Engine is hot, bubbling in heater core

2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO
187,000 MILES • 3.4L • 6 CYL • 2WD • MANUAL
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JOHN DWYER2
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
turn car on for 10 minutes per say, and the engine is extremely hot, and the gauge on dash goes up fast. Nothing is seen leaking underneath, but a lot of smoke is coming out exhaust.
My lights and engine when running are flickering but dont go out, had battery and alternator checked and both passed. After running for awhile, I turn it off and you can hear bubbling from the heater core, and sometimes from the gas tank.
Mar 4, 2021 at 6:35 PM
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I-SMOGEM
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 118 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Are you losing any coolant? Have you checked the coolant level in a while??
Two quick potentials come to mind. 1 .you have low coolant and air in the system causing overheating and the gurgling you mention. 2. you have a bad head gasket that is putting compression gasses into the cooling system, also causing overheating and the gurgling, and the smoke you may be seeing from the exhaust.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-an-overheating-engine
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-leak-symptoms

Glenn
Mar 4, 2021 at 10:11 PM
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