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Head gasket? '99 chevy


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Wlfwo
New User

Dec 27, 2011, 10:29 AM

Post #1 of 9 (1575 views)
Head gasket? '99 chevy Sign In

1999
Chevrolet
S10
4 cylinder (not sure actual size)
159,000

I will state with the exception of just the one time it has not overheated, it doesn't seem to get up to heat at all.

First we replaced the top hose that seemed to have a very small leak. It never overheated for this one.

Then we replaced the radiator (which developed a very nice leak) which was the only cause for it overheating.

It went along for a couple of months without issue, then started not warming up again until it wouldn't get much past the bottom line. Took it back to the mechanic and he said water pump, so I had him replace the water pump.

Other than to correct the leak, this did not solve the problem so replaced the thermostat (bought a fail safe one), that worked for about 24 hours and it's not warming up again. I do not seem to be losing any coolant and due to the weather am not sure if the exhaust is white or not. also makes it a bit difficult to do the cardboard at the exhaust test.

My mechanic says it's a blown head gasket, but I am not seeing anything that says blown gasket, I did google head gasket symptoms, it doesn't run rough, it doesn't seem to be leaking, it's not overheating (quite the opposite)

Here is what it is doing, temp is not getting much above the 100 degree line. Heater is not putting out warm air at all. Occasionally it don't want to start the very first time (not sure if that has anything to do with this, but since it does do it I will mention it). I am at my wits, not to mention my wallets end. Any suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks, Nancy


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 27, 2011, 10:38 AM

Post #2 of 9 (1572 views)
Re: Head gasket? '99 chevy Sign In

If your only complaint is no heat, you could have a heater core that is plugged up from grungy Dexcool. Remove both hoses to the core and backflush it with a garden hose under pressure in both directions.



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

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.



Wlfwo
New User

Dec 27, 2011, 1:21 PM

Post #3 of 9 (1544 views)
Re: Head gasket? '99 chevy Sign In


In Reply To
If your only complaint is no heat, you could have a heater core that is plugged up from grungy Dexcool. Remove both hoses to the core and backflush it with a garden hose under pressure in both directions.


Would this cause the temperature gauge to register nothing?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 27, 2011, 3:57 PM

Post #4 of 9 (1532 views)
Re: Head gasket? '99 chevy Sign In

No, I said if your only complaint was lack of heat. You may have air pockets in the system from either having a leak somewhere or never getting all the air out in the first place.



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

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.



Double J
Veteran / Moderator
Double J profile image

Dec 28, 2011, 9:33 PM

Post #5 of 9 (1513 views)
Re: Head gasket? '99 chevy Sign In

I'lll add my 2 cents ...

If it worked after the thermostat was replaced i would
be looking at the thermostat again..
I'll bet if you remove the T-stat you may find that the FAIL SAFE Stat
Is stuck open...these T-stats are terrible for this...
Had a few do this...i don't use them...go get a Regular 'Stant' Brand T-stat
Pep Boys is one of the chains that sells them...stay away from Autozone Fail Safe stats.


Wlfwo
New User

Dec 29, 2011, 9:26 AM

Post #6 of 9 (1498 views)
Re: Head gasket? '99 chevy Sign In

I took it elsewhere for a 2nd opinion and it was indeed the head gasket. I was really hoping not, but there you have it. ~sighs~ Thanks for all the suggestions though.
Nancy


seriousfreedom
User

Feb 21, 2012, 10:47 PM

Post #7 of 9 (1434 views)
Re: Head gasket? '99 chevy Sign In

not meaning to hijack this thread or anything and i apologize for this in advance but why is it that it seems when the gm motors now days hit 100,000 mile the heads start leaking???


Wlfwo
New User

Feb 22, 2012, 9:21 AM

Post #8 of 9 (1427 views)
Re: Head gasket? '99 chevy Sign In


In Reply To
not meaning to hijack this thread or anything and i apologize for this in advance but why is it that it seems when the gm motors now days hit 100,000 mile the heads start leaking???


No clue, but it happened between '95 and '99 cause we have a 95 full size with almost 400,000 miles on him and he is still running strong.


nickwarner
Veteran / Moderator
nickwarner profile image

Feb 22, 2012, 8:56 PM

Post #9 of 9 (1415 views)
Re: Head gasket? '99 chevy Sign In

Actually, you are hijacking this thread. That would be a question to pose under general discussions under its own thread. But these engines actually run quite well without major problems past 100,000. The difference is people quit bothering to look under their hoods anymore. People won't check their fluids. If they do look at a gauge its only because 3 lights and a chime told them to shut down the car. Even then they run the thing til it dies. Car manufacturers advertise things as maintenance free and the buyers think this means they never will fail and never have to be looked over. Any moving component car and will fail.






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