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Lumina 1993
New User
May 16, 2011, 1:35 AM
Post #1 of 5
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1993 Lumina Overheated!
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I have a 1993 Lumina (3.1L), and I am the original owner. I have done all the work on the car and have always been pleased with the performance. I understand the car and the engine well. I just recently replaced the bypass gasket again for about the third time. Carefully followed the coolant refill procedure. Both fans functioned properly, water pump good, reservoir full............. I drove the car many times since and everything has been fine. My son borrowed the car while his is being repaired (also by me, CHEAP LABOR, I guess) He went out today to go to work and it wouldn't start. I opened the hood, only to find out the coolant resevoir was empty! Opened the radiator cap, the radiator was empty too!! Filled both, using the procedure (bleed valves etc....) Turned the car over and water blasted out of the open radiator cap?????? Seemed like at the compression stroke interval. Closed the cap and tried to turn it over again, water is being pushed out the front of the engine above the distributior cap. Again it seemd like it was at the compression stroke rate. Is the engine shot?? Could it be a head gasket?? No water in the oil though. What happens to these engines run without coolant??? Any suggestions will surely be helpful and welcomed!! The car has been well maintained. The car is in great condition, with new brakes, tires, battery, recent alternator,............ It just doesn't run anymore!!!!
(This post was edited by Lumina 1993 on May 16, 2011, 1:41 AM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 16, 2011, 4:30 AM
Post #2 of 5
(2637 views)
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Re: 1993 Lumina Overheated!
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Sounds like your son wasn't too careful driving it and drove it hot. You appear to have a bad head gasket problem now.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 16, 2011, 4:38 AM
Post #3 of 5
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Re: 1993 Lumina Overheated!
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Retired now but all of those from customers back when did well. Reported here this engine has intake and can have head gasket issues which could do what you are describing. Pressure of ready to combust/fire gasses overwhelm any radiator cap's pressure and blow gaseous vapor back into cooling system. You can get test strips to check for exhaust type vapor in cooling system.
Pressure test will likely push coolant into a cylinder or two. Use caution not to crank with plugs in as it could hydraulic lock on you making more trouble.
As you may know and think this is one you need to tilt engine (car in neutral) with a tool on the front upper motor support/mount. One crank with plugs out spitting water or coolant right now clears up what's wrong - gaskets. Hey, hope he didn't let it overheat wildly? Sounds like a decent car and worth doing. Do send heads out to check that they are OK or in need of something or replacement. Problem seems wild enough that diagnosis should be fairly easy. The pressure check may show exactly the source of the leaking if not too messy and if so clean it first,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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May 16, 2011, 4:59 AM
Post #4 of 5
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Re: 1993 Lumina Overheated!
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This is not an intake gasket problem. Intake gaskets do not push compression back through the cooling system.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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May 16, 2011, 5:15 AM
Post #5 of 5
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Re: 1993 Lumina Overheated!
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Thanks - I just can't know each design. Some engines could but never happened to me. As far as BLOWING coolant out I think head gasket is infinitely more likely and really can't think of much else but a crack in one in the wrong place. We don't know how hard this overheated with a kid driving to shut it down at first notice??
T
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