My car (1991 aut.) gets really hot (low coolant warning keeps popping up) and pretty close to boiling. I've been filling up with water and trying to burp the system the last day and will keep trying to make it full..

Anyhow.. I would like to hear from you what you make of these pictures.
The smoke picture is from a warm engine on idle and the outside temp is 15 Celsius (59F).

I've uploaded some images here:
http://tills.nu/vette/coolingwater/

I fear the worst (headgasket) and hope for the best!
The engine runs really good actually!

 

Not a very clear view on the dipstick but does the oil look clean?
No small half-milimeter bubbles on it.
How does the coolant look like?
Really green without "rainbow-rings" from oil on it. Check both high mount surge tank (with the pressure cap) and overflow tank (white plastic "down under).
Otherwise it really sounds like you have an airbubble somewhere.
How hot does it get.
Push and hold the fan up/down buttons for 6 sec. It shows 00.
Then push the fan up button a number of times til you get to number 16 on the display.
Then push the auto fan button, you will get the digital reading of the engine coolant temp in Celcius.
Now, warm up the engine and check if the extra fan starts working when temp hits 109 Celcius, with the ac off.

 

Okay! I will check the readings! Thanks!
I got really hot yesterday.. Both fans were running when I was standing still after some city driving. The needle got almost to the end! Revving up the engine a bit actually made it cooler! I guess it made the water circulate better.

 

Look at this one http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...2105394&page=2 post no 31.
Ask your mechanic if he can do this. Then again, I got a little scared as well when mine got hot, but it´s like they say over there in the States. They (L98) run warmer than many other engines. A must for emissions regulations.
As long as it doesn´t go into the marked area (temp gauge) or just have the digital reading on the ac display and keep an eye on the temp there.

Oil OK visually? No small bubbles?
Coolant OK visually? No rainbow-rings?

How is oil pressure on gauge? On three-fourth of the gauge at 2000 rpm, warm engine?

 

By the looks of your exhaust you may have a blown head gasket.

 

Ok, I'm back.
I refilled the water to clear the Low Coolant warning.
There are some small bubbles on the oil stick after driving.
The water temp was around 90C all the time until it started to warn about Low Coolant again on the parking lot. Got to 109C and the first fan started (no AC on). I started the AC and both fans ran fine. The temp got down to 89C but still Low Coolant. Stopped the engine and here I am.

Coolant looks fine to me, no rainbows..

Not sure about the oil pressure, didn't pay attention to it, just under hard accell it goes really high - but thats normal right?

About your post #31.
When I was filling up water I parked the car in such possition in a hill but not such steep hill as 20 inches. But the nose was up. I will fill more water to it when it cools down in a couple of hours.

 

Well, if you have bubbles and/or milky white looking oil then your have contamination from somewhere. It's likely either a head gasket or a cracked head.... compression check comes next.

 

OP, did you take the picture in the morning after the car sat for a night?
Temperature coming up to 109C then going down to 89C with the help of the fans. Normal
In my fsm it says:
Loss of coolant:
1 Leaking radiator Pressure test rad.
Inspect for leaks.
2 Pressure cap faulty Replace cap.
3 High fill surge tank filler neck distorted
or cracked Replace surge tank.
4 Coolant recovery reservoir cracked
and/or hose leaking Replace res. and/or hose.
5 Loose or damaged hose(s)
and/or connections Tighten connections or
replace hose(s) and/or
clamps.
6 Leaking coolant pump shaft seal. Replace coolant pump.
7 Cracked coolant pump
and/or leaking gasket Replace either.
8 Cracked intake manifold or leaking gasket Replace either.
9 Cracked thermostat housing
and/or leaking gasket Replace either.
10 Cracked cylinder head(s)
and/or leaking gasket(s) Replace either.
11 Leaking cylinder block core plug(s) Replace.
12 Leaking cylinder head core plug(s) Replace.
13 Cracked cylinder block Replace.

TIRED YET???

14 Cracked plenum and/or leaking gasket(s) Replace either.
15 Cracked throttle body Replace.
16 Leaking heater core NICE ONE Guess what...
17 Porous castings Replace as required.

I´m sorry. I couldn´t find anything else.
Enough, I guess?
Now, where is this thread about the nano particles you can add to the cooling system to seal it, if needed?

 

THANKS!
I can't get enough of that kind of info, i wish i had an FSM!
When that picture was taken I've been driving it for an hour and it was at lunchtime.

I just talked to the mechanic and we are curious if it would be the intake gasket or something like that.

There is no high pressure in the cooling system.
No obvious water in the oil and vice versa.
I've been filling up almost 8 litres (2 gallons) of water recently.
Steady water temperature while it's still there.
No puddles under the car or visible leakage in around the engine.

If it WOULD be the intake (which I'm totaly unfamiliar with) are these gaskets I found laying around in the car for that intake? http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...635&highlight=

 

Try and compare.
http://www.jegs.com/i/Mr.%20Gasket/720/145/10002/-1

 

I would lean towards a cracked intake or bad intake gasket or a bad throttle body. No water is getting in the oil, but water is getting in the intake tract some how and no oil is getting in the water.
You are still adding water which means that the intake is sucking it

 

I would suspect an intake gasket as well. Have you pulled and checked the spark plugs for any signs of abnormal white or greenish deposits?

 

No I haven't checked the spark plugs recently. Talking about the plugs, what is the best tool to reach them all? I found the ones on the passenger side quite hard to reach..

 

Thanks man!
Yes I can identify my gaskets in there!

Help me out here..
Are these the intake gaskets that could be bad?

 

Btw.. I just had to order this one..
http://www.midwayautosupply.com/p-11...oz-401232.aspx

 

Good thing but don´t use it right away. You might want to be sure it´s that kind of leak first. Adding lots of water after just a short drive might indicate a larger leak. It would be money thrown away if the leak is larger than those particles can handle...