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Whatэs going on with my antifreeze coolant in my car?

What is wrong with my car?

  • I own a 2000 Chevrolet Lumina and I've recently been having problems with it. First of all is burns coolant somewhere, I don't believe it's leaking, it's actually disappearing. Last night I stopped at a gas station, got some snacks, came back out and started up my car to a lower than usual engine noise and a sort of putting sound like the engine was skipping. When I had the car started in idle for too long a small amount of white smoke came out of the engine from somewhere around the bottom of the antifreeze - reservoir. I waited for the car to cool, filled it with antifreeze and filled the reservoir half way. I checked my oil which was a little low and put a quart in to make it at a good safe level. Started the car back up, had the same problem. Drove it all the way home... I had to stop about 12 times to let the car cool because the engine heat was rising from 100 to 180 within 2 miles of driving. Every time I stopped the car it gave off a little white smoke for about 20-40 seconds. Popping the hood and listening it seemed like the car was either sucking coolant from the reservoir or it was putting it back in. I could also hear a low sizzling noise coming from the engine itself. I made it home, let it sit over night and now the same thing is still going on. Just like it was in the beginning, so I don't think I've done further damage. Also the car stalls out of the RPM's stay low for too long. 1000 RPM's for 10 seconds or more = instant stall. But the car starts right back up. I feel like the car runs at half power until I get it over 2500 RPM's then it runs like it always has but the heat shoots up. Anyone tell me what's wrong?

  • Answer:

    I have put a lot of head gaskets, front cover gaskets and intake gaskets on the 3.1- 3.4l engines, the inoperative radiator fans have obviously compromised the engine. Have it checked by a reputable repair facility and never depend on yahoo answers for repair advice, too many people pretend to know about cars over the phone or the internet but there is only so much they can solve without testing the vehicle. Most of the time it will just cost you more money in the long run.

Chuckles at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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Other answers

Sounds like you have yourself a blown head gasket that would explain the disappearing coolant because it getting burned in the cylinder and the stall is from too much water in the combustion chamber this is why at higher rpms it does better because it can release the coolant

shaneomattic

Radiator might be broken. Leave the car running and just watch and see/hear if the fan comes on.

Cody

Head Gasket

Hello Darling

sounds like a head or the intake gasket is leaking ! better get the fan working !

bandit_60

These 3.1 and 3.4 engines are known for leaking INTAKE manifold gaskets, not head gaskets. Depending on the location of the leak, they can leak coolant into the engine or they can suck it into the intake and burn it. That would cause the white smoke. Do a google search for DexCool lawsuit and you'll see what I mean. In any case, you must fix this or you'll destroy the engine and the catalytic converter. You've probably already destroyed the oxygen sensors because coolant contaminates them. The going rate for replacing the intake gaskets is about $800. Sorry to bring the bad news, but welcome to the club of unhappy GM owners. I had to do this on my 2000 Olds Alero.

Stpaulguy

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