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1999 3.1 Oil and Coolant Mixing

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  • 1999 3.1 Oil and Coolant Mixing

    Ok, I've been down this road with my 1995 3.4L Monte Carlo Z34.
    Now, my 1999 3.1L seems to want the same attention.
    Here's the scenario:
    - Wife complains heater doesn't work.
    - Son adds coolant (don't know how much). No visible leaks per Son.
    - Several days later, I use the car and get 5 blocks from my house and it
    overheats. Ended up stalling as I was headed back home. Luckily I put it
    in Neutral and coasted home.
    - I check and see that there is an oil film in the coolant reservoir, and when
    I check the oil level, it's dark and slightly milky, and the oil level is about 3"
    above the Full Mark. il was changed 2 months ago and was at Full Mark
    at that time.
    - BTW, when I started up the car to get it into my heated garage, I had a lot
    of white smoke coming from the exhaust...moisture?
    - Rented a coolant system pressurizer hand pump from AutoZone. Took off
    the Engine Oil cap, pressurized the coolant system at the radiator fill
    opening and heard a small bubbling noise coming from the oil cap opening,
    inside the engine....SH#T!!

    So I talked to a Mechanic today and he asked me if the engine ran ok or did it run rough or stall. He said if the engine runs ok, chances are it is an
    intake manifold leak, not a blown head gasket. His thinking is the engine would run rough if the head gasket was blown because coolant would be getting into the combustion chamber(s). He said you can get coolant into
    the oil if the intake gaskets are leaking.
    This news made me happy...until I remembered the white smoke coming from the exhaust.
    So I know I have to replace the intake gaskets, but I'd like to verify the head gaskets are ok. Would a cylinder compression test verify that?
    I'm thinking I'd replace the oil and filter to get good oil to all the bearings as soon as possible. I'd only run/crank the engine enough to check compression and distribute the oil. And never let the coolant system pressurize, keeping the coolant level just above the water pump.
    I'd also check the oil pressure during this to see if the coolant has damaged any engine bearings.
    Does this sound like a worthwhile plan?
    All replies are greatly appreciated.
    jogasz28
    ______________

    '68 RS Camaro,
    Project '69 Camaro in the works
    '95 Monte Carlo Z34 loaded,
    '99 Monte Carlo LS

  • #2
    do the head gaskets if you burning white
    Cars beaten in 1/4 mile: 06 Honda Civic DX
    love my 3400

    check out my car at cardomain.com
    search "alainman15"

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    • #3
      I second that. I've had 2 vehicles come to me that didn't get heat and leaked on the coolant system test. One only leaked when warmed up, but both would puke coolant back out at you as fast if not faster than you could add it. Both ended up being a head gasket. One was a Mercury Villager (Nissan Quest) and the other was a Hyundai Sonata.
      -60v6's 2nd Jon M.
      91 Black Lumina Z34-5 speed
      92 Black Lumina Z34 5 speed (getting there, slowly... follow the progress here)
      94 Red Ford Ranger 2WD-5 speed
      Originally posted by Jay Leno
      Tires are cheap clutches...

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      • #4
        I'll third it. Tear it down, replace all gaskets. No brainer.
        If you are driving a Chevy, everything else, is just a blur. 3.4 Carbon Footprint.
        sigpic

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        • #5
          I have taken your advice.
          Ordered yesterday from Summit:
          1 - Summit #Fel-Pro QMS98004T Intake Manifold Kit Gasket Set
          2 - Summit #Fel-Pro Q9957PT Head Gaskets
          1 - Fel-Pro #70800 Distribuor Cover O-Ring
          1 - AC Delco #746V Spark Plug Wire Set
          6 - Autolite #606 Spark Plugs
          1 - Bottle Red Loctite
          1 - Cometic #C1047 Head Cleaner
          1 - DEI #DEI040202 Coolant System Flush

          I figure I'll get the thermostat, oil and oil filter locally.
          Does anyone have a recommendation for a source for the bypass coolant hose?
          Should I get all the hoses form the Stealer or a local Parts store? I'm concerned about the coolant bypass as it is a B*tch to get to.
          I'm also stumped as to how to get the contaminated oil out of the engine as quickly as possible.
          The car has 108K on it. Should I replace the timing chain/sprockets?
          Or anything else?

          Any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
          Last edited by Jogasz28; 02-28-2010, 09:45 AM.
          jogasz28
          ______________

          '68 RS Camaro,
          Project '69 Camaro in the works
          '95 Monte Carlo Z34 loaded,
          '99 Monte Carlo LS

          Comment

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