1995 Chevy Lumina overheating problems

Hello –

Just a couple of questions to get us on the same page. Is your Lumina just a Lumina, or an APV or LS? Next – is your engine a 3.4L VIN X or 3.1L VIN M? The VIN is the 8th digit of your VIN. Also how many miles on the vehicle?

So you had a blown head gasket, replaced them both……you had both heads resurfaced – did you have a valve job also?

New thermostat and gasket, you put the GREEN Prestone back in…..now it overheats quicker than before. You bleed all the air out – while the vehicle was running – you opened the bleeder valve on top of the thermostat housing until it ran steady with antifreeze?

Top and bottom radiator hoses not getting hot – are the heater hoses going into and coming out of the firewall hot at all?

Does heater blow cold or hot inside the vehicle?

I believe without answering the above that you still have air in the system……..it is extremely hard to get out.

Please answer back with the above and I will get back to you.

I hope you and your family have a nice Thanksgiving.

Yes, I used green anti freeze no I did not bleed the system. I don't temember a bleeder on top of the housing but I will look. No, i am not getting hot heater hoses either. Cold air only inside. No, did not have a valve job, was told that when you build up the top end of these engines the bottom suffers. Since this is my daughters car and not the main one I decided not to tempt fate. I will look to get all the air out as my next step. Thanks for the quick response and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours too.

I found the bleeder and opened it until it ran green. That seems to have solved the problem! Believe it or not it took a while to find "what @#$ bleeder is this guy talking about" yes, the bleeder right there in front of me in plain sight. There was a lot of air in the system. Thanks so much!

Hello –

Glad that worked out for you…..also….just to keep in mind for future……anytime you do a head job it is best from my experience to one, have the heads resurfaced. This is because if they warped slightly then you could get another blown head gasket. Next, always go ahead and have the valves reworked, new valve seals etc. This truly will save you time and headache in the future.

Not sure where you got this info…”No, did not have a valve job, was told that when you build up the top end of these engines the bottom suffers.” I am not sure what suffering this may be, if you would like to respond and let me know we could discuss for both of our gaining insight.

The top and bottom perform different functions and you will only gain, not suffer unless you are able to let me know something.

Again, really glad it is working……