87 Overheating Problems?
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Red Oak Texas
87 Overheating Problems?
ok my car has been sitting now for little over a year, because my wife got the car really hot last time she drove it and the car just shut off on her on the side of the road.
I assumed it was a blown head gasket and would get to it later. In the meantime I bought a viper instead.
Now I am wanting my C4 back up and running so I was messing with it today.
Ok, I fill the radiator up start the car and wait. The car climbs temperature really fast. No fan kicking on, I waited to 250 degrees and still no fan and turned the car off.
Opened the radiator cap up and the radiator is still cold when the engine says 250 degrees?
I go ahead and top off the water because its low now, close it back up, check the oil and the oil is clean, with no water in it.
Start the car back up again, its 180 and starts to climb quickly again. Turn it off, take the cap off again its cold still. Water low again and there is fumes coming out the cap that smells like pure exhaust fumes??
I don't understand why the oil is clean with no water, the radiator is staying cold while the engine is at 250 degrees and no fan?
Then there is the exhaust fumes coming out the fill cap?
I assumed it was a blown head gasket and would get to it later. In the meantime I bought a viper instead.
Now I am wanting my C4 back up and running so I was messing with it today.
Ok, I fill the radiator up start the car and wait. The car climbs temperature really fast. No fan kicking on, I waited to 250 degrees and still no fan and turned the car off.
Opened the radiator cap up and the radiator is still cold when the engine says 250 degrees?
I go ahead and top off the water because its low now, close it back up, check the oil and the oil is clean, with no water in it.
Start the car back up again, its 180 and starts to climb quickly again. Turn it off, take the cap off again its cold still. Water low again and there is fumes coming out the cap that smells like pure exhaust fumes??
I don't understand why the oil is clean with no water, the radiator is staying cold while the engine is at 250 degrees and no fan?
Then there is the exhaust fumes coming out the fill cap?
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Epfenbach BW
Exhaust fumes out of the cap means there is a bad head gasket (most likely) or a crack in one of the heads (less likely).
As for the water staying cold, this can be the case if the exhaust gas restricts flow inside the engine.
Did you keep the radiator cap on or off while the engine was running? Did you bleed/ burp the system?
Next time, fill the radiator full of coolant and start the engine with the cap off. Does it bubble? If so--> headgasket toast.....
As for the water staying cold, this can be the case if the exhaust gas restricts flow inside the engine.
Did you keep the radiator cap on or off while the engine was running? Did you bleed/ burp the system?
Next time, fill the radiator full of coolant and start the engine with the cap off. Does it bubble? If so--> headgasket toast.....
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Stanwood Wa
To me the first think that comes to mind is that the thermostat may be stuck in the closed position.
As for the water going away; well it is possible that there is a crack in your water jacket that burns off in the cylinder....and could possibly explain the exhaust scent in the cooling system.
Sometimes this can happen at a rate slow enough that it does not get by the rings and make "Small block Chevy milkshake"
The scent in the water is a bit out of the ordinary Id say...., but possible......
As for the engine its' self, what is the general running condition like?? does it miss or run even a little roughly??....If so you may be able to pull the plug from that cylinder and it might tell you a story.....
It could still be a head gasket that was caused originally by a stuck thermo and overheated..............broke the seal close to the cylinder and a water port.....and that would also be another way for the scent to permeate the cooling system.....
That is what comes to mind for me.........I am quite sure other will chime in soon..........
As for the water going away; well it is possible that there is a crack in your water jacket that burns off in the cylinder....and could possibly explain the exhaust scent in the cooling system.
Sometimes this can happen at a rate slow enough that it does not get by the rings and make "Small block Chevy milkshake"
The scent in the water is a bit out of the ordinary Id say...., but possible......
As for the engine its' self, what is the general running condition like?? does it miss or run even a little roughly??....If so you may be able to pull the plug from that cylinder and it might tell you a story.....
It could still be a head gasket that was caused originally by a stuck thermo and overheated..............broke the seal close to the cylinder and a water port.....and that would also be another way for the scent to permeate the cooling system.....
That is what comes to mind for me.........I am quite sure other will chime in soon..........
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 305
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From: Epfenbach BW
BTW, when my headgasket blew I also had clean oil. Just the water went away and the low coolant light came on repeatedly.No overheating, no milkshake-oil BUT the smell and bubbling of exhaust fumes in the coolant.
The thermostat for sure needs checked out first.....
The thermostat for sure needs checked out first.....
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Norman OK
Thermostat stuck closed?
Are you seeing circulation with the cap off when running?
You could still have air trapped in the engine.
When you jumper a to b on the aldl, or turn on the ac does the fan run?
As for the exhaust fumes, it still could be a head gasket......
Are you seeing circulation with the cap off when running?
You could still have air trapped in the engine.
When you jumper a to b on the aldl, or turn on the ac does the fan run?
As for the exhaust fumes, it still could be a head gasket......
Thread Starter
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From: Red Oak Texas
funny thing is this car had no thermostate to begin with, I put a thermostate in it during the winter months. But I didn't start having problems with the car till summer came along and then we had issues.
Maybe I shouldn't have put a thermostate in it. I will go out there and see if I have bubbles coming out the radiator cap when I start it.
Maybe I shouldn't have put a thermostate in it. I will go out there and see if I have bubbles coming out the radiator cap when I start it.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Red Oak Texas
Ok filled the radiator, left the cap off and started the car. Shot water everywhere when started.
Went over there to fill back up with car running and there is exhaust fumes puffing out and the water bubbling everywhere.
Water is surging in the radiator just like a cam in a car?
Car idles smooth and doesnt mess a beat.
Could my thermostate still be a issue or am i looking at a head gasket now?
Went over there to fill back up with car running and there is exhaust fumes puffing out and the water bubbling everywhere.
Water is surging in the radiator just like a cam in a car?
Car idles smooth and doesnt mess a beat.
Could my thermostate still be a issue or am i looking at a head gasket now?
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 305
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From: Epfenbach BW
99% your headgasket.....If your engine is cold now lets say below 150 deg, the thermostat would be closed anyway.
Sorry but almost certainly the HG, with bad luck a crack in a head....
I have done mine last year, its not that much of a bad job, just time consuming.
But you have to take the time do do it right once, also check the heads for warpage.If they got really hot they are probably warped....
Sorry but almost certainly the HG, with bad luck a crack in a head....
I have done mine last year, its not that much of a bad job, just time consuming.
But you have to take the time do do it right once, also check the heads for warpage.If they got really hot they are probably warped....
Last edited by eaglevision993; Apr 9, 2011 at 05:21 PM.
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From: Norman OK
Although it is sounding more and more like a headgasket, I would still pull the stat and run it again to see because you stated the radiator is cool. With a stat that is stuck closed, you could be boiling due to no circulation other than thru the water pump bypass
Once you pull the stat, fill it full, put the cap on and with a cold (cool) engine, start it. Squeeze the upper radiator hose. If it gets hard as a rock in a very short time, you can bet on the headgasket.
Did your fan come on when you turned on the a/c?
Once you pull the stat, fill it full, put the cap on and with a cold (cool) engine, start it. Squeeze the upper radiator hose. If it gets hard as a rock in a very short time, you can bet on the headgasket.
Did your fan come on when you turned on the a/c?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 233
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From: Red Oak Texas
a/c is acting up so I didn't even try the a/c. Gonna remove the thermostate and try 1 more time, but planning on pulling the heads too.
By the way guys, just wanted to let yall know that I get the best information off this site and from all you great guys.
I am a member on the viper forums and nobody will help me with anything on my viper.
By the way guys, just wanted to let yall know that I get the best information off this site and from all you great guys.
I am a member on the viper forums and nobody will help me with anything on my viper.
Instructor
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From: Norman OK
I own my vette not only for the enjoyment of driving it, but tinkering as well. The same reason I had a 73 Barracuda until I retired from the airline industry which I sold at a hefty profit!!Just because someone owns a Viper, he should run right down and pay over $100 per book hour to repair a 87 Vette? Really?
Thread Starter
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From: Red Oak Texas
I have been rebuilding this vette ever since I got it from my uncle. this car has never been to a shop since I've owned it and its not going to start.
I am the same way with my viper. I'm putting new brake pads on it now and doing it all myself.
I am the same way with my viper. I'm putting new brake pads on it now and doing it all myself.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 305
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From: Epfenbach BW
So do I.
I would never bring my Corvette or any other car into a shop. NEVER!
If you know what you are doing you ALWAYS do a better job than any shop will do because you love your car. A mechanic just loves your money and sees your car as a unpleasant necessity to get it from you...
I would never bring my Corvette or any other car into a shop. NEVER!
If you know what you are doing you ALWAYS do a better job than any shop will do because you love your car. A mechanic just loves your money and sees your car as a unpleasant necessity to get it from you...
Last edited by eaglevision993; Apr 9, 2011 at 06:56 PM.
Safety Car
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I own my vette not only for the enjoyment of driving it, but tinkering as well. The same reason I had a 73 Barracuda until I retired from the airline industry which I sold at a hefty profit!!Just because someone owns a Viper, he should run right down and pay over $100 per book hour to repair a 87 Vette? Really?
sell the viper, fix the Corvette, and never offend the GM Gods again....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 233
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From: Red Oak Texas
dont see the viper going anywhere too soon!!
Ok guys update, I took thermostate out and then started the car and started to fill the radiator with it running so I didn't get any air bubbles.
car stayed at 224 degress so I thought I got it resolved. With the radiator cap closed and me watching the temp gauge, the radiator started to whistle and was pouring exhaust fumes out of all the hose clamps and ready to explode.
Guess I have a blown headgasket now.
Ok guys update, I took thermostate out and then started the car and started to fill the radiator with it running so I didn't get any air bubbles.
car stayed at 224 degress so I thought I got it resolved. With the radiator cap closed and me watching the temp gauge, the radiator started to whistle and was pouring exhaust fumes out of all the hose clamps and ready to explode.
Guess I have a blown headgasket now.