1995 Chevy Cavalier Engine over heats and cools

SDEWOLFE

MEMBER
1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
190,000 MILES

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?

Monday, December 3rd, 2007 AT 7:38 PM

2 Replies

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
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.

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Monday, December 3rd, 2007 AT 8:04 PM

EZE

MEMBER
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.

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Monday, December 3rd, 2007 AT 8:36 PM