Possible Headgaskets?

Nate's Alero · 12-18-2009, 09:57 PM

i noticed today, it was 10* out.....

when i drive, my car runs about 186* to 190*

well, when i'm cruising, it's all fine and dandy

when i stop......this is what happens

the heat goes lukewarm.... and the temp starts going up, but NOT fast.

it takes a WHILE to get past the 1/2 mark, but when i step on the gas, it climbs FAST, and then goes back down.... wtf?

when i bleed it, air always seems to come out, and will never stop, coolant smells rancid, but is nice and green... there is a slight film of condensation...

opinions?

Redog · 12-18-2009, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate's Alero

i noticed today, it was 10* out.....

when i drive, my car runs about 186* to 190*

well, when i'm cruising, it's all fine and dandy

when i stop......this is what happens

the heat goes lukewarm.... and the temp starts going up, but NOT fast.

it takes a WHILE to get past the 1/2 mark, but when i step on the gas, it climbs FAST, and then goes back down.... wtf?

when i bleed it, air always seems to come out, and will never stop, coolant smells rancid, but is nice and green... there is a slight film of condensation...

opinions?

Did you check the oil? look like choclate milk? A lot of white smoke comming from the tailpipe? Are you losing any coolant?

Could be you were driving and the car was getting all the cold air, then you stopped and it warmed up.

comanche · 12-18-2009, 11:54 PM

I've been told that in newer coolants you can't always see the oil when it's in there.

Have you checked your coolant temp sensor... maybe it's not reading right?
Seems strange that it won't bleed out right. Have you been losing coolant? Rad leak? Dexclog gumming up your radiator?

Just throwing ideas out, cooling is a weak area for me...

Nate's Alero · 12-19-2009, 08:09 AM

ok, i have green.... it's been in there for a while now,

no white smoke.... none at all... even when it's that cold, like, almost none...

i was just thinking that the thermostat is doing it's job? i really dont know, cooling systems are a weak spot for me...

tw0123 · 12-19-2009, 08:46 AM

i had the same thing happen in my venture, and had my neighbour look at it... he said that my heads are leaking a bit, but nothing serious enough to worry about (i have had the van since feb and only put in maybe 1/2 jug of coolant so far) and when this happened to me he checked it out and said i had an air bubble in the line, he bled it until it ran air free, topped it up and its been fine since... although it is starting to happen again this week, i will have him look at it next week if we have time...

i know next to nothing, but he seems to fix my cars when things go wrong...

Nate's Alero · 12-19-2009, 08:55 AM

i think i'll do them... i planned on doing them in the spring anyway...the engine itself has a lot of life left in it...
i used "value" head gaskets when i did the 3500 top swap, and i wanted MLS gaskets..... and i've been naughty to my alero.... whoops

WhiteV6 · 12-19-2009, 09:58 AM

do a compression test.

Nate's Alero · 12-19-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteV6

do a compression test.

did one, 150, 145, 140,

140, 135, 140

JLw7123 · 12-19-2009, 10:33 AM

well we will take the engine apart down to the heads at my house since nate can not do that kind of work at his house. Should be fun in the winter.

WhiteV6 · 12-19-2009, 12:08 PM

I see no indication of a blown head gasket from those readings or the description. Having a bad overflow tank that does not seal is the obvious fix so do that first.

comanche · 12-19-2009, 12:11 PM

Well, you've got great compression.

If there's no way that you can bleed the air out of it, then obviously you have a leak somewhere and have to start with that.

Are you losing coolant?

Nate's Alero · 12-19-2009, 01:42 PM

i do lose coolant, it's an external leak, i CANNOT find it, it lurks around the subframe, and no where near a hose or anything,

FIXED: replaced surge tank, holds heat now, still slowly creeps at redlights... but nothing new there, no more air...

2000aleroff · 12-19-2009, 05:49 PM

sounds like what happened before they told me i needed a LIM job.....

Nate's Alero · 12-19-2009, 08:00 PM

i just let it sit for 45 minutes.... i mean, it took FOREVER to get even past the 1/2 mark.... it's doing great, i love how...NOT crappy the new tank looks... i need to do a coolant flush though, it's all poopy from the previous tank letting all the dex poo stain out...