Antifreeze and steam
 

I came back from a drive today (50km round trip)
20 minutes after I got home I went out side and steam was coming from the front passanger side of the hood, (a little bit)
So I popped the hood and Steam looked like it was coming from the water pump and there was anti-freeze on the belt.
Is it the upper intake?
Is it the water pump?
Am I screwed? lol..

It's from where the water is leaking.

Passanger side of the intake, or top of the water pump, theres water in both places.
The rad was down 3'' and Im not sure about the tank.
Also theres this chunky greasy white stuff-I think silicon (small amounts) in the rad
L27 engine, 215,000km 136,000miles
Should I get it flushed and pressurized? see where the leak is. It has a lower then stock pressure rad cap, is that good/bad?
Or is there a better way?

1992
Im going to drive it tonight, It might have been a burp (hints the silicon) I quess I'll know when the " SNS " or the "Low Coolent" bells go off... or smoke billowing from the hood :lol:
hmm.. I would rather a blow intake gasket or blown out silicon rather then a cracked intake, but it mite be the intake because it wasnt that much of a leak... also It didn't start to smoke untill I let it sit there...

I had something like that happen when the water pump on my 85 grand am went. I started smelling anti-freeze about 2 weeks before it went. and the day it went it started to steam bad and eventually I lost all my coolant. Hopefully a water pump ends up being your problem and not an intake. Good luck!

You sure it's not just the gasket?

For the last ten minutes ive been talking myself into believing that...
the only reason why there was steam is because I burnt up a bit of anti-freeze on the way in 140-170km/h holding for 20km- I might have forgot to say that...
Then on the way back 110-160km/h for 20km- I wasnt in such a rush to get home then I let the car sit... as I did that it was starving to fill the rad, so it puked what was in the over flow tank into the tube to quickly and sprayed it all over the front of the engine (hints the water was everywhere)

Now to back this theory up...

Before my wife left tonight I filled the rad and put some in the over flow...
When she got back I let it sit... 5minutes..
went out.. no water, no leak, no steam, NO PROBLEM?

:D
Maybe i'll leave for work a little earlyer tomorrow..

If it's not the pump like the others suggested (fingers crossed) BarsLeaks is great for tiny little leaks like that....

Tofu, have you considered the possibility of that under-pressured cap venting at too low a pressure? Is there a leak at the outlet under the cap that could have been blowing back over the water pump at speed?

I don't know what you mean by that... hole?
The cap is 16lb... non-stock..

It is continuing to be a problem, I will try to get it in a shop... powerflush it.. pressurize it... find the leak... my mechanic buddy thinks its the water pump seal...
I wanna get this fixxed before winter... I dont wanna restort to getting rid of this thing... :?
anyone know if its series 1 or series 2 supercharged engine in the 95 riviera?
I might have to go 4 door soon anyway...

Im changing out the water pump this weekend...
Ive narrowed it down, cuz it puked half a rad of aint-freeze all over today so Im going to drive my truck tomorrow :lol: and there isnt anyt aint-freeze in the oil so It should be a head gasket... and the intake is new(ish) and I presume it had a new seal when they put it in.

So how long of a job?
And how much for the pump?
Theres hardly anything in the way so maybe a few hours? looks like the camaros spending a night outside... :P

95 is the last year of Series 1 L67. Water pump is about 2 hours, but I'm not familiar with the engine mounts in a Trofeo......should be ok. Pump should cost about $30 with a core.

sounds good, might be able to do it tomorrow after work.
Also doesnt it seam a little wierd that the pump went when its -2 degrees C ?
Ive had water pumps go before but usually in 30+ degrees C. Usually its the powersteering pumps that go in cold... but what ever... Im going to go call napa and order a pump.

Tofu, they'll have it in stock. Just make sure it's got a warranty. I'd also suggest new over rebuilt on a WP. Even if it's 20 bux more.

I just went to move the car into the garage, napas got one, and I'll pick it up tomorrow.
I filled the rad (or as much as I could.) as I was filling it was puking out the bottom... I didnt check but I assume just over the balancer..

Are you sure it's not the short bypass hose from the top of the water pump to the intake? That's a typical spot (I just fixed another one on an L27 two weeks ago).
With that massive amount coming out, it should be easy to spot for sure.

nah, thats the onlything dry...
Thanks bill.. I'll try the pump tomorrow, if thats not it then I Know I'll need a rear head gasket.

Well, based on my knowledge, I'd say the odds of the rear head gasket are VERY slim. They're tough, and rarely fail....and the fact that it gurgles out when you fill it (when the car was off I assume?) points to the water pump....maybe a failed gasket, or even a cracked housing.

yeah the car was off, and no aintifreeze/water in the oil.

Just talked with Jseabert......the L27 report sez you'll be messing with a motor mount, and look at about 4 hours.

:shock: 4Hours? that sucks... I quess I'll turn the heat on in the garage for a few hours before I go out there...

DISCLAIMER

That was a 93SSE and a 17 year old wrench. I wasn't with him that day. It was solo.

oh shit... It wasnt the water pump...
I put the new pump on... filled it... but its coming out behind, or trickling from the top... the waterpump (more towards the back of the engine) its just pouring. someone said somthing about a hose? could it be I lost a plug? or my block heater?

"short bypass hose from the top of the water pump to the intake"
COuld I have a pic of this? I didnt take off or put on any hose

OH, pissin me off..
Yes its the bypass hose, no its not the hose, the screw in connector thing broke into the lower intake.... I hope thats cast iron... So Im going to remove the Alt. then Im going dig it out... if I cant dig it out, im going to get really pissed off... glue the sucker in... and bring it to auction next week.

Cmon! It's a nice ride keep it! I saw a maroon Toronado (not sure if trofeo) today it was MINT!

ok, yeah its plastic... how you think I shoulda get it out, I tryed the hammer/chizzle... but it wont dig in, cuz its plastic..

ok, so Air hammer it is.... lol.. (joke)
I'll be back in a few... tell you how it went... lol..

no shit... I siad a few minutes.. here I am an hour and half later... I got some big chunks out.. but its still in there... I'll get a tool tomorrow on my way back from the GM dealership...