1995 Chevy Cavalier Engine over heats and cools

1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
190,000 MILES • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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SDEWOLFE
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  • 1 POST
I recently changed the head gasket and when I filled the cooling system everything worked good,it idles fine its not burning antifreeze,when I drive the car the heat gauge starts out normal and everything looks fine until I drive aprox 10 miles and the heat gauge rises almost to hot and about 3-minutes the heat gauge declines back to normal and the coolant light comes on and with in 1 minute the coolant light goes out and it repeats the same as above until the coolant light stay's on, I check under the hood the antifreeze has pushed by pressure out of the filler tank?
Dec 3, 2007 at 7:38 PM
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RASMATAZ
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  • 75,992 POSTS
Test the thermostat-ain't it have the tests done below.

Have it block and pressure tested-do the block first to pinpoint a combustion leaking into the cooling system or a gas analyzer to sniff for hydrocarbons at the radiator fill neck.

Pressure test: do not do a pressure test if there's leakage at the headgasket this might cause coolant into the cylinders and lock it up or bend a connecting rod if cranked thereafter. The headgasket should be repaired before doing the pressure test.

If the block and pressure test passes check the following: Thermostat,Pressure test the Rad. cap,Clogged radiator,Fan clutch,Radiator electrical fan,collaspe hoses,water pump.
Dec 3, 2007 at 8:04 PM
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EZE
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  • 16 POSTS
If you did the headgasket yourself I have heard that it's pretty tough to get things seated correctly. So there is always the chance that things whent wrong there, even if it was a shop that did it.

Try the thermostat and the rest of the easy stuff like rasmataz suggested before worrying about the head gasket though.
Dec 3, 2007 at 8:36 PM
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