severely overheated
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 848
Likes: 1
From: 1992 LT1 6 speed Cayman Islands
Originally Posted by wht_slvr_86
UPDATE
more bad news changed my oil and went to get gas come back park it to move ramps off driveway pull forward turn it off get out go to check oil and huge coolant spot on concrete
i cannot tell if there is oil in the coolant due to the brown pellet crap gm put in it and i can't get outta it
the left(driver) side of the engine is dry but the right side has water under it.
coolant never got over 170*f
looks like fluid is definantly coming from front of engine
bolt under tpi runners has coolant/junk pooled around it
front of engine is wet
lower rad hose is rust/brown stained near water pump
will borrow pressure test tool from work tommorow
will see if there is a comp test tool at work
more bad news changed my oil and went to get gas come back park it to move ramps off driveway pull forward turn it off get out go to check oil and huge coolant spot on concrete
i cannot tell if there is oil in the coolant due to the brown pellet crap gm put in it and i can't get outta it
the left(driver) side of the engine is dry but the right side has water under it.
coolant never got over 170*f
looks like fluid is definantly coming from front of engine
bolt under tpi runners has coolant/junk pooled around it
front of engine is wet
lower rad hose is rust/brown stained near water pump
will borrow pressure test tool from work tommorow
will see if there is a comp test tool at work
Put some more water in the system and replace the radiator cap, now start the car and let it warm up until the drip starts again. Turn off car and start looking with a flashlight for the source of the leak.
From whet you describe on the lower radiatir hose, the leak is near this, either the waterpump ( check bleed hole at bottom) or the hose itself is punchered near the clamp or perhaps it is the throttle body coolant hose or the throttle bode water jacket has corroded through.
Look for the leak and identify where it is before starting to take parts off the engine. This is definately an external leak and not an internal leak so fix it forst then do the compression test to see if you need to tear into the engine.
If you can drive the car and it drives OK, I think you were lucky and all you have is an external coolant leak.
Don't panic and do anything drastic until you have identified where the problem is by testing first.
Jerris
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
I think 1986 L98s had the oil heater, which runs coolant through the oil filter housing. Check that plumbing, too.
You might get lucky, just take your time.
I would replace every gasket you can reach... and change the oil... checking the filter for metal would be a good thing, too.
You might get lucky, just take your time.
I would replace every gasket you can reach... and change the oil... checking the filter for metal would be a good thing, too.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
Coolant under the rh side of the eng..? The heater hoses, lower rad. hose, oil cooler al. pipe and knock sensor are all on that side of the engine, and chances are one of these is leaking...I would have a real close look at the al. oil cooler pipe that joins to the rubber hose under the a/c compressor. It is not unheard of to see one of these al. pipes develop a split.
I am not so sure about pulling all of the acessories off just yet. If you have access to a radiator pressure gauge, you might find it is a matter of tightening a hose clamp...
If you were able to drive the car home on 8 cyl's, you may not have done any/too much danmage...
I am not so sure about pulling all of the acessories off just yet. If you have access to a radiator pressure gauge, you might find it is a matter of tightening a hose clamp...
If you were able to drive the car home on 8 cyl's, you may not have done any/too much danmage...
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,111
Likes: 1
From: My redneck of the woods louisiana
i know the leak is on the front of the engine but i cannot see its origin. and i am thinking it might be the w/p or lower hose. a new water pump and hoses may not hurt anyway being they are all probably 20 yrs old.
also the puddle on the manifold (i believe to be a seperate leak that i have had for a while cause i've noticed it before) could this be one of the bolts weeping fluid?
do they enter the water jacket/passages?
how likely is it to be the tb leaking a little?
also the puddle on the manifold (i believe to be a seperate leak that i have had for a while cause i've noticed it before) could this be one of the bolts weeping fluid?
do they enter the water jacket/passages?
how likely is it to be the tb leaking a little?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,269
Likes: 0
From: Sharpsburg Georgia
GA Events Coordinator
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
An auto shop can probably leak check it by putting dye in the coolant and looking with UV light.
Don't tell them that you overheated it, or they'll start trying to sell you on more repair work.
Don't tell them that you overheated it, or they'll start trying to sell you on more repair work.
It never ceases to amaze me how many shops have cars come in and the radiator is leaking, they say "a radiator will fix your problems".
I have a lexus coming in tomorrow that has had the radiator replaced in it 2 times, at 2 different shops and i will bet you every thing i have in my pocket we are going to find a blown head gasket.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,111
Likes: 1
From: My redneck of the woods louisiana
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
I guess then better advice would be to locate a reputable shop first. 
The intake bolts do not go into the water jacket.
The intake bolts do not go into the water jacket.
or else i would
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 987
Likes: 1
From: Braidwood Il.
First thing you should do is wait for the engine to cool down fill it with plain water and put a radiator pressure tester on it, pump it up to 14-16 psi and see where the water is coming from, thats a good way to start, repair that leak and pump it up again. Good luck
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,269
Likes: 0
From: Sharpsburg Georgia
GA Events Coordinator
Originally Posted by SUNNYD 95
First thing you should do is wait for the engine to cool down fill it with plain water and put a radiator pressure tester on it, pump it up to 14-16 psi and see where the water is coming from, thats a good way to start, repair that leak and pump it up again. Good luck
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: peculiar mo
i've never seen anything reach above 280 and still have a headgasket left. i hit the 300 waterpump dumped on highway going 90 to work and i think i had one go out at 250 but not for sure maybe its just my bad luck with those crappy gaskets