Coolant issue?

[SLoW_SHO_316]

So I've got no leaks, and today out of the blue, my temp gauge starts gettin screwy on me, and I thought I smelled burning coolant. I checked it out, the line on the tb was pushing a little coolant, but nothing major, I re-clamped it and figured it was fixed. When I wen't to start my car, it turned over, then siezed up for a second. I stopped cranking, then turned the key again, and it started. Then I noticed a huge cloud of white smoke coming from the exhaust, and the distinct smell of burning coolant, along with a slight missfire. I drove down the road a little, and the missfire went away, and so did the white smoke. I stopped my car, went inside my house, and came out about 10 mins later. Bam, same scenario.

WTF?

 

[Toolman]

That sounds bad.

 

[SLoW_SHO_316]

That sounds bad.

I know :cry:

I think I know what it is, but I want someone else to say it. I can't type those letters right now.

 

[SLoW_SHO_316]

Is there anything else it could possibly be??

 

[SHOtime2511]

blown headgasket
how much N2o are you running?

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

How is your coolant level?
Have you checked for oil in the coolant, or coolant in the oil?

Also, pulling each plug will tell you all you need to know if you think the motor blew a headgasket or water jacket.

 

[SLoW_SHO_316]

Not running any nitrous. Front 3 plugs looked good. Did a compression test on the front bank, 190 for all 3.

The motor has 70k on it, has run great for about 8k miles, and now this outta the blue....

The res tank kinda smelled like gas, but I'm not 100% sure. No oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil.

 

[SHOtimer]

You need to do the same on the rear bank.

Doug

 

[SLoW_SHO_316]

Is there anything else it could possibly be?

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

If it really is burning coolant, I dont think so.

You need to confirm if it is or not though.

 

[N3FOL]

Burning Coolant or Something else

I am also smelling coolant, when the engine gets hot. When I get a chance late this weekend, I am going to tighten all the clamps for all coolant lines and hope for the best. Some forum members suspect that it might be a leaking waterpump. I replaced my waterpump 55K miles ago and it should still be good...but anything can happen. Good Luck and I hope that you can find that gremlin.

 

[SHOtime2511]

Is there anything else it could possibly be?

did the plug tips look to be real clean,washed look?
your first post just seems like typical headgasket failure,everyone i have ever had to deal with has the same symptoms

 

[CerberuS]

Burning coolant makes WHITE spark plugs tips. You also have white smoke rear end.

look for that.

 

[SLoW_SHO_316]

Well, it's official. Headgasket failure on a 70k well maintained 3.2.

Car's being put away untill spring.

 

[SuperchargedSHOguy]

wow, thats not typical on these cars.

 

[SLoW_SHO_316]

And to think I was a couple 100$ away from a complete Turbo kit



I called the junkyard that I got the motor from. They said there's nothing they can do for me, but the motor was sitting in their warehouse for 3 years... THREE YEARS. Would that have any affect on the headgaskets? I drove 8,000 miles on the motor just fine though, I would think the problem would have appeared a little quicker.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Have you done a compression check on the rear bank yet?

 

[SHOtimer]

You never know why it was in the jyard to begin with. It could have been previously overheated and damaged in it's previous SHO.......that is a problem with buying a motor with unknown history. Hopefully it will be a easy patch up.

Doug

 

[SLoW_SHO_316]

Have you done a compression check on the rear bank yet?

No, but everything else points to the blown hg.

White smoke from the exhaust, coolant burning smell, coolant is now in the oil, white spark plugs, freaking out temp gauge.

If the car had damaged/warped heads, or something like that, I would think this problem would have shown itself sooner. I'm blaming it on a fluke occurance. But thats my luck with this car.

 

[Racer X]

Check the heads. If they're warped at all, you'll likely end up replacing them.