Cooling System Problem-Chevy Lumina

RUBYTHREE

MEMBER
CHEVROLET LUMINA

I have a Chevy Lumina, 1996, 3.1 engine, 143,000 miles. Three years ago, I had to replace the intake manifold gasket, also spark plugs at that time. Because to the problems associated with the "orange" coolant, I switched to the "green" after having the cooling system flushed. Have had it flushed a second time since due to oil scum in the coolant, probably left over from what the first flush didn't get out.

About a month ago, I had the AC charged as it was not cooling. Soon after, the car starting overheating slowing going up half way and then suddenly clear to the very hot range, heat indicator light comes on, low coolant light comes on. The fans seem to be coming on okay.

Again, I had the engine flushed for a third time as there was still a film of oil in it, also replaced the thermostat at that time. It continues to overheat rapidly and suddenly. Turning on the heater does not help the problem as it only blows cool air. This led the mechanic and I to believe there was an air lock. The coolant resorvoir was overfilled and then suddenly dropped very low but I cannot find a leak, however do get an occasional antifreeze smell. There appears to be no coolant in the oil but there was a slight scum of brown slug in the fill pipe on the radiator.

Today, I had a new water pump (the newest style for this car) put in and took it for a drive out of town but only made it about a mile before the heat gauge topped out again and the heat indicator light came on briefly. Turned the heater on and it only blew cool air. I limped it back home and parked it.

What to do next? Should I have a new radiator put on it? (It's no more expensive than boiling out the present one?)

Don't know if the mechanic did a coolant system pressure check but will ask him. He is as puzzled as I am.

Hope someone can help. I am very frustrated with this car. I can't really trade it off any more than I can afford repairs but I do need my car. It has been very good to me up to this point and I've been driving it over 6 years.

2 Replies

NICKN

MECHANIC
69 POSTS

You can have the radiator looked at and to make sure that is ok, and not clogged or damaged. It may also be ur heater core going bad. So get that checked out.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Monday, June 11th, 2007 AT 5:35 PM

TIZEN

MEMBER
1 POST

Rubythree, I am having the same EXACT problem with my 1995 lumina, 3.1 engine, 133,000 miles.

It is still using "orange" coolant (dex-cool). I'm kind of in a low income situation, but a few months ago the temp started going way up with the air conditioner turned on. So I stopped using that and it went down to the half-way mark.

Yesterday, on my way home from work, I noticed the temp was maxed out and it said "low coolant". I tried turning on the heater to counter this, but it just blew cold air. No change. Unfortunately I don't know much about auto-mechanical things. I can change a tire and that's about it.

I thought the problem might be with this coolant stuff. I've read a lot of people have problems with the orange dex-cool, so I was going to try and flush it out and put in the regular green coolant. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to have worked for you.

If anyone has any ideas or solutions, please reply.

Image (Click to make bigger)