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2001 Buick overheats


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randypolar
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Aug 16, 2013, 9:16 PM

Post #1 of 8 (2572 views)
2001 Buick overheats Sign In

2001 buick century 3.1 engine over heats. At first it only over heated on hot days, now it does very quickly in just a few miles sometimes. When it does I've noticed that I can remove radiator cap with no problem and its full of coolant. Then I'd open the two bleed screws and there is no coolant and full of very hot steam. Like no coolant is in the engine i now this because i shut engine off and using a funnel I was able to slowly add more water and it would flow into the engine and i could here the colder water enter the hot engine and turn too steam I could actually here this happen so i keep adding more until water instead of steam came out of the bleed screws and then I could drive again. And then it would do it again. Ive replaced water pump and thermostat. I suspect head gasket. If so what about these high dollar headgasket sealers on the market do they really work?


Hammer Time
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Aug 17, 2013, 2:43 AM

Post #2 of 8 (2563 views)
Re: 2001 Buick overheats Sign In

Sounds like you probably have a blow head gasket by now.
Didn't anyone ever tell you not to add water to a very hot engine?
Didn't anyone ever tell you not to use water at all.
50/50 mix of coolant should be the only thing ever added to the system.



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Tom Greenleaf
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Aug 17, 2013, 4:08 AM

Post #3 of 8 (2556 views)
Re: 2001 Buick overheats Sign In

Quote ">>If so what about these high dollar headgasket sealers on the market do they really work?<<"

Yes - they will plug your heater core and make the problem much harder to fix. Not much magic in a can out there, just lies. Sells well thoughPirate

Hey - I don't think I've ever seen a 'water cooled' engine that doesn't have warnings about openening up when hot. You are lucky you didn't get a face full of 3rd degree burns!

By your description you probably needed a head gasket job and now probably cracked parts up to rendering this engine junk,

T



Hammer Time
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Aug 17, 2013, 4:14 AM

Post #4 of 8 (2552 views)
Re: 2001 Buick overheats Sign In

Adding cold water to a hot engine is how you crack blocks and heads.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
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Aug 17, 2013, 11:15 AM

Post #5 of 8 (2544 views)
Re: 2001 Buick overheats Sign In

What gets me is that it is overheating and the OP keeps driving it.

If the car is a piece of junk and you don't plan on keeping it much longer, the sealer stuff may work if the headgasket is blown. Understand that if you use that stuff, which most mechanics don't condone, it will make a mess of the coolant system. Head gasket sealer is the Hail Mary of repairs.





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(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Aug 17, 2013, 11:22 AM)


Hammer Time
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Aug 17, 2013, 11:37 AM

Post #6 of 8 (2537 views)
Re: 2001 Buick overheats Sign In


Quote
Head gasket sealer is the Hail Mary of repairs.


You can pretty much forget repairing it after that. The radiator and heater core will be junk.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
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Aug 17, 2013, 12:51 PM

Post #7 of 8 (2530 views)
Re: 2001 Buick overheats Sign In

But, but, but HT - Just back from WallyWorld and the good stuff was almost $20 to wreck things and fully guaranteed to work To think people waste all that time and money to fix things!

T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 17, 2013, 1:26 PM

Post #8 of 8 (2524 views)
Re: 2001 Buick overheats Sign In

And just imagine how much money the guy that sold that stuff made. he's the only one that wins.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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