coolant in cylinders - general engine question
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Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Morgantown, WV
coolant in cylinders - general engine question
This question doesn't directly relate to my '91 Camaro and is more of a general engine knowledge question. Specifically it is about my girlfriends '91 Cavalier 2.2l OHV.
The engine has a massive internal coolant leak. I changed her engine a month ago and have had her keeping a close eye on it. She noticed that it was leaking coolant this morning and drove it for about a minute and it overheated. When i got home I looked at it and determined that the leak was the waterpump so I put a new one on. I started it up and it was blowing white smoke and stalled after a few minutes. I pulled the plugs and there was coolant in ALL 4 cylinders. I sucked the water out with my shopvac and did a compression test. The compression appears normal for a cold engine.
What could possibly cause an internal leak in ALL of the cylinders?
The engine has a massive internal coolant leak. I changed her engine a month ago and have had her keeping a close eye on it. She noticed that it was leaking coolant this morning and drove it for about a minute and it overheated. When i got home I looked at it and determined that the leak was the waterpump so I put a new one on. I started it up and it was blowing white smoke and stalled after a few minutes. I pulled the plugs and there was coolant in ALL 4 cylinders. I sucked the water out with my shopvac and did a compression test. The compression appears normal for a cold engine.
What could possibly cause an internal leak in ALL of the cylinders?
Supreme Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,840
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From: Tigard, Oregon
Car: '86 Berlinetta
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
got a guess on head gasket or a warped head... unless there were a huge crack in the block, iunno. the compression test throws me off lol.... check the headgasket
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Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Philly, PA
Those little straight 4s are notorious for head gasket problems. I've had friends who have owned them and had to get a new head gasket put on in as little as 40K miles. If she overheated it then the thing is gone for sure. And, of course, the head will likely be warped. When you get around to fixing it buy a really good quality head gasket and make sure EVERYTHING is dead-flat and clean before you reassemble.
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Pueblo Co
Car: 1989 C4
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 307
The 2.2L's have many casting flaws the just scream let me crack! Between the valves, coolant passages on the back of the head are common places for these heads to let go. If you have coolant in all 4 holes then it did overheat and blew the gasket. On the rare chance the head may be servicable one more time its probably not worth the effort since these heads dont give you much play when there resurfaced. There is a place called Alabama cylinder head, they have good deals on NEW casting heads that have be cast to eliminate all flaws with the GM design.
1-800-235-4323
http://acheinc.com/geo-gmproduct.htm
1-800-235-4323
http://acheinc.com/geo-gmproduct.htm
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NinjaNife
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