Ok, I've been down this road with my 1995 3.4L Monte Carlo Z34.
Now, my 1999 3.1L seems to want the same attention.
Here's the scenario:
- Wife complains heater doesn't work.
- Son adds coolant (don't know how much). No visible leaks per Son.
- Several days later, I use the car and get 5 blocks from my house and it
overheats. Ended up stalling as I was headed back home. Luckily I put it
in Neutral and coasted home.
- I check and see that there is an oil film in the coolant reservoir, and when
I check the oil level, it's dark and slightly milky, and the oil level is about 3"
above the Full Mark. il was changed 2 months ago and was at Full Mark
at that time.
- BTW, when I started up the car to get it into my heated garage, I had a lot
of white smoke coming from the exhaust...moisture?
- Rented a coolant system pressurizer hand pump from AutoZone. Took off
the Engine Oil cap, pressurized the coolant system at the radiator fill
opening and heard a small bubbling noise coming from the oil cap opening,
inside the engine....SH#T!!
So I talked to a Mechanic today and he asked me if the engine ran ok or did it run rough or stall. He said if the engine runs ok, chances are it is an
intake manifold leak, not a blown head gasket. His thinking is the engine would run rough if the head gasket was blown because coolant would be getting into the combustion chamber(s). He said you can get coolant into
the oil if the intake gaskets are leaking.
This news made me happy...until I remembered the white smoke coming from the exhaust.
So I know I have to replace the intake gaskets, but I'd like to verify the head gaskets are ok. Would a cylinder compression test verify that?
I'm thinking I'd replace the oil and filter to get good oil to all the bearings as soon as possible. I'd only run/crank the engine enough to check compression and distribute the oil. And never let the coolant system pressurize, keeping the coolant level just above the water pump.
I'd also check the oil pressure during this to see if the coolant has damaged any engine bearings.
Does this sound like a worthwhile plan?
All replies are greatly appreciated.
Now, my 1999 3.1L seems to want the same attention.
Here's the scenario:
- Wife complains heater doesn't work.
- Son adds coolant (don't know how much). No visible leaks per Son.
- Several days later, I use the car and get 5 blocks from my house and it
overheats. Ended up stalling as I was headed back home. Luckily I put it
in Neutral and coasted home.
- I check and see that there is an oil film in the coolant reservoir, and when
I check the oil level, it's dark and slightly milky, and the oil level is about 3"
above the Full Mark. il was changed 2 months ago and was at Full Mark
at that time.
- BTW, when I started up the car to get it into my heated garage, I had a lot
of white smoke coming from the exhaust...moisture?
- Rented a coolant system pressurizer hand pump from AutoZone. Took off
the Engine Oil cap, pressurized the coolant system at the radiator fill
opening and heard a small bubbling noise coming from the oil cap opening,
inside the engine....SH#T!!
So I talked to a Mechanic today and he asked me if the engine ran ok or did it run rough or stall. He said if the engine runs ok, chances are it is an
intake manifold leak, not a blown head gasket. His thinking is the engine would run rough if the head gasket was blown because coolant would be getting into the combustion chamber(s). He said you can get coolant into
the oil if the intake gaskets are leaking.
This news made me happy...until I remembered the white smoke coming from the exhaust.
So I know I have to replace the intake gaskets, but I'd like to verify the head gaskets are ok. Would a cylinder compression test verify that?
I'm thinking I'd replace the oil and filter to get good oil to all the bearings as soon as possible. I'd only run/crank the engine enough to check compression and distribute the oil. And never let the coolant system pressurize, keeping the coolant level just above the water pump.
I'd also check the oil pressure during this to see if the coolant has damaged any engine bearings.
Does this sound like a worthwhile plan?
All replies are greatly appreciated.
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