Baka420
- October 1st, 2009, 02:37 PM
I posted this on the 3si forums already. Then read in the STL section that a lot of you guys prefer to post here. So I figured it couldn't hurt to post here too.
Also if anyone knows why I can't get into the STL section, even after registering to the group, please let me know.
Sorry in advance for the long post. I just feel it relevant to give all the information I have, in hopes of finding a solution.
The main issue. The car will run fine for a long period of time, then start to get hotter and hotter until it overheats.
So to start it is a 1991 Dodge Stealth SOHC. I bought this car in July. The car was for sale about 2 1/2 hours away, about an hour outside of Saint Louis. I drove the car home after buying it. I ran it hard, wanting to test it out. Went a good 15 20 miles at 100+ then rolled 80 the rest of the way. No issues, gauges were all good. I got it home and changed the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, belts, oil, and antifreeze. The antifreeze was a rusty green color, the nastiest antifreeze I have ever seen. I drive this car as my daily driver. Over the first week I stayed local, to work and back, etc. Car ran great no issues what so ever. I live in a rural area so everything is highway speeds, 55+.
After about a week I took it out on the road to Kansas City, about 2 1/2 hours from here. The car ran great for the first half of the trip. Then the temp gauge started to climb, then fall, then climb, then fall. This was not a gradual thing either, the needle was moving quickly up and down. All the time staying within range. All my other gauges were good, no lights. Just a temp gauge doing something I have never seen before. I continued to drive and it kept doing the same thing. Except it was getting progressively higher. I stopped and opened the hood. I could hear gurgling in the reseviour. Other than that no signs of too much heat. No weird smells or anything. I drove it the rest of the way to KC and it was fine. Temp stayed put. All was well. On the way home it was fine until about 3/4 the way home. Then it started with the same thing.
After getting home I changed the thermostat, I kept the car in town for a few months after that with no issues. Then one day I took it on a longer drive, I'd say about 45 miles, and by the time I got home it was just starting the surging. I took it to a mechanic who saw a few unhooked vacuum lines. He plugged the vacuum system at the throttle body and said that could very well cause the surging.
I needed to test this so I took it to Springfield, MO, about 75 miles away. The car ran fine for the first hour then started to surge. I was mad at this point and pushed the car. Took it over 100 and the temp seemed to fall, but continued to go up and down. I got in town and was sitting at stoplights with no issues temp stayed put. None the less I was baffled. On the way back same thing. At this point I have checked everything and all seemed fine. So I just let it go. Bad idea...
I stopped about 10 miles short of my home and checked everything. Oil, coolant, everything. All was well. I noticed the temp gauge was about pegged when I got back in the car, started it and it dropped a bit. I got home and looked at everything while it was running and noticed thick white humid smoke coming out of the exhaust, along with a lot of water. My coolant was about empty. Only 1 gallon or so was in it when I drained it. Knowing full well I blew a head gasket, cracked a head, or cracked my block, I tore into the motor.
Over the next few days I got everything apart. The head gaskets were fine. I took the heads to a machine shop and the checked to see if they were warped, they were not, but one was cracked between the valves. I ordered another head. While putting everything back together I checked out the water pump. It looked like it had been changed recently, along with the timing belt and the head gaskets. I put everything back together, with the new head, and got the car running again. All seemed well, no white smoke. Coolant levels were good. I fixed it
So I drove it in town for a few days and all was well. I then took it on a trip a little over 100 miles. Car ran great, and I ran it hard. I'm on top of the world at this point. Pulling on to my road at home I look down and $%*& me I see the temp rise and fall. So I parked and watched it do the same exact thing for a few minutes. Shut the car off and let it sit. About 30 mins later went and drove it a good 40 miles and the temp did not budge.
I am at a loss here. The water pump looked excellent, I drained, pulled and flushed the radiator. The flow through the radiator was strong. The antifreeze was discolored a little, pretty sure its because of all the residue crap that was in there.
Again I am sorry for this epic post. Just want you guys to know all the facts before helping me diagnose.
Also if anyone knows why I can't get into the STL section, even after registering to the group, please let me know.
Sorry in advance for the long post. I just feel it relevant to give all the information I have, in hopes of finding a solution.
The main issue. The car will run fine for a long period of time, then start to get hotter and hotter until it overheats.
So to start it is a 1991 Dodge Stealth SOHC. I bought this car in July. The car was for sale about 2 1/2 hours away, about an hour outside of Saint Louis. I drove the car home after buying it. I ran it hard, wanting to test it out. Went a good 15 20 miles at 100+ then rolled 80 the rest of the way. No issues, gauges were all good. I got it home and changed the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, belts, oil, and antifreeze. The antifreeze was a rusty green color, the nastiest antifreeze I have ever seen. I drive this car as my daily driver. Over the first week I stayed local, to work and back, etc. Car ran great no issues what so ever. I live in a rural area so everything is highway speeds, 55+.
After about a week I took it out on the road to Kansas City, about 2 1/2 hours from here. The car ran great for the first half of the trip. Then the temp gauge started to climb, then fall, then climb, then fall. This was not a gradual thing either, the needle was moving quickly up and down. All the time staying within range. All my other gauges were good, no lights. Just a temp gauge doing something I have never seen before. I continued to drive and it kept doing the same thing. Except it was getting progressively higher. I stopped and opened the hood. I could hear gurgling in the reseviour. Other than that no signs of too much heat. No weird smells or anything. I drove it the rest of the way to KC and it was fine. Temp stayed put. All was well. On the way home it was fine until about 3/4 the way home. Then it started with the same thing.
After getting home I changed the thermostat, I kept the car in town for a few months after that with no issues. Then one day I took it on a longer drive, I'd say about 45 miles, and by the time I got home it was just starting the surging. I took it to a mechanic who saw a few unhooked vacuum lines. He plugged the vacuum system at the throttle body and said that could very well cause the surging.
I needed to test this so I took it to Springfield, MO, about 75 miles away. The car ran fine for the first hour then started to surge. I was mad at this point and pushed the car. Took it over 100 and the temp seemed to fall, but continued to go up and down. I got in town and was sitting at stoplights with no issues temp stayed put. None the less I was baffled. On the way back same thing. At this point I have checked everything and all seemed fine. So I just let it go. Bad idea...
I stopped about 10 miles short of my home and checked everything. Oil, coolant, everything. All was well. I noticed the temp gauge was about pegged when I got back in the car, started it and it dropped a bit. I got home and looked at everything while it was running and noticed thick white humid smoke coming out of the exhaust, along with a lot of water. My coolant was about empty. Only 1 gallon or so was in it when I drained it. Knowing full well I blew a head gasket, cracked a head, or cracked my block, I tore into the motor.
Over the next few days I got everything apart. The head gaskets were fine. I took the heads to a machine shop and the checked to see if they were warped, they were not, but one was cracked between the valves. I ordered another head. While putting everything back together I checked out the water pump. It looked like it had been changed recently, along with the timing belt and the head gaskets. I put everything back together, with the new head, and got the car running again. All seemed well, no white smoke. Coolant levels were good. I fixed it
So I drove it in town for a few days and all was well. I then took it on a trip a little over 100 miles. Car ran great, and I ran it hard. I'm on top of the world at this point. Pulling on to my road at home I look down and $%*& me I see the temp rise and fall. So I parked and watched it do the same exact thing for a few minutes. Shut the car off and let it sit. About 30 mins later went and drove it a good 40 miles and the temp did not budge.
I am at a loss here. The water pump looked excellent, I drained, pulled and flushed the radiator. The flow through the radiator was strong. The antifreeze was discolored a little, pretty sure its because of all the residue crap that was in there.
Again I am sorry for this epic post. Just want you guys to know all the facts before helping me diagnose.