Need Help Fast!!!

[CARdiac]

I started overheating today. Went to PBs and found the coolant was low (never smelled coolant), my entire engine bay is dry. Added coolant and it was idling (no leaks) at a good temp for so I drove home. It seemed to get a little warm as I got close to home. When I got home I checked the overflow tank and the level was good. Before I left the house tonight I checked the overflow level again and it was ok. Started to drive and it heated up again, I turned on the heat but only cool air came out. I got home and grabbed my wife's car. When I got back home the coolant was low again. I found no puddles.

I am confused! I checked my oil and the level is high, but I can't tell if there is coolant in the oil (it smells like used oil not collant).

Any ideas?

[hockeyman]

I had a similar problem on my 1990 dodge omni recently. I changed the coolant, but forgot to purge the coolant in the engine. Air bubbles get inside of the radiator and engine when the fluid gets low, and you need to bleed the system.
My omni had all new coolant and new thermostst, and was almost overheating. I got the engine up to operating temp and unscrewed the bleeder-bolt on the thermostsat housing. ALL kinds of hissing/air bubbles were happening, then solid fluid came out. The system was bled, and I have had no problems since ;)

-Marc

[ December 02, 2003: Message edited by: hockeyman ]</p>

[Denis]

Do the 94's use Dexcool? My girlfiend added regular antifreeze to the Dexcool in her Cavalier and the temp gauge started showing constant overheating for some reason or other. After a drain, flush, and refill with Dexcool all was OK.

[Bliggida]

Purge the system.

If it's been a while I'd go ahead and change the thermostat. I've done it so many times on the L36 that it doesn't take any more than 10 mintues from start to finish.

Mine always seemed to loose coolant slowly and exhibit simillar symptoms. Never could find a leak either.

When it began to blow cold air with the heater on, I pulled over to fill it up, and it took some water but didn't seem to make any difference. Then what I believed to be the system resetting by the computer or thermostat it began to take water like a camel in the desert, and the heater began to pump out hot, hot, hot air like it used to do. And after that man it never ran past 180 unless I was in traffic with the A/C on, then it'd get up to 210-220.

Also, I remember my gauge cycling from 180 to 210 when the heater blew cold air. The fans would turn on it'd jump down to 180, and about as fast it'd go right back to 210 back and forth.

Least of my problems now though. I think I'm gonna check on having the radiator boiled out when the motor is being rebuilt. That Dexcool stuff needs to be changed out yearly just like regular coolant. You wait for 5 years, you're liable to have it gum up and stop flowing. In my experiance anyway.

[Jason McCallister]

Never, never, never, ever mix the green stuff with Dexcool! :eek: [img]graemlins/slap.gif[/img]

[CARdiac]

I just got a call from my shop, the system is holding pressure and they could not find a leak. They are going to flush and fill the system and run it for a while...since it is time, they are going to change my oil and see if there is any coolant in there.... They are not sure if it is a small leak in the intake system (I knew I should have done the TB bypass). But they seem clueless.

[hockeyman]

Your STILL losing fluid??? Ok, you say there isn't any trace of fluid on the ground anywhere, so you're probably burning it up in the combustion chamber(s). Ever notice if you have a HUGE ploom of smoke coming from your tailpipes?

-Marc

[CARdiac]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by hockeyman:
Your STILL losing fluid??? Ok, you say there isn't any trace of fluid on the ground anywhere, so you're probably burning it up in the combustion chamber(s). Ever notice if you have a HUGE ploom of smoke coming from your tailpipes?

-Marc<hr></blockquote>

Nope no smoke.

I had the shop drain the oil and it had the classic "milkshake" look of oil-coolant mix.

The shop thinks it may be the intake manifold, however they are testing the compression in each cyl to make sure it is not a headgasket....but I am fearing the worst. [img]graemlins/crybaby.gif[/img]

[CAMAROWIDBASS]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by CARdiac:


Nope no smoke.

I had the shop drain the oil and it had the classic "milkshake" look of oil-coolant mix.

<hr></blockquote>

when my head gasket blew out my car would over heat,it would burn the water in the radiator into the combustio chamber, i noticed some white smoke from the tail pipe nota lot though.

Next day it started up rough and i checked the oil and it looked all watery, like you describe it a milk shake

[CARdiac]

Friggin H@ll!!!!

[img]graemlins/crybaby.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/crybaby.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/crybaby.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/crybaby.gif[/img]
It's the headgasket.....$1400 bucks.....if only someone would give me $1K I can just buy a new 3.4L

[ December 04, 2003: Message edited by: CARdiac ]</p>

[CARdiac]

Originally posted by CARdiac:
Friggin H@ll!!!!

[img]graemlins/crybaby.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/crybaby.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/crybaby.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/crybaby.gif[/img]
It's the headgasket.....$1400 bucks.....if only someone would give me $1K I can just buy a new 3.4L motor!

[ December 04, 2003: Message edited by: CARdiac ]</p>

[snatch]

That blows, check this website out man. They have awesome deals on used engines.
http://www.tacreationsusa.com/v6.htm#Specials
Hope that helps.
Shane

[CARdiac]

If i am going to replace the engine, i would rather have one that has been rebuilt and preferably comes with a warrenty....I have no idea how those engines were treated, but good prices if I ever need a block to rebuild for fun.

[cb1101]

I feel your pain man!!...i had to do mine about 2 yrs ago...total cost was 1500 which included all gaskets, seals,bolts and a 3 angle valve job.

See if you can do a payment plan! How many miles on the car?

If i could do it all over again..i would def pay the xtra money to get head work done...but xmas was right around the corner and i held off. :(

[Knight5]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by CARdiac:
Friggin H@ll!!!!

[img]graemlins/crybaby.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/crybaby.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/crybaby.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/crybaby.gif[/img]
It's the headgasket.....$1400 bucks.....if only someone would give me $1K I can just buy a new 3.4L

[ December 04, 2003: Message edited by: CARdiac ]<hr></blockquote>

well look around.I had the same problem with my camaro and they wanted around $1600 to replace the headgasket.This one shop they did it for like $300 bucks

:D
its been like 3 years and still no problems