Over heating problem

Tiny
KAREEMZ24
  • MEMBER
  • GMC
Hey whats up guys im a newbie to this site but I have a question and would appreciate any help I can get

ok I have a 95 chevy cavalier with the 2.3 motor manula trans, and about a month ago it started to overheat, in the last two weeks I have replaced, the water pump, the thermostat, the overflow res. Cap, and the radiator, and flushed it 3 times and it still over heats, and there is no coolant in the oil, or oil in the coolant, there is no coolant comming out of the tail pipe, there is no white smoke from the muffler, the car doesnt idle rough, doesnt miss, doesnt stall, I took it to a chevy dealership and they said they had no idea, I just think the coolant is not flowing, but when I drive if I dont drive it hard and dont let the rpms go to high it doesnt overheat, but then if I try to drive hard (or race) then it starts to overhat, then other times the temp actually drops, I took it to a place that deals only with cooling systems and they said they were gonna do a test to see if it was the head gasket, but then he said he couldnt get a reading, I did a pressure test at 16 pounds since that cap is 15, and it only dropped to 141/2, so the mechanic told me that was still normal, so thats all I can think of I dont want to go ripping the head apart if thats not the problem, any suggestions
Thursday, March 9th, 2006 AT 9:48 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
MVANNESSJR
  • MECHANIC
  • 223 POSTS
Well if it only happens when you try to "race" your 2.3L engine then ehh. DON'T DO IT! Why would you do that anyway?

Annnnyway -- Check the belts and the tensioner. I'm thinking it may be getting stuck under hard runs and it is not properly spinning the water pump.
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Thursday, March 9th, 2006 AT 10:22 PM
Tiny
KAREEMZ24
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  • 3 POSTS
I may be wrong but I think the water pump runs of the timing chain, because the gear that is on the water pump goes into a hole in the back of the timeing chain cover
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Friday, March 10th, 2006 AT 6:09 AM
Tiny
RUGRUV
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  • 45 POSTS
Because you "race" your 2.3.

I have to ask you if you've gone and put different sized pulleys on to get that extra horse power.
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Friday, March 10th, 2006 AT 2:41 PM
Tiny
KAREEMZ24
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  • 3 POSTS
No I didnt change the pulleys, and I hadnt done any new performance upgrades around the time it started to overheat.
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Friday, March 10th, 2006 AT 5:48 PM
Tiny
RUGRUV
  • MEMBER
  • 45 POSTS
If your cooling system has been given a complete good bill of health. Have you looked at the possibility of your engine burning to lean?

Less gas more air will make for a hotter burn. Hows your air filter? Partially blocked exhaust. Maybe. Is all the gas getting into the engine that is supposed to be getting in?

American engines use smaller coolling systems than european ones and relied quite a bit on using more gas to cool the burn.
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Friday, March 10th, 2006 AT 6:59 PM
Tiny
RUGRUV
  • MEMBER
  • 45 POSTS
No. Your camshaft must turn in direct relation with your crankshaft for timing purposes. 2 to 1 ratio.

Your water pump should be run by a belt and pulley.
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Friday, March 10th, 2006 AT 7:04 PM
Tiny
RONBAY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Is it possible that you put the thermostat in backwards?
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Friday, March 13th, 2009 AT 10:44 AM

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