Running hot and bubbling in engine block after shutting off

Tiny
JAMES WILSON2
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 OLDSMOBILE AURORA
  • 4.0L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
So I just picked up the car listed above and it has been running hot since day one. Previous owner had bypassed heater core, I have replaced some home hoses, tank cap 15psi, thermostat, water pump, thermostat housing. I see no visible leaks. Hoses come off heater core and and connect to metal tubing and left side goes to top of engine and right side goes to thermostat/water pump housing. Started car and shortly after it began to run hot and bubbling out tank. I switched the heater core hoses around and tried again, this time car idled at about 200 degrees all climate controls off for 30 minutes, upon drive test temperature climbed to 250 ( all red lines after that) and when shut off car I could hear liquid bubbling in what sounded like engine block on passenger side from under hood. I jacked up car after cool down and drained water from radiator. I removed upper and lower hose and ran water through top hose until it came out top hose and again through thermostat housing and top of engine, water came through everywhere. Refilled radiator through bottom hose first then topped off tank. Started car and let idle till 200 degrees, ran rpm up to 3500 and let off three times both with heat on and off, refilled if necessary and put up on and shut car off till cool down. I did this several times until I believe tank is full. Now car will idle and stay around 200 with or without climate controls on. Upon driving car up and down road it slowly climbs up to last line before red (250) I panic not wanting to risk more damage and pull in driveway and car will cool down at idle without having to shut off. Now I don't know if I should drive any further, or if I got air in system, something not right? Surely not normal running temp. No oil in water or water in oil, no smoke from exhaust, massive fuel consumption, sluggish takeoff, are also next agenda if I can get this temp down. Any help or knowledge would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
Monday, May 18th, 2020 AT 8:27 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning,

You have all the signs of a failed head gasket. It sounds like compression s leaking into the combustion chamber super heating the coolant.

You need a leak down test to confirm. The chemical tests are not accurate at all.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

You remove all the spark plugs and air up one cylinder at a time. While air is applied, look in the surge tank or radiator for any movement of the coolant.

I attached a YouTube video for you of the same engine for the head gasket replacement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-987CG4AFMg

Roy
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Monday, May 18th, 2020 AT 8:57 AM

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