1991 Olds Cutlass Supreme No Coolant Flow

1991 GMC
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IBL84THAT
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  • 1 POST
I HAVE A 91 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME WITH A 3.1 ENGINE. A FEW DAYS AGO IT STARTED STALLING WHEN I WOULD IDLE OR STOPPING AT A LIGHT ETC. I CHECKED THE FUEL PRESSURE AND IT IS FINE. IN THE PAST 6-9 MONTHS I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, IGNITION MODULE, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, ALTERNATER, BATTERY, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, O2 SENSOR, AND PROBABLY MORE. I DROVE IT LAST NIGHT AND WITHIN 25 HIGHWAY MILES I LOST ALL THE FLUID IN THE RADIATOR AND RESERVOIR, AND IT WAS ACTING CRAZY LIKE LOSING POWER AND THEN GAINING IT REAL QUICK. THE HEATER COMPLETELY DIED (BLOWS COLD AIR) AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GASPING FOR AIR WHEN IT IDLES. KEEP IN MIND IT WAS -14 DEGREES HERE. SO TONIGHT I START IT AND DRIVE IT 5 BLOCKS. IT STILL DIES BUT IT WAS BLOWING WARM AIR. I OPENED THE CAP TO THE RADIATOR AND LOOKED INSIDE AND NOTHING WAS MOVING. NO CIRCULATION. THERE IS NO SIGNS OF WATER OR ANTIFREEZE IN THE OIL. PLEASE HELP ME FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GO WITH IT NEXT. COULD IT BE THE WATER PUMP OR IS IT THE DREADED BLOWN HEAD GASKET?? HELP!!!!!!!!!
Feb 20, 2006 at 2:35 PM
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MVANNESSJR
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 223 POSTS
Believe me, you will know when it is a blown head gasket. The large amounts of white smoke from the tail pipe and milkshake for oil is real easy to spot.

My guess is the waterpump probably got stuck and the car spit out all of its coolant. Refill and see how she does then. Be careful, don't go joy riding until you are sure it's in working order, maybe a few trips around the block till she gets warmed up? Please do not fill it up with water as the cold weather will turn it into ice.
Feb 20, 2006 at 6:11 PM
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Suggested Repair

A blown head gasket is unlikely without heavy white exhaust smoke and milky oil. Suspect a stuck water pump that expelled the coolant. Refill with antifreeze, not plain water in freezing weather, and limit driving to short warm-up trips until circulation is confirmed.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 3.1 reported idle stalling, sudden loss of all coolant, no visible radiator circulation, intermittent heater output, and power surges after many recent parts replacements. There was no coolant in the oil. The expert said a blown head gasket would usually produce heavy white smoke and milky oil, and instead suspected a stuck water pump. The advice was to refill with antifreeze rather than water and test only with short trips until the cooling system works.

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