Problem with my 2002 CHEVY MALIBU.
3.1L
Repairs done prior = ENGINE REPLACEMENT, USED BUT GOOD.
NEW WATER PUMP, T-STAT, INTAKE GASKETS, RADIATOR, HOSES AND COOLANT
TEMPERATURE SENSOR. MULTIPLE T-STATS FROM DIFFERENT SUPPLIERS INCLUDING
DEALER. TEMP SENSOR. RESERVOIR AND CAP. BLOCK TEST.
Question = TRYING TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT...
'O2 CHEVY MALIBU 3.1L OVERHEATED AND BLEW MOTOR. REPLACED WITH A GOOD ONE
FROM A BUICK CENTURY. PRIOR TO INSTALLATION, REPLACED INTAKE GASKETS, T-STAT,
W/P, PLUGS, OIL PAN GASKETS AND THE TIMING COVER (DUE TO SLIGHT PULLEY
MOUNTING DIFFERENCE) START AND RUN ENGINE IN BAY AND ALL IS GOOD. ROAD TEST
GOOD. RECHECK GOOD. GIVE TO CUSTOMER AND OVERHEATS IN FIRST FEW MILES. THEY
PICKED IT UP THE NEXT DAY. AFTER RECHECKING MULTIPLE TIMES, FOUND THAT IT ONLY
OVERHEATS FOR A MOMENT, PUSHES A LITTLE COOLANT OUT OVERFLOW, AND GOES
BACK TO NORMAL AND REMAINS GOOD FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.
IT WILL ONLY DO THIS AFTER THE ENGINE COOLS. IT WILL ONLY OVERHEAT ONCE OR
TWICE DURING THE WARM UP CYCLE ONLY, THEN IT'S OK. TRIED MULTIPLE T-STATS,
REPLACED HOSES AND RADIATOR. STILL DOES IT. TOOK T-STAT OUT OF VEHICLE AND IT
STILL HAPPENS. AFTER REPLACING EVERY PART OF THE COOLING SYSTEM MULTIPLE
TIMES, IT STILL HAPPENS! LAST IDEA WE HAVE IS THERE IS A CRACK INSIDE MOTOR THAT
ONLY OPENS A CERTAIN TEMP AND SEALS BACK UP. WE JUST CANNOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE
OF THIS. BUT CATCHING IT AT THE RIGHT TEMP IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. DOES THIS SOUND
LIKE A POSSIBILITY TO YOU? I WOULD THINK IT SHOULD SHOW ON A BLOCK TEST AT
ANYTIME BUT IT DOESN'T.
BY-THE-WAY, MY NAME IS MATT. I AM THE SERVICE MANAGER IN JACKSONVILLE, FL.
RECENTLY PUT DOWN THE TOOLS TO TRY MANAGER. 15 YRS IN SHOP PRIOR. 10YRS AT
GM DEALER. THE TECH WORKING ON CAR IS ALSO GM CERT. AND 35 YRS EXP. OWNER
ALSO EXPERIENCED AND AT A LOSS. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS OR SUGGESTIONS?
THANKS FOR ANY HELP, MATT
P.S. LOOKING FOR A GOOD SITE LIKE THIS TO USE REGULARLY. I'M TRYING IT OUT FIRST
AND IF IT GOES WELL, WE WILL MAKE REGULAR CONTRIBUTIONS.
Answer:
Well, I've go to say right off the bat, this is a head gasket problem. This sure does not sound like
the original problem that blew the engine is still there. The tech may have replaced the intake
gaskets because they were leaking, but the rear head, passenger side corner leaking coolant
may have been wet because of the intake. Easy to miss that. Even if not leaking externally, this is
a good sign of a head gasket problem. Your GM tech should be familiar that the rear head is very
common to have a blown gasket.
Most of the time leak externally, but not always. Have seen these exact conditions a few times, as
well as our tech JK. They will overheat once or twice during the warm up cycle, burp, then be fine
all day long. Sometimes you can catch it with the cooling system dye test looking for combustion
gases.I would remove both heads and send them out to have checked for cracks just to safe.
3.1L
Repairs done prior = ENGINE REPLACEMENT, USED BUT GOOD.
NEW WATER PUMP, T-STAT, INTAKE GASKETS, RADIATOR, HOSES AND COOLANT
TEMPERATURE SENSOR. MULTIPLE T-STATS FROM DIFFERENT SUPPLIERS INCLUDING
DEALER. TEMP SENSOR. RESERVOIR AND CAP. BLOCK TEST.
Question = TRYING TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT...
'O2 CHEVY MALIBU 3.1L OVERHEATED AND BLEW MOTOR. REPLACED WITH A GOOD ONE
FROM A BUICK CENTURY. PRIOR TO INSTALLATION, REPLACED INTAKE GASKETS, T-STAT,
W/P, PLUGS, OIL PAN GASKETS AND THE TIMING COVER (DUE TO SLIGHT PULLEY
MOUNTING DIFFERENCE) START AND RUN ENGINE IN BAY AND ALL IS GOOD. ROAD TEST
GOOD. RECHECK GOOD. GIVE TO CUSTOMER AND OVERHEATS IN FIRST FEW MILES. THEY
PICKED IT UP THE NEXT DAY. AFTER RECHECKING MULTIPLE TIMES, FOUND THAT IT ONLY
OVERHEATS FOR A MOMENT, PUSHES A LITTLE COOLANT OUT OVERFLOW, AND GOES
BACK TO NORMAL AND REMAINS GOOD FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.
IT WILL ONLY DO THIS AFTER THE ENGINE COOLS. IT WILL ONLY OVERHEAT ONCE OR
TWICE DURING THE WARM UP CYCLE ONLY, THEN IT'S OK. TRIED MULTIPLE T-STATS,
REPLACED HOSES AND RADIATOR. STILL DOES IT. TOOK T-STAT OUT OF VEHICLE AND IT
STILL HAPPENS. AFTER REPLACING EVERY PART OF THE COOLING SYSTEM MULTIPLE
TIMES, IT STILL HAPPENS! LAST IDEA WE HAVE IS THERE IS A CRACK INSIDE MOTOR THAT
ONLY OPENS A CERTAIN TEMP AND SEALS BACK UP. WE JUST CANNOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE
OF THIS. BUT CATCHING IT AT THE RIGHT TEMP IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. DOES THIS SOUND
LIKE A POSSIBILITY TO YOU? I WOULD THINK IT SHOULD SHOW ON A BLOCK TEST AT
ANYTIME BUT IT DOESN'T.
BY-THE-WAY, MY NAME IS MATT. I AM THE SERVICE MANAGER IN JACKSONVILLE, FL.
RECENTLY PUT DOWN THE TOOLS TO TRY MANAGER. 15 YRS IN SHOP PRIOR. 10YRS AT
GM DEALER. THE TECH WORKING ON CAR IS ALSO GM CERT. AND 35 YRS EXP. OWNER
ALSO EXPERIENCED AND AT A LOSS. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS OR SUGGESTIONS?
THANKS FOR ANY HELP, MATT
P.S. LOOKING FOR A GOOD SITE LIKE THIS TO USE REGULARLY. I'M TRYING IT OUT FIRST
AND IF IT GOES WELL, WE WILL MAKE REGULAR CONTRIBUTIONS.
Answer:
Well, I've go to say right off the bat, this is a head gasket problem. This sure does not sound like
the original problem that blew the engine is still there. The tech may have replaced the intake
gaskets because they were leaking, but the rear head, passenger side corner leaking coolant
may have been wet because of the intake. Easy to miss that. Even if not leaking externally, this is
a good sign of a head gasket problem. Your GM tech should be familiar that the rear head is very
common to have a blown gasket.
Most of the time leak externally, but not always. Have seen these exact conditions a few times, as
well as our tech JK. They will overheat once or twice during the warm up cycle, burp, then be fine
all day long. Sometimes you can catch it with the cooling system dye test looking for combustion
gases.I would remove both heads and send them out to have checked for cracks just to safe.
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Overheating Engine After Many Parts Replaced
