Cooling system issues

Old Jun 8, 2009 | 11:13 PM
  #1  
clyon's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
In the Staging Lanes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 76
From: Penticton, BC, Canada
Exclamation Cooling system issues

I drive a 1997 SS, with a T56 and had roughly 138k (85750 miles)
Currently my car is on jack stands.... Once my temperature heats up a little over 100 celsius (210 Fahrenheit) coolant begins to spill very rapidly over my coolant resevior stem. Though the car does not overheat. Let me includes that a previous owner for some reason or another chopped this stem down so it only extends rougly 3" over the bottom of the battery and a cap will not fit onto it.
For the past few weeks I've been losing mass amount of coolant, though It hasn't appeared to be leaking while I'm driving or parked. After I top up the coolant the car drives normaly and doesn't overheat until a couple weeks later when the coolant level drasically drops.
There is a new water pump, thermostat, rad cap, upper, and lower rad hoses.
I did a home flush today of the rad using a kleenflo 10 minute rad flush I bought from Lordco, and then flushed with water through the top of the waterpump and the rad until clear water ran through the drain plug. (Took about 20 gallons of water before it ran clean! very lengthly process)
I asked an mechanic expericanced with reverse flow systems and he asked if the water pump had been changed recently, and said that there are water pumps that will bolt onto the car that will pump in the opposite direction. However I cross refrenced with different parts stores and they all told me I had the correct water pump. He also told me to check the thermostat and rad cap.
I tested the thermostat even though I just replaced it within the past month, and it opened abrubtly in boiling water. I also ran the system without the thermostat and coolant still erupted out the resevor stem.
When the coolant level in the rad is low and the car is running I can see that there is coolant draining through the hole which is connected to the hose running from the throttle body.
Hot air blows through my air vents, there is no smell of coolant in the car, and the passenger side carpet is not damp.
The oil and exhaust fumes look normal.
I bled over both bleeder screws during the filling process until solid coolant poured out.
I have not yet pressure tested the system, but a friend will be coming over tomorrow with a pressure tester.

Hopefully I didn't forget any details, to anyone who is still reading I'm looking for any other possible causes for this that anyone can think of to fix my problem.
 
Old Jun 8, 2009 | 11:46 PM
  #2  
craby's Avatar
April 2011 ROTM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 22,022
From: Tokeland, Washington
ROTM Winner's Club
Default

yep pressure test should tell u something. compression test would also be a good one to do. so far there isnt a lot left but head gasket, cracked head or cracked block and these two tests should help tell if one of these could be it.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Pig Hunter
93-02 V6 Tech
5
Jan 31, 2012 03:09 PM
fergie24
93-02 General
10
Apr 14, 2010 06:52 AM
tdeckaa90
93-02 V6 Tech
3
Feb 28, 2009 07:01 PM
superhotchevy
General Tech
3
Jul 16, 2008 12:41 PM
bconz350
82-92 General
2
Jan 4, 2007 10:30 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:29 AM.