1998 CHEVROLET BERETTA User Comment / Complaint

While chatting with the mechanic at the dealer i recently heard that general motors has had a problem with the new style orange antifreeze corroding head gaskets on some of their v-6 engines. word has it they knew there was a problem but have kept quiet about it. i also heard from another mechanicthat they have a problem with premature failure of the valve seats. they both worked at the chevrolet dealer. which ever the case, i had a chevrolet barretta with a v-6 engine. without warning water started coming out of the exhaust pipe. there were no broken hoses or other leaks present. at the time i thought this was strange. i took it to the chevrolet dealer, and they told me they could replace the heads, but they wouldn't gaurantee that would fix it. they talked me into buying a new car. all i could afford was a low mileage demonstrator.now the new car is approaching the same age and it has the same engine. i travel to ohio for christmas. now i'm worried about this car. i'm a military widow and i can't afford a new car every two or three years. i always took my car to the dealer for inspection and service. i am lucky i was home when this happened. if it had happened last christmas on my way to ohio, i would have froze to death. most of the dates here are guesses. general motors should have all the correct dates on file. i bought the first car in cabot, arkansas and i bought the second car in branson , missouri. my friend has been a mechanic most of his life and he can't do it any more. he presently owns a 1990 chev. astro van with a v-6 engine with 250,000 miles on it with no problem. it has always had the old style green antifreeze in it. i feel that if there has been a known problem they should warn people about it. and if i have the same problem with this car it should have been fixed before i bought it.