Nothing is beyond repair. I consider catastrophic requiring an engine rebuild.
Well for me an engine rebuild would be catastrophic. I'm not investing that type of money or time in this car. Maybe a Fiero or an old classic, but not this car. Thanks for the thoughts.
If you have a scan tool that reads engine parameters (like coolant temp) you could plug it in and see what the temperature is independent of the gauge. It would help with the diagnoses of the problem.
having changed one of these If you do the work make sure you check the heads for warping. and the lower intake. Knowing what i know now and how far you tear apart anyways I would have changed head gaskets at the same time i did the lower intake. Not a horrible job can be done in a weekend if you have good mechanical knowledge. Get the updated parts as well. Check all mating surfaces for warping. Ours had two intakes replaced then the head gaskets went. If i had changed them i could have avoided it but didnt and took out the whole motor. The intake gasket come out in pieced my wife had over heated it so far.
having changed one of these If you do the work make sure you check the heads for warping. and the lower intake. Knowing what i know now and how far you tear apart anyways I would have changed head gaskets at the same time i did the lower intake. Not a horrible job can be done in a weekend if you have good mechanical knowledge. Get the updated parts as well. Check all mating surfaces for warping. Ours had two intakes replaced then the head gaskets went. If i had changed them i could have avoided it but didnt and took out the whole motor. The intake gasket come out in pieced my wife had over heated it so far.
The car is at a mechanics now. I just don't have the time to do the work. The original lower intake gasket was changed by the PO. I'm having the mechanic change out all of it. I won't know until today if it was actually the head gasket or not, but like you said, might as well change it while he's in there. If it's the head, he has to change the lower intake gasket no matter what. The car never overheated, it actually ran too cool, so I don't think warped heads will be an issue. I mentioned the better Felpro gasket to prevent future issues, and he was already aware of it.
Well final update on this with some good news. The head and lower intake gaskets were good. My issues laid with several things. 1. The thermostat was broken. It was staying open. 2. The reservoir had a crack in it, on the underside. I never looked for that, because I never saw fluid on the ground. 3. The radiator cap was replaced by the PO with an incorrect one. It was not a pressure one, just a plastic cap he must have found somewhere. Part 2 of this problem was I didn't realize the reservoir cap, and the radiator cap are one in the same. They are not like that on all cars, but it was like that on this. The actual radiator has no cap. 4. and lastly the coolant was old and had sludged up the heater core, it was blocked. So after all that, the damage was $650, mostly in labor. Well worth it in my opinion, and why I love my mechanic. He is honest as they get. Sure $650 is a lot of money, but it could have been a $1,200 head gasket job. Car is all better now.
Jim
[This message has been edited by jimbolaya (edited 12-31-2014).]
I forgot to update this, but the issue was a wrong radiator cap installed by the PO and a crack underneath the coolant reservoir. I understand the cap, but the crack confuses me as I never saw any leaking fluid. Oh well all is better now.
Glad you were able to get it fixed without too much hassle. On the dexcool, when should it be changed? I have an 04 Chevy Venture with the 3400 and 60,000 miles. I know the manual says its lifetime but I don't believe that.
Glad you were able to get it fixed without too much hassle. On the dexcool, when should it be changed? I have an 04 Chevy Venture with the 3400 and 60,000 miles. I know the manual says its lifetime but I don't believe that.
150k is what I have heard, but an 04 should probably be changed due to age.
I forgot to update this, but the issue was a wrong radiator cap installed by the PO and a crack underneath the coolant reservoir. I understand the cap, but the crack confuses me as I never saw any leaking fluid. Oh well all is better now.
Jim
Had the crack problem on one of the Fieros--It didn't leak under static--non running conditions, but leaked when engine was running, but it evaporated off and you couldn't see it until a pressure test was done.
