Overheating

[GoAwayDamnYou]

Can't figure out what's going on... has anyone else had the same problem?

Since I got the car it always ran a little warm in comparison to my other Camaro (twin).

Lately, it's been gradually overheating... it isn't consistent though. Sometimes the needle will go back down, but usually it steadily rises to boiling point after 30+ mins of driving. The hoses bulge out and get really hard.

I thought maybe there was a blockage somewhere; the water has always been really nasty looking... so I flushed it all out. A few times. It seemed like that worked... but a couple days later it was overheating again.
I flushed it a few more times over the course of a month and each time it helped, but the last time I did it I got no results.

On the other hand, I thought it could be the head gasket.... there aren't any bubbles present when I take off the radiator cap, though. I haven't Noticed any water in the exhaust pipes come to think of it, and it doesn't smoke (other than a little white puff in the morning)... but the hoses bulging up is quite concerning.
There is also a lot of pressure on the radiator cap.... Oh yeah, I replaced the cap too.

I've replaced the thermostat 3 time since April 2006. When I boiled them in a pot of water, they all opened up at their respective temps. The first two were 180º, the most recent one is 160º.

Oh and in April 2006 I replaced the bearings on the fan, so I don't think it's the fan. It comes on.

Other than overheating, the car runs perfect (no missing or lag).

So, I guess now it's something expensive...

The radiator is still pretty nasty looking. Maybe it's the rad?
IDK... I just really don't want it to be the head gasket...

She has been parked in my garage for 2 weeks now. I miss her :(

I'd like to see some opinions or suggestions before I dump all my money into something expensive like a head gasket.

...I'm new at this so be nice. LOL

[martinearley]

Re: Overheating

yea i just got mine fixed, same problem. It wasnt the thermostat or rad or fan it was one of my hoses that was leaking and my coolant got real gritty so i flushed t and took to my friends shop where he fixed it for me.

[98redcamaroV6]

Re: Overheating

I've had to flush out my radiator several times, most of the crude has been gotten rid of. The only problem i've had with my camaro overheating was a faulty water pump. It was slowly leaking I was having to top off the coolant levels. After I replaced the water pump it stopped leaking.

[CDNFB]

Re: Overheating

Not all head gasket failures put coolant in the exhaust pipe. And I would doubt that you would see the air bubbles in the radiator. It only takes a small amount of air in the system to cause a vapour lock and the symptoms that you have.

Try this, next time you see the temp spike high, go under the hood and open the bleeder screw. If air comes out then (in my opinion) you have a head gasket problem.

[GoAwayDamnYou]

Re: Overheating

Hey thanks for your input.

I spent all day examining every little bit of the car yesterday...

There was a loose bolt on the water pump which seemed to be letting air into the system

Also, there were a lot of leaves and an old plastic bag blocking up the radiator (couldn't have been from me, I always avoid running over things and it looked pretty old and nasty).
It is running a lot better now.

I compared it next to my other Camaro (they're exactly the same) and realized also that the fan may need to be replaced. It tends to get really hot (but doesn't overheat) with the A/C on while the other Camaro runs cooler with the A/C.

The water pump looks like it was replaced before and it may need it again... (180k miles now). The hoses are still a little tight, but not near as bad as before.

[LarryMow]

Re: Overheating

Try this, next time you see the temp spike high, go under the hood and open the bleeder screw. If air comes out then (in my opinion) you have a head gasket problem.

Speaking of bleeder screws...does the 3.4 V6 from 1993 have the bleeder screws? If so, where?

[nascar24jd]

Re: Overheating

Speaking of bleeder screws...does the 3.4 V6 from 1993 have the bleeder screws? If so, where?

No, the 3.4 does not have a bleeder screw.

[Shodown]

Re: Overheating

I was having the same problem just recently. We fixed it by putting a pressure washer into the radiator and all the hoses/heater core. Dexcool is nasty $hit when it gets old, it clogged up my radiator. We also primed it by pouring water/coolant into ALL the hoses, radiator, resevoir and into the intake manifold. Runs like a champ now :tup:

[GoAwayDamnYou]

Re: Overheating

Hey guys, still got problems.

The hoses are still getting really hard and bulging out.
It's still running pretty warm (240º).

From my knowledge, the only thing that would harden those hoses is compression... head gasket?

Any input?

[Shodown]

Re: Overheating

Sounds like your raditor is plugged up. I'd say get a new one. Summit sells them for $170 and so does O'Reilly's.

Just my .02

EDIT: Have you tried releasing the pressure thru the bleeder screw on the thermostat housing? Pressure in the system could cause the hoses to bulge. Bleed that pressure and report back.

[3.4orNothing]

Re: Overheating

yo,,,it doesn`t have to be this,, but last year my camaro started to get too hot even burst the radiator tank than a hose,,, what it was ,,was that my a\c did not have enough freon in it,,so i went to vacuum the a\c then put freon in,,,and my car runs perfect again,.....but for me that did not make sense,so i went for info about that,and they told me if your car does not have enough freon the condenser wich is in front of your radiator will get extremely hot and in turn it heats up the radiator badly,,,check that!!

[GoAwayDamnYou]

Re: Overheating

Thanks for the replies :)

Have you tried releasing the pressure thru the bleeder screw on the thermostat housing? Pressure in the system could cause the hoses to bulge. Bleed that pressure and report back.

It's a 95 3.4L; I don't think it has a bleeder screw.

if your car does not have enough freon the condenser wich is in front of your radiator will get extremely hot and in turn it heats up the radiator badly

Hmm. That's interesting, and could definitely be a possibility b/c I replaced my A/C system not too long ago, and did it myself... only seems to get hot when the A/C is on.
I will try that this weekend, Thanks!

[CDNFB]

Re: Overheating

....they told me if your car does not have enough freon the condenser.... will get extremely hot and in turn it heats up the radiator badly...

I don't think that explaination is quite right.

I think what should have been said is that if the refridgerent level gets low, so does the oil level (in the A/C system) and that lack of lubricating oil can cause the A/C compressor to run hotter than normal. This heat is added to the compression heat in the refridgerent, and that heat gets passed to the condensor. So yes, the condensor can run hotter than normal with low levels of refridgerent and oil, and that heat gets passed to the radiator.

[3.4orNothing]

Re: Overheating

I don't think that explaination is quite right.

I think what should have been said is that if the refridgerent level gets low, so does the oil level (in the A/C system) and that lack of lubricating oil can cause the A/C compressor to run hotter than normal. This heat is added to the compression heat in the refridgerent, and that heat gets passed to the condensor. So yes, the condensor can run hotter than normal with low levels of refridgerent and oil, and that heat gets passed to the radiator.

whatever.......but the good part is you understood!!!!

[3.4orNothing]

Re: Overheating

hey yo,,,,vacuum the a\c for atleast 30 min.