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Overheated 3100 - is it doomed?

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  • #1

    Overheated 3100 - is it doomed?

    My '95 Lumina sedan has a 3100 with 248,000 miles on the clock. This morning I started out for work (in below-zero temperatures) and the temp gauge needle climbed like it usually does, but instead of dropping back when the thermostat opens it kept climbing. I turned around to go back home but while I was still several miles out the needle was pegged past 260 and then the upper radiator hose burst. I crawled home at no faster than 30 MPH, parked, and shut off the engine. I didn't try to restart it.

    My theory is that the thermostat never opened and the heat and pressure eventually got so high that the hose failed, and now I'm worried that I might've warped the heads or worse, seized the engine. How resistant to heat damage are the aluminum-headed V-6s?

    Thanks!

    Brad
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Each one seems to be different. There is no real set way to tell. All I can recommend is fixing the hose, bleed the system, then try it again. See what happens. You will know pretty quick if you warped a head.

    I know the heads on my 1990 STE 3.1 got warped, but it was because the previous owner drove the car for over 6 months with no coolant at all in it. What it was doing was I would bleed the system, and it would be fine, but as I drove the car, it would get air in the system again, overheat, and I would have to re-bleed it. The warped heads were causing the engine to blow pressure into the block from the heads, and then blowing the coolant out through the overflow, or something like that.

    I did have to replace the heads, but that is not too bad of a job to do.
    Taylor
    1988 Olds Cutlass Supreme 3100 MPFI
    1990 Pontiac Grand Prix STE 3.1 MPFI
    1994 Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible
    1998 Lincoln Mark VIII
    "find something simple and complicate it"

    Comment

    • #3
      6 months without coolant and the engine didn't die?? That's pretty impressive even though you did have to replace the heads.

      The tow truck's coming at 4 this afternoon to take it to the shop, and they'll replace the hoses and thermostat tomorrow. I'd do it myself but it's too cold out to be messing with that cramped t-stat housing location and my garage isn't heated.

      Years ago I had an '88 6000 SE with the MPFI 2.8 and it was a peppy little car and fun to drive. The Lumina replaced it and while it's never been as quick off the line it had what felt like better midrange punch, at least when I bought it.

      Brad

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      • #4
        The lumina weighs more, and has only 10 HP more. My 2.8 was pretty peppy, but the one in my STE feels REALLY healthy.

        Also, if you had more water than coolant in the system, you might have just frozen the thermostat. Happened to me once.

        Just get them to do that, and see what happens. They can probably run the car and let you know if there is any damage.

        As for my STE, I was just lucky it didn't damage the block. If it would have been the TURBO STE, then it would have been a LOT worse.
        Taylor
        1988 Olds Cutlass Supreme 3100 MPFI
        1990 Pontiac Grand Prix STE 3.1 MPFI
        1994 Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible
        1998 Lincoln Mark VIII
        "find something simple and complicate it"

        Comment

        • #5
          Hopefully too the intake gasket didn't melt. Not sure what temp that plastic warps at but I've seen ones from my healthy engine when I replaced them that were warped pretty bad.

          Any time you go close or into the red, pull over and stop and let the car cool off. Never drive it no matter how gently when it's too hot. Always let it cool off then drive some more until it heats up, then stop, repeat.

          Also having the heater on full blast will help cool the engine off too while you are driving it.
          sigpic New 2010 project (click image)
          1994 3100 BERETTA. 200,000+ miles
           16.0 1/4 mile when stock. Now ???
          Original L82 Longblock           with LA1, LX9, LX5 parts
          Manifold-back 2.5" SS Mandrel Exhaust. Hardware is SS too.

          Comment

          • #6
            The 3.1 does not have plastic gaskets. That is just the 3x00 engines. The plenum will be either metal gaskets, or made from the same material as the lower intake, and headgaskets, etc.
            Taylor
            1988 Olds Cutlass Supreme 3100 MPFI
            1990 Pontiac Grand Prix STE 3.1 MPFI
            1994 Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible
            1998 Lincoln Mark VIII
            "find something simple and complicate it"

            Comment

            • #7
              I replaced Intake gaskets on a 1996 3.1 M and it

              had black plastic gaskets just like replacement felpro's..so what are you talking about willis?.The Head Gaskets are metal but not the Intake gaskets.

              Comment

              • #8
                3100MPFI I was refering to Brad_Olsen's motor. He does have a 3100
                sigpic New 2010 project (click image)
                1994 3100 BERETTA. 200,000+ miles
                 16.0 1/4 mile when stock. Now ???
                Original L82 Longblock                 with LA1, LX9, LX5 parts
                Manifold-back 2.5" SS Mandrel Exhaust. Hardware is SS too.

                Comment

                • #9
                  You know, I was also thinking GEN 2. Not GEN 3. I guess I kinda spaced out there.

                  The 3100 has the plastic intake gaskets lower intake gaskets, but the 2.8/3.1 does not.
                  Taylor
                  1988 Olds Cutlass Supreme 3100 MPFI
                  1990 Pontiac Grand Prix STE 3.1 MPFI
                  1994 Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible
                  1998 Lincoln Mark VIII
                  "find something simple and complicate it"

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Why on Earth would you drive the vehicle if its pegged at over 220 degree's or more?.You should have shut it down and waited for it to cool and had it towed home.If you were in a bad neighborhood I could understand but...
                    Also Isaac Hayes is correct..turn on your AC/Heater to kick both fans on(if equipped with two)that way the fans will keep it cool until you limp it home.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Update:

                      I picked up the car earlier this week and have been driving it the past 3 days. So far everything seems to be like it was before the hose burst, right down to the slipping transmission. It lives to fight another day...

                      Brad

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