I've got a cooling problem... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

guthmund · 10-23-2006, 01:56 PM

I've posted in here a couple of times and I learn a lot from reading the responses in here, but suffice it say, I know next to nothing about cars.

Well, that's not true. I know just enough to be dangerous.

Anyway...

I drive a 95 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. The big four dour sedan with the 3.4L V6 and I'm having some trouble.

A while ago I had some cooling trouble and at the urging of my mechanic, who I've come to trust implicitly, had the water pump replaced. Everything worked fine afterwards. The car still ran a bit hot (just a bit above dead center on the dial), but it was much, much improved over what temperature gauge was registering before the repair.

This past week, it's gotten chilly enough down here to turn on the heater in the mornings and I've noticed something new amiss.

The car runs great. Starts up easy and runs like a champ despite the near freezing early morning temperatures, but the heater takes a long time to kick in and the temperature gauge is registering all over the place. It goes up, it goes down, it goes up, it goes down. Only after the heater warms up, which usually takes about 15 minutes of steady driving does it settle down to slightly above dead center on the gauge.

The water pump is less than 6 months old and I've replaced the thermostat. I've also flushed the cooling system, done the anti-freeze thing and checked all the hoses.

My mechanic has got a lot full of cars to get to before he can even look at mine, so, I was hoping this might be something I can fix on my own...that is with a little help from you guys.

So...what do you think?

Borla · 10-23-2006, 03:34 PM

How did you flush the cooling system?

On many cars now, the system actually needs filled under pressure to completely fill it up if you've emptied it completely (i.e. if you truly flushed it, not just if you add coolant when it's low). I wonder if, when the water pump was replaced, if it was never filled correctly, or all the way.

I'm assuming you've regularly checked the coolant during this time period? Has it always been completely full?

guthmund · 10-31-2006, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Borla

How did you flush the cooling system?

On many cars now, the system actually needs filled under pressure to completely fill it up if you've emptied it completely (i.e. if you truly flushed it, not just if you add coolant when it's low). I wonder if, when the water pump was replaced, if it was never filled correctly, or all the way.

I'm assuming you've regularly checked the coolant during this time period? Has it always been completely full?

Thanks for the reply, Borla.

Well, I flushed it out with some stuff I bought at Autozone. I drained it and such, if that's what you're asking. I'd never done it myself before, so I made sure to follow the directions to the letter.

Sure I've been checking it. It's always been full. Car on, car off, car warmed up, car cold...it always checks out the same.

I took it to my guy and he double checked my thermostat work, inspected the water pump and flushed it himself--he mentioned it was bit low on coolant and he topped it off--and yet, the problem remains. Car runs great and it doesn't overheat.. it just runs really hot.

If it is leaking coolant, I have no idea where it's going. I parked it on cardboard to check for stains...I've been under the hood looking for dampness...nothing.

Is there something I'm missing?

cyrnel · 10-31-2006, 10:07 PM

Hot again, or all over the place? I'd also think about air in the system but sounds like you've nailed that.

What's hot to you? Dash gauges are notoriously wrong for other than a relative reading. I don't know that engine but just under 200*f should be near normal operating temp.

Have you checked the sender? Did he replace the thermostat with the pump?

newtx · 11-01-2006, 05:46 AM

A trusted friend at a local radiator shop gave me some good advice. Don't flush your radiator. He said he gets a lot of work from people flushing their radiators. I would suspect your temp guage is acting up.

guthmund · 11-07-2006, 08:27 AM

Thanks for the replies, gents, but I found out what the problem was, much to my chagrin.

Turns out I'm leaking water into the engine. The problem was so slight, the guy said, that it was hardly noticeable and probably misdiagnosed as a faulty water pump and thermostat trouble. I noticed some oil goo on the carport a few days ago and took it straight to the shop. I'm pretty clueless about cars, but I know oil goo + cooling problems = big trouble.

Yesterday afternoon he started it up and to move it into the garage and the funky exhaust started.

Well...I had big plans for Christmas, eh?

cyrnel · 11-07-2006, 12:26 PM

guthmund, "On the carpet" isn't "into the engine." Into the engine would be a head gasket or similar and would be serious, but it wouldn't get inside the car. Into the car anywhere would most likely be your heater core, or something incredibly unusual. And it'd have to be lots - your water level would be low - before it would affect cooling at all. It could be my faulty reading of your explanation but it doesn't sound like anyone has identified the problem yet.

If it isn't too late, GET AN ESTIMATE AND DON'T APPROVE WORK BEFORE YOU GET ANOTHER OPINION.

Deltona Couple · 11-07-2006, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyrnel

guthmund, "On the carpet" isn't "into the engine." Into the engine would be a head gasket or similar and would be serious, but it wouldn't get inside the car. Into the car anywhere would most likely be your heater core, or something incredibly unusual. And it'd have to be lots - your water level would be low - before it would affect cooling at all. It could be my faulty reading of your explanation but it doesn't sound like anyone has identified the problem yet.

If it isn't too late, GET AN ESTIMATE AND DON'T APPROVE WORK BEFORE YOU GET ANOTHER OPINION.

Yes the last line is a good suggestion, but read carefully Cyrnel..he said he saw some oil goo on the "CARPORT" not carpet....lol

cyrnel · 11-07-2006, 02:03 PM

Ha. (kicks self) I was in the coffee shop and forgot my glasses.

Day 4 and my Qwest DSL is still out of service... grumble...

DEI37 · 11-08-2006, 07:49 PM

I would have him inspect the lower intake manifold gasket, along with the oil pump drive seal. It's a common problem on 60* GM V6 engines...of which yours is one. On the 3.4 DOHC engine, that's gonna be a lot of work, and it would be advisable to have the timing belt done as well depending on mileage. That belt really should be replaced every 60,000 miles at the most. Disaster strikes if it breaks, usually.

guthmund · 11-08-2006, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEI37

I would have him inspect the lower intake manifold gasket, along with the oil pump drive seal. It's a common problem on 60* GM V6 engines...of which yours is one. On the 3.4 DOHC engine, that's gonna be a lot of work, and it would be advisable to have the timing belt done as well depending on mileage. That belt really should be replaced every 60,000 miles at the most. Disaster strikes if it breaks, usually.

I took it to a reputable garage a bit closer to home who had an opening. I don't have my notes in front of me, but I think you've hit the nail on the head DEI37. Something about the plastic gasket being eaten away....

You're right. I've had a timing belt go out on my explorer ages ago...wasn't fun. I'll call him tomorrow morning about it; have him take a look see.. At this point, might as well, eh?

Thanks guys for the advice.

10-23-2006, 01:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
guthmund big damn hero	I've got a cooling problem... I've posted in here a couple of times and I learn a lot from reading the responses in here, but suffice it say, I know next to nothing about cars. Well, that's not true. I know just enough to be dangerous. Anyway... I drive a 95 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. The big four dour sedan with the 3.4L V6 and I'm having some trouble. A while ago I had some cooling trouble and at the urging of my mechanic, who I've come to trust implicitly, had the water pump replaced. Everything worked fine afterwards. The car still ran a bit hot (just a bit above dead center on the dial), but it was much, much improved over what temperature gauge was registering before the repair. This past week, it's gotten chilly enough down here to turn on the heater in the mornings and I've noticed something new amiss. The car runs great. Starts up easy and runs like a champ despite the near freezing early morning temperatures, but the heater takes a long time to kick in and the temperature gauge is registering all over the place. It goes up, it goes down, it goes up, it goes down. Only after the heater warms up, which usually takes about 15 minutes of steady driving does it settle down to slightly above dead center on the gauge. The water pump is less than 6 months old and I've replaced the thermostat. I've also flushed the cooling system, done the anti-freeze thing and checked all the hoses. My mechanic has got a lot full of cars to get to before he can even look at mine, so, I was hoping this might be something I can fix on my own...that is with a little help from you guys. So...what do you think? __________________ No signature. None. Seriously.

10-23-2006, 03:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
Borla Junkie	How did you flush the cooling system? On many cars now, the system actually needs filled under pressure to completely fill it up if you've emptied it completely (i.e. if you truly flushed it, not just if you add coolant when it's low). I wonder if, when the water pump was replaced, if it was never filled correctly, or all the way. I'm assuming you've regularly checked the coolant during this time period? Has it always been completely full? __________________ Coimhéad fearg fhear na foighde!!!!

10-31-2006, 10:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	Hot again, or all over the place? I'd also think about air in the system but sounds like you've nailed that. What's hot to you? Dash gauges are notoriously wrong for other than a relative reading. I don't know that engine but just under 200*f should be near normal operating temp. Have you checked the sender? Did he replace the thermostat with the pump? __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

11-07-2006, 08:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
guthmund big damn hero	Thanks for the replies, gents, but I found out what the problem was, much to my chagrin. Turns out I'm leaking water into the engine. The problem was so slight, the guy said, that it was hardly noticeable and probably misdiagnosed as a faulty water pump and thermostat trouble. I noticed some oil goo on the carport a few days ago and took it straight to the shop. I'm pretty clueless about cars, but I know oil goo + cooling problems = big trouble. Yesterday afternoon he started it up and to move it into the garage and the funky exhaust started. Well...I had big plans for Christmas, eh? __________________ No signature. None. Seriously.

11-07-2006, 12:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	guthmund, "On the carpet" isn't "into the engine." Into the engine would be a head gasket or similar and would be serious, but it wouldn't get inside the car. Into the car anywhere would most likely be your heater core, or something incredibly unusual. And it'd have to be lots - your water level would be low - before it would affect cooling at all. It could be my faulty reading of your explanation but it doesn't sound like anyone has identified the problem yet. If it isn't too late, GET AN ESTIMATE AND DON'T APPROVE WORK BEFORE YOU GET ANOTHER OPINION. __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

11-01-2006, 05:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
newtx Addict	A trusted friend at a local radiator shop gave me some good advice. Don't flush your radiator. He said he gets a lot of work from people flushing their radiators. I would suspect your temp guage is acting up.

11-07-2006, 02:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	Ha. (kicks self) I was in the coffee shop and forgot my glasses. Day 4 and my Qwest DSL is still out of service... grumble... __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

11-08-2006, 07:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
DEI37 Go faster! Location: Wisconsin	I would have him inspect the lower intake manifold gasket, along with the oil pump drive seal. It's a common problem on 60* GM V6 engines...of which yours is one. On the 3.4 DOHC engine, that's gonna be a lot of work, and it would be advisable to have the timing belt done as well depending on mileage. That belt really should be replaced every 60,000 miles at the most. Disaster strikes if it breaks, usually. __________________ Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.