Yesterday I was doing some stressful driving (traffic in hot weather) and she started inching higher and higher on the thermometer, until I started seeing steam coming from the hood, and the smell of something. It smelled literally like burning coolant. I could smell the sweet coolant smell, and something burning with it.
Pulled over, popped hood. Steam was being forced from something near the front of the engine. (This is a 98 3800II camaro by the way.) The light was bad, so I couldn't quite tell if the steam was coming from the hose leading to the thermostat or not. I was able to remove the radiator cap with no trouble. She's not leaking coolant, or at least, I don't think lack of coolant caused this.
Additionally, when I hit the brakes, or otherwise wasn't accelerating, I felt a severe rattling, like someone rattling a golf ball in a coffee can, coming from it felt like underneath the car.
Also, I recently replaced the thermostat, but failed to replace the circular gasket that fits around the thermostat in its housing, which I assume serves to force water through the thermostat and not around it. In other words, even if the thermostat was stuck, coolant could still get around it.
Pre-existing conditions:
- Water pump replaced a year ago.
- Thermostat replaced about 6 months ago.
- Crack in manifold repaired (not replaced) about 3 months ago.
Symptoms:
Overheating
No loss of coolant apart from the steam forced from the engine
Rattle under car
I fear the worst. Any ideas?
Pulled over, popped hood. Steam was being forced from something near the front of the engine. (This is a 98 3800II camaro by the way.) The light was bad, so I couldn't quite tell if the steam was coming from the hose leading to the thermostat or not. I was able to remove the radiator cap with no trouble. She's not leaking coolant, or at least, I don't think lack of coolant caused this.
Additionally, when I hit the brakes, or otherwise wasn't accelerating, I felt a severe rattling, like someone rattling a golf ball in a coffee can, coming from it felt like underneath the car.
Also, I recently replaced the thermostat, but failed to replace the circular gasket that fits around the thermostat in its housing, which I assume serves to force water through the thermostat and not around it. In other words, even if the thermostat was stuck, coolant could still get around it.
Pre-existing conditions:
- Water pump replaced a year ago.
- Thermostat replaced about 6 months ago.
- Crack in manifold repaired (not replaced) about 3 months ago.
Symptoms:
Overheating
No loss of coolant apart from the steam forced from the engine
Rattle under car
I fear the worst. Any ideas?
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