95 3.4L v6.

Any good way to test to make sure water is circulating? I mean the upper and lower hoses get hot as does the radiator.

I changed the thermostat and when I removed the upper hose and housing, there really was no water in the hose or housing. Replaced everything and filled the radiator and maybe put in 12 ounces of coolant. Something just doesnt seem right to me.

I cant help but think its either a water pump issue or radiator. I would think that when the upper hose is empty and you add coolant it should drain down and fill that hose or am I looking into this way too deep.

The car doesnt over heat, in fact according to the temp gauge, it runs too cool, but if there was no water touching the sensor, it would give a false reading.

 

after the car has been running touch the radiator hoses,they should be pressurized and hot to the touch

 

Well they are hot to the touch, but they do not seem to be stiff, like there is any pressure in them if thats what you mean.

I did remove the belt and I can easily spin the water pump over by hand. Does not appear to be any kind of drag. I would think you should be able to feel some kind of resistance from the coolant?

I mean the pumps are cheap enough and I might just replace. If its not that, then it has to be something in the radiator.

 

I am having a similarly related problem. My '95 3.4L V6 is sucking down water and overheating like crazy. But the weird thing is that I dump tons of water into the radiator yet never fills all the way, the water just keeps going down BUT IT DOESN'T LEAK! I'll drive it a bit and it will over heat, then sometimes will drop in temp drastically...HELP!

(should i make my own thread?)

 

yes please

 

its not under that much pressure. 14 lbs. your garden hose is probly somewhere over 50lbs. if its not over heating or leaking i dont see a problem unless the hoses look cracked or in need of changing.

 

You could try to bleed the system. If the system is not creating/holding pressure that is a reason for concern. You can borrow a pressure tester from Autozone and see if the system will hold pressure. If it will not you will have to chase down where the leak is. If it holds pressure with the tester but does not build pressure after 15-20 minutes, replace the rad cap. its the only part for the system the pressure test can not check.

Your system needs pressure to work. Without pressure you can damage head gaskets or even heads.

in 20 years of working on cars i have never seen a water pump that was still sealed and turning that just did not pump water. They are just to basic a system.

 

Welcome to the "I have a 3.4 with a blown head gasket " club. Its a huge club. Course we need more detail but if the water is not falling out the bottom or going into the oil the only place left is out the tail pipe. It is a known issue with these cars.