AustunXXI Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 I cant figure this out... When driving on the highway my car is trying to overheat, when I stop it cools down. I've got a 96 v6 and the oil is good, no moisture, its firing on all 6, good compression, I can see water flow with the cap off, no water leaks, and doing the heater trick barely works... The car doesn't have a clutch fan, just a single electric fan. Not sure if that's right or not. Could the thermostat not be closing completely or do I just need to flush it? can't think of a whitty signature... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
64bit_Tuning Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Water pump.Sent from my CyanMobileX Evo 4G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleeperstang1994 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 not to really jump the gun. does your coolant level seem to be droping? Im honestly going to say head gaskets. More likely to over heat while highway driving with increased engine load and RPM. Not to mention that the 3.8L is notoriously bad on heads/gaskets. I would recommend doing a Block test. if the block test passes you can rule that out and move on to other things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustunXXI Posted March 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Well I flushed it and it was running fine, drove to fort worth(5 minutes) and it started to get hot, then it started to smoke. While I was trying to turn into a parking lot it started making some crazy sounds and was trying to die. I parked it popped the hood and there was smoke coming from underneath the intake manifold, I went to loosen the radiator cap to relieve pressure and nothing happened. When I opened it, the radiator was bone dry. No water or smoke from the exhaust. Nothing was wet in the engine bay and there was no water in the oil.can't think of a whitty signature... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Det_Riot Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Unfortunately I'm going to go with either head gasket or lower intake manifold. After you fill it back up, do a pressure test in the coolant system. If it drops pressure. You're leaking somewhereSent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
64bit_Tuning Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Well I flushed it and it was running fine, drove to fort worth(5 minutes) and it started to get hot, then it started to smoke. While I was trying to turn into a parking lot it started making some crazy sounds and was trying to die. I parked it popped the hood and there was smoke coming from underneath the intake manifold, I went to loosen the radiator cap to relieve pressure and nothing happened. When I opened it, the radiator was bone dry. No water or smoke from the exhaust. Nothing was wet in the engine bay and there was no water in the oil.can't think of a whitty signature...I missed where you said this was a V6.You're due for head gaskets.Sent from my CyanMobileX Evo 4G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prokiller Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 my first thought was the air diverter under the bumper but upon further reading, i would also concur with a head gasket problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GearGambler Posted March 3, 2014 Report Share Posted March 3, 2014 I'm with the general consensus here for the HG issue. Unfortunately this is a well known issue with the 3.8's. The RIGHT way to fix the issue is to have the heads AND block decked (made flat) and then replace the head gaskets. Its a known manufacturing defect. another option would be to get some aftermarket heads and have the block decked. Either way - to do it right so that it doesn't happen again it means pulling the motor and some machine shop work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustunXXI Posted March 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 I found the issue, the water pump gasket... It was only leaking under load. Whew.... Close one. can't think of a whitty signature... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GearGambler Posted March 4, 2014 Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 I'm not sure how a water pump gasket would cause smoke under load - but hopefully you did find the issue! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallblocksn95 Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 I went down the head gasket road in my 96 v6, it sucked. After having the heads milled an 99+ head gaskets installed all was good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustunXXI Posted March 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 Well the shop I bought the car "fixed" it... I drove it on the highway, same problem. I get home to drop off the "boss" to goto the same shop when I walk across the front of the car just as the cooling fan kicks on breathing fire onto my legs from the grill. Not literal fire, just hot. The wires were backwards on the electric fan. Been ragging the shit out of it for two days with max ac on full blast trying to get it hot and haven't yet, so I think I got it. Screw that shitty ass shop lolcan't think of a whitty signature... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallblocksn95 Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 lol the fan harness/ connector was screwed up on mine too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GearGambler Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 Well the shop I bought the car "fixed" it... I drove it on the highway, same problem. I get home to drop off the "boss" to goto the same shop when I walk across the front of the car just as the cooling fan kicks on breathing fire onto my legs from the grill. Not literal fire, just hot. The wires were backwards on the electric fan. Been ragging the shit out of it for two days with max ac on full blast trying to get it hot and haven't yet, so I think I got it. Screw that shitty ass shop lolcan't think of a whitty signature... now THAT would do it!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Det_Riot Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 What a bunch if dildos. Glad it was a simple fix!!Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackmage Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 haha i did the same thing on mine once by accident. did the same thing, walked up front and felt hot air blowing at me. *doh* moment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustunXXI Posted March 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 Lol, yeah the mechanics there told me they didn't even check the radiator when they looked at it. Guess where I won't be going evercan't think of a whitty signature... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GearGambler Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 What a bunch if dildos. Glad it was a simple fix!!Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalkfor the record, the visual of this comment made me LOL. good thing I finished my coffee earlier or my monitor would be wearing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
