jessman

I have a 94 Buick Century. I bought it from my mom, and it had a coolant leak, although we didn't know how bad. We were able to drive it for months so far with the leak, and nothing happened, just had to make sure you always checked to see if there was coolant in the tank.

Well, about 3 weeks ago I put some stuff called stopleak in the radiator. I also then put some anti freeze in the raditor. Then I put water in the coolant tank. The leak appeared to have stopped, cause there was never a surge in engine temp.

Well, yesterday I went to go to work, and about 10 min of driving I notice the temp needle is at the H! I drive about 10 more min to the gas station, and check under the hood to find that the coolant tank has nothing in it. I think to myself that it's not surprusing, as there was only water in it 3 weeks ago, so I buy a thing of anti freeze and put it in.

Only problem is that the temp did not drop! I drove another 15 min and clocked into work. I talked to one of my coworkers about it, and he told me not to worry and that the anti freeze only prevents overheating, so it the engine temp is already really high, then it wouldn't do anythihng for like 1 hour.

Feeling good again I got out of work 7 hours later, and I didn't drive more than 5 min, and the temp needle was alreayd soaring past the H!!! I drove all the way with it like that (about 30 min) with there being a slight period of time where the temp started to fall, but then went back up and stayed up.


When I went to school this morning, same thing happened!! I checked, and there is plenty of coolant in the tank, so what could be going on?


Also, about 2 years ago I had another 94 Buick century, and the temp gauge went through the roof, and when I got home (about 30 min), the interior of the car filled with smoke, and smoke billowed out from the hood. I leanred that the head was crakced, and the head gaskets blown, casue I didn't change the oil. Could the same thing be happening here?

bruiser

Check the thermostat.

mack1

Hi Jessman,

Always make sure the radiator is full of water. If the temperature guage reaches HOT, pull over and stop. You will burn up your engine if you keep driving it without sufficient water in the radiator. The coolent tank is an overflow where water goes when it expands from heat inside a FULL radiator. When the engine cools off, it will draw some of it back into the radiator, thus keeping it full.

Caution: When the car if hot, be very careful about taking the radiator cap off. You can get burned very easily from the steam that will spew from the radiator when the cap is removed.

When the car is cool, check the radiator and fill it as needed. Then add some to the coolent tank to reach the normal level as marked on the tank.

If the radiator is full and the car over heats, bursier is right, check the thermostat.

Antifreeze is just that. Keeps the water from freezing in the winter. Water is the main coolent.

Be careful and don't burn up your engine. Fix the water leak. Lot cheaper than a new engine.

Regards,
Mack1

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jessman

how much will it cost to fix a water leak?

Raylo

Obviously that depends on what's leaking. Numbers are SWAGS but should be in the ballpark. Even the worst is still a lot cheaper than a new motor.

Radiator hose-$30
Heater hose-$75 (more or less depending on access)
Water pump-$250
Radiator - $350
Heater core-$400
Intake manifold gasket-$500

mack1

Hi Jessman,

Find where the water is leaking out. When the engine is warm, there is pressure in the water system and the leak should show up then. It might be a hose leaking or the water pump. The water pump will normally leak around the shaft where the fanbelt pully drives it. It should have one of the large hoses from the radiator connected to it. If the leak is around the waterpump shaft, stopleak won't fix it.
Once you know where the leak is, get an estimate from a mechanic to have it repaired if you don't feel like you can handle it.
One good place to get it repaired is at your local high school that teaches auto mechanics. They need cars to work on and will normally do a good job at a good price.
Find out who the instructor is and talked to him.

That's the best advice I can give you.
Mack1

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Volt-Schwibe

also, if the engine is very hot, and the gauge falls now and then, it's probably running low on water at that point.

the gauge reads the temp from the water, so when the water lever gets so low it doesn't touch the probe, the gauge falls. some people perceive the gauge falling as a good thing, but don't let it fool you.

and i'm going to agree with a stuck thermostat, especially since you put stop leak in it, that stuff can often gum up the thermostat.

it's a cheap part though, usually 10$ or less, and even fairly easy to replace.

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RIGHTE0US

if your car has a 3.1 engine, there is a bleeder at the top of the intake which you "have" to bleed in order to fill the engine correctly with coolant. Open the bleeder as you fill it till coolant comes out of it. Then close the bleeder and watch for leaks. Good Luck

jessman

well, I put more water directly into the radiator, and it seems fine for now