the car to my house and park on the drive way. I found it run out of coolant, I filled distilled water to trouble shooting and figured out the upper radiator hose was broken, replace upper radiator hose and refilled the distilled water, and I found the upper radiator hose is good but the leaking is from engine, I doubt it is the head gasket issue and can not seal. it maybe the high temperature damaged the engine parts after the coolant was leak out on highway, I don't know exact issue is, I was told it will cost at least 2k to fix the head gasket or 4-5k to replace the engine, the car has 95k miles.

Any suggestions.

Thanks,

 

Until you determine the source of the leak, there is no way to constructively understand the problem.

 

does it run out when you are filling it? check the overflow reservoir, lower radiator hose, hoses to/from the heater core, removing the timing belt cover to check for water pump leaks, radiator seams for staining and such. Even if you find the leak you have the question of why it overheated in the first place (ie head gasket, failed water pump, failed thermostat, blown hose). you will need to remove the upper and lower shrouds, turbo heat seal, timing belt cover (good access to the nose of the engine via the front passenger wheel well door)

 

Thank for you folks's reply, the leaking is from the middle of engine at the backside (the side closed to driver), when I replaced the upper radiator hose, the coolant color is black,this is why I am thinking overheat caused the head gasket issue and coolant mixed with engine oil.

 

If you have black coolant, then something is wrong big time.