Hey guys i know that it has been awhile since i have been on my car has been running good up until the other day. I change my radiator on newyears eve and the car was running fine then last friday i drove it to the metro station 6 miles from my house. on the way it started to loose power and i pulled into a parking spot. It started to knock loud just before I shut it off i show a big cloud of smoke or steam come rolling out from under the hood. it was not a normal overheating steam it lasted to long, i opened the hood and could see coolant coming out of my overflow hose to me that was not a good sign, it did not smell like antifreeze with the sweet smell more of a bitter sweet smell. i am looking for some advice on what might have happened.
you over heated, killed the oil and wore down a bearing, probably lost compression somewhere too. most likley a head gasket im sure it had something to do wth the new rad, probably a production defect or something being clogged
the best way for me to tell would be to check my oil? the only problem is that it is still sitting at the metro station i had knee sugury last friday and have not gotten the car home yet.
Yup, sounds like a rod bearing. Probably smelled the burning oil. Just turning it over with the starter you would hear a knock.
If it a rod bearing i can just replace them and call it good right or will i have to replaces the main as well.
low on water...it was air locked...radiator showed full and the block was empty. when i install a radiator...i run it a few minutes and shut it off. after it cools down i am able to add more water. run it again a few mins. let cool down. check water level... could ...drill a small hole in t-stat...that alows the air to excape.. i also put the water in out of 1 gal. jugs...this way i have an idea how much i have put in... the motor will be fine... ...Frank...
I just hope that there is no major damage to the engine right now we cant afford the cost of major engine work
If you spun a bearing there's a good chance the crank journal was damaged, too. But you never know until you check it out. Even if the crank is scored sometimes you can polish it and it'll be ok. That can even be done without removing the engine.
Befor you do any thing, check to see if there is coolant in the oil.If so you popped a head gasket or cracked a cyl bore.If no coolant in the oil pull the coil wire and crank the engine over,if you hear it knocking,tow it home, you have some work ahead of you.If it checks good so far,top off the coolant and start it up.Watch the temp/oil pressure and coolant level closely,fill it up as necessary.You probably air locked it and overheated it.The knock you heard may have been steam expansion.(I hope for your sake)Drive it home paying close attention to temp/oil pressure,if it works fine you got lucky.if not sorry to hear it,your gonna be busy.Good luck.
the morning before all this happened i was getting no heat with the new radiator but had heat in the afternoon then again no heat that morning do you think i could still be an air lock?
In an over-heating situation the first knocking will be water explosions (water turning to steam very quickly) or detonation. Driving with a thermostat in backwards will do this in less than five minutes. A burst lower radiator hose takes a bit longer. If the oil was boiling then you need to change it as soon as you can (like before you start the car again). Coolant air-lock can cause problems as stated earlier. I doubt the radiator is suspect. Check your hoses and thermostat. If it's in backwards or sticking it is a real possibility for the cause.
well i just got it home for the metro and there was no funny noise or smells. My radiator was low and i top it i am going to let it sit for awhile and then check the level again. i have been thinking about the therostat for sometime but i not had the chance to check it. i thinking i will do that later today. thank for all of your guys's help and advice without this message board i would so lost. thanks again :Handshake
When you replace a major cooling system component.Ie:Radiator/water pump you should replace the thermostat along with them,its cheap insurance.You should change your oil as Paul stated as well,extreme heat is not good for it.Make sure you burp the air out of the system when you fill it.Fill the rad 3/4 of the way up turn the heat on and run it,when the thermostat opens it will draw the coolant in and you will have to add more, you will have to do this a couple times till its full and pushing heat out the heater.Once its topped off you should be good to go.Have fun.
