ENGINE BLOWN? ticking then knocking

[jenni]

Hi,
Hoping someone can help me understand. I have 96 GMC 1500 4WD p/u w/125K miles on it. It was running great (maybe slight missing), but I have not had a tune up for a while, only regular oil changes and various things that have broken over the past 6 mos. For example, 4WD silonoid (sp?) thermostat, EGR valve.

So, Friday took it to what I believe to be a reputable service center and asked them to do an inspection and recommend if I needed plugs, wires, fuel filter, check fluids, brakes etc. They did that and replaced plugs, wires, fuel filter, power steering line was leaking, differential was leaking, and did an oil and filter change and said everything else looked great. I left Denver for the 400 mile drive back to Durango, where I live and about 200 miles in, I heard a strange ticking in the engine while climbing a small hill in 2nd gear. When I got back to OD, it went away and did not come back (for a while). I had also been smelling a faint smell of what I thought was antifreeze pretty much the whole drive. I stopped about 70 miles further and when I turned on the truck to leave I heard a slight rattle or ticking when I turned on the engine, but then nothing. I turned it off and on again to be sure I heard it,and didn't hear it a second time. BUT, when I got on the road, the ticking began again, and eventually turned into a slapping noise, and by the time I had a safe place to pull over, 20 miles or so further, it was a loud knocking noise, while driving and while idling.

I was towed 135 miles to my home, because the driver said he thought the engine was "done" "blown", after listening to it for a couple seconds. The knocking is really loud! I checked the oil, after getting it home, in case they forgot to fill it. There was plenty of oil, but it looked darker than normal. I also had plenty of fluid in my antifreeze overflow reservoir, but couldn't get the cap of the radiator to check. Also my gauges were in normal range (oil pressure and engine temp). Is there any way that the shop could be responsible for what I experienced? I paid them $1038!! and then had to pay $350 for the tow, because it was over AAA's 100 mile limit!! But does it sound blown judging from the limited information in my post?I know its hard to tell when you cant hear it and I will be taking it to my mechanic this week, but thought I would see if anyone here has any insights or thoughts. Thanks so much!!!

Jenni

[Chevy_Finatic79]

without being able to hear its very hard to tell you one way or the other but in either case the loud ticking, slapping, and knocking are not good at all. you could have spun a bearing or worse but only your mechanic can tell you for sure when he/she tears into it. at this point its 50/50 on being blown or repairable