Q: I have a ’91 Cadillac Fleetwood FWD with a 4.9-liter V-8 engine. I noticed that there’s a large amount of steam coming out of my vehicle’s tailpipe. The engine runs good when it’s first started, but once it warms up, it runs rough and then the coolant light comes on. I also noticed that my car leaks quite a bit of oil. I was wondering if it’s a cracked head or cylinder block. What do you think? -- T.O., Martinsville, VA

A: T.O., it seems as though the engine in your Cadillac needs lots of TLC, but the question is: Is it worth it? Large amounts of steam coming out the tailpipe, plus the fact that the coolant light is coming on indicate that your engine is likely burning the coolant in the combustion chamber due to an internal coolant leak. This can be caused by bad head gaskets, warped or cracked cylinder heads, or a warped or cracked cylinder block. If that’s the original engine, or one that has many miles on it, it’s probably not worth repairing. If the rest of the car is in great shape and you really want to keep the car, find out how much it would cost to install a used or rebuilt engine. Compare that cost with how much the car is actually worth and also, how much a suitable replacement car would cost. If the rest of the car is in good shape and you can’t afford a replacement car, have another engine installed in your Fleetwood.

Q: You have had recent questions about engines burning oil. In my experience the most serious consequence has been damage to the catalytic converter. Do you agree? -- J.F., email

A: J.F., thanks for the comment. You’re right. Oil that’s burned in the engine can coat the internal passages in the catalytic converter affecting its ability to reduce emissions and possibly cause a restriction to the flow of exhaust gases. When the catalytic converter restricts the flow of exhaust gases, the engine will lack power and have difficulty getting up to speed. Plus, the catalytic converter is not cheap to replace and some vehicles have more than one.

Q: I own a 2000 Jeep Wrangler with a 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. I’m having trouble with the clutch. The pedal feels kind of weak and when it’s pressed I can’t easily shift the gears. A friend told me that my Wrangler uses a hydraulic clutch and that the slave cylinder needs to be replaced because it’s leaking. I went to auto parts store and they said that I’d have to go to the dealer. I went to the dealer and they told me that the slave cylinder can’t be ordered separately and I have to get the whole assembly, which includes the master cylinder and line to the slave cylinder. Have you heard of such a thing? -- H.T., Chicago

A: H.T., yes I have. Jeep isn’t the only manufacturer to do this. Unfortunately it costs more money to fix when you have to get it as an assembly. The good news, though, is it comes filled with fluid and the air has been bled, making it ready to go right out of the box.

AutoAdviser: Ira Siegel is an Automotive Instructor and ASE Certified Master Auto Technician. If you have auto-related questions for Ira Siegel you can call and leave your questions at the Auto Adviser Hotline at 708-633-6839 or e-mail a question to Autoadvisr@aol.com.