Need help with my 97 Chevy Lumina 3.1 V6

RANDO1372

MEMBER
1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA
12,000 MILES

When I start it up it runs a little ruff, I have alot of smoke coming out of the tailpipe when I start it up. It's not running hot, and I don't have water in my oil. Just put a tuneup on it, when it warms up it runs good any suggestions?

Saturday, December 10th, 2011 AT 1:58 AM

8 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Have you checked the coolant temp sensor yet?Do you have any codes?

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Sunday, December 11th, 2011 AT 2:38 AM

RANDO1372

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No not yet but I have noticed that my low coolant light comes on alot, even when I have it filled up. Do you think a sensor could be causing all this, I know when I start it up the rpm's reve up and down a little, and I have to add coolant about twice a week, and if I run it for awhile when I go to crank it, it;ll act like it won't want to start, thank's for the response.

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Sunday, December 11th, 2011 AT 1:54 PM

RANDO1372

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Edit the car has a 120,000 miles not 12,000 thanks.

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Sunday, December 11th, 2011 AT 2:22 PM

SATURNTECH9

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30,869 POSTS

The first thing we need to figure out before anything else is why you have to keep adding coolant. Go to auto zone and see if you can rent a coolant pressure tester that will fit your car. Let me know if you can get one and I will help you with that.

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Sunday, December 11th, 2011 AT 9:13 PM

RANDO1372

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Yeah i've put a coolant tester on it, and it's slowly leaking psi but there's not a leak coming from the bottom of my car. Like leaving work tonight went to start it up and it took me about three times's. Big thick clouds of smoke was coming from my tailpipe, and my rpm's were going up and down like crazy, but once I got up the road it ran great. Any help would be appreciated.