hcpcl Posted April 28, 2011 Report Share Posted April 28, 2011 ok i bought my 97 deville from my dad and he said he had his brother fix the water pump and heater core. so when i got it from him, i changed the oil but i had mixed 10-30 and 5-30 oil together. i didnt know unitl i was pouring the last of the oil in. the next day i noticed steam from under the hood, traced it back to the a heater hose leading to the water pump. replaced that and it drove good for a week, then last week i was doing excessvie speeding dropping my dad off at the airport(94mph). so when i got off the freeway, the engine lost power, boiling light came on, and the dash read "change oil, engine overheating" so i barely made it home. so after that i changed the thermostat, water pump belt, and serpentine belt along with draining the radiator and flushin it, and refilled with gm recommended coolant along with the tablets, still overheating. but when i changed the thermostat, i drove it for about seven miles before it overheated. so thats three times it overheated and i went over everything in the manual i have. my next step is to replace the water pump, but i think it could be the head gasket. i need some feed back please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted April 28, 2011 Report Share Posted April 28, 2011 That is a bad sign, but you should keep your fingers crossed. If you had a bad hose, maybe your purge line was clogged and you never got the air out of your system when you refilled it First, check your purge line and see if it is flowing. The purge line, runs from the bolt with a hole in it by the throttle body to the top of the coolant tank, with the engine cool pull that hose off the top of the coolant tank (not the overflow hose, the other one) start the engine and see if coolant flows from that hose, you should get a steady stream. If not, your purge line is clogged and air cant get out. Let us know the outcome of your test and we can direct your further Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hcpcl Posted April 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2011 That is a bad sign, but you should keep your fingers crossed. If you had a bad hose, maybe your purge line was clogged and you never got the air out of your system when you refilled it First, check your purge line and see if it is flowing. The purge line, runs from the bolt with a hole in it by the throttle body to the top of the coolant tank, with the engine cool pull that hose off the top of the coolant tank (not the overflow hose, the other one) start the engine and see if coolant flows from that hose, you should get a steady stream. If not, your purge line is clogged and air cant get out. Let us know the outcome of your test and we can direct your further ok im going to check it now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hcpcl Posted April 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 im trying this product called blue devil right now, have to let engine run for about an hour. im pretty sure its the head gasket. thanks for looking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike5514 Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 Do what bbf says! Where did you put the tablets? What is blue devil? When changing anti freeze or cooling system always make sure the right amount of coolant goes in the system. Drive sort distances and check coolant level often untill you are satisfied the proper amount of coolant is in the system. Air pockets are common in northstars Keep your overheating to a minimum INMO high milage ns do not do well with overheating. Go slow bbf will get you on the right track. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlaValentine Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 im trying this product called blue devil right now, have to let engine run for about an hour. im pretty sure its the head gasket. thanks for looking No "miracle in a bottle" fixes will work on a Northstar head gasket breach. All it's going to do is cause clogs throughout the cooling system. If you read the bottle it will even say on it "not recommended for use on Norhtstar engines". I have a bottle of blue devil in my trunk that someone gave me (in case my hg goes), and I will NEVER put it in my car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 What was the result of the purge line test? Did it flow coolant? Did you do a pressure test on the cooling system to be sure that it holds pressure? Did you check the cap to see if it is capable of holding pressure? Was the coolant concentration at least 50% coolant to 50% distilled water? Did the cooling fans operate properly? You are parts replacing, THE WATER PUMP is NEVER the cause of overheating, DO NOT replace the water pump unless its obviously leaking from the shaft seal or the body seal, but that would show up in the system pressure test. FURTHERMORE, you replaced the SERP BELT, that belt has NOTHING to do with cooling the engine. DO NOT USE CURES IN A BOTTLE, they DO NOT WORK on a NORTHSTAR IF THE HEADGASKET IS BLOWN, DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU IT WILL, this BLUE DEVIL SEALANT will NOT work http://www.usasealan...gasket-sealant/ Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hcpcl Posted May 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2011 this the only reason im trying this because they were using blue devil an a cadillac. this stuff was working but i messed up with the thermostat because the seal has to be on so nothing will leak. i cannot find this pruge line. there are two hoses leading out the expansion tank, but i fiorgot to check it. also this my last resort to fixing this car because i dont have money to fix it but i was looking at used engines, and i might go that route. also this product says its safe for northstar engines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted May 1, 2011 Report Share Posted May 1, 2011 Listen, YOU came to this board for help. WE have been doing this for a LONG time and WE know this engine. I personally have SAVED about 5 Northstars where the PURGE LINE was the PROBLEM, PERIOD!!!!!!!!! THE PURGE LINE MUST BE CHECKED FIRST, NOT AFTER YOU SCREW THE ENGINE UP WITH SOME BS SEALANT THAT WILL NOT WORK ON THE NORTHSTAR BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE HEADGASKET LEAKS. ITS NOT A BREACH OF THE HEAD GASKET, THE BOLTS PULL AND THE HEAD MOVES UPWARD. NO SEALANT WILL WORK ON THE NORTHSTAR BECAUSE OF HEAD MOVEMENT AND YOU ARE WASTING YOUR TIME AND MONEY. CHECK THE PURGE LINE FIRST, I WAS VERY CLEAR IN TELLING YOU WHERE IT WAS, RE-READ MY POST #2 ABOVE. The purge line takes 5 minutes to check and 5 minutes to CLEAR and costs NOTHING. IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO OUR ADVICE, DON'T COME HERE AND TELL US THAT YOU ASSUMED ITS THE HEAD GASKET WITHOUT DOING PROPER DIAGNOSTICS WE DO NOT WANT OTHER MEMBERS THINKING THAT YOUR ACTIONS ARE CORRECT. There are a whole host of tests that MUST be done BEFORE ASSUMING you have a head gasket problem, and I summarized them above. And how is it that you didn't use a seal on the thermostat?, it is there for a purpose, the least you could have done was use the old one. You could have been overheating because the thermostat seal was not there and the system did NOT hold pressure. The system WILL boil at a lower temp when the system does not hold pressure!!! Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted May 1, 2011 Report Share Posted May 1, 2011 By the way, I just viewed that YOUTUBE video that you linked us to. He cites steam and dripping from the exhaust as indicative of a bad head gasket and that is false, that is not a symptom all of the time, moisture does get into the exhaust system and it had weep holes to let moisture out. He also does not say HOW LONG this SO CALLED FIX lasted. He also does NOT try to drive the vehicle hard, he is driving it nice and slow. A head gasket problem can be intermittant in the beginning and related to hard laboring of the engine so his wimpy test drive proves nothing You will also notice that he DOES NOT test the coolant for combustion by-products NOR does he use a coolant sniffer. He did not pressure check the cooling system, did not test the cap, cooling fans, coolant concentration or purge line flow I am not sure if the information given in this video was misinformation or disinformation but it falls under one or the other. The difference between misinformation and disinformation is one of intent: Misinformation is accidental, while disinformation is purposely spread Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airmike Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 this the only reason im trying this because they were using blue devil an a cadillac. this stuff was working but i messed up with the thermostat because the seal has to be on so nothing will leak. i cannot find this pruge line. there are two hoses leading out the expansion tank, but i fiorgot to check it. also this my last resort to fixing this car because i dont have money to fix it but i was looking at used engines, and i might go that route. also this product says its safe for northstar engines There is a big difference in a product being safe for your engine, and working/repairing, doing the job they want you to believe it is capable of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hcpcl Posted May 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 thank you guys for all the advice, i never got around to using it again because i was working on my truck yesterday. im in the process of trying this purge line. im just fustrated with this car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 thank you guys for all the advice, i never got around to using it again because i was working on my truck yesterday. im in the process of trying this purge line. im just fustrated with this car You should not get frustrated, this is a high performance engine that is very different than any engine out there and not many mechanics are knowledgable about them. It is necessary to relearn everything about these engines. Keep in mind that the 99 engine is now 12 years old and most 99's you buy you wont know the history of it and it would be questionable if the proper maintenance has been done Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hcpcl Posted May 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 i checked the purge line. if it's the line connected to expansion tank, then its flowing coolant out. the engine is still trying to run hot but as it does only one fan is running. if i run the ac both run? also i was wondering sbout the ect sensor. can this be a cause? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Have you checked for codes? Do you have a check engine light? If you have not done so, check for codes. I believe both fans should be running on low, not one fan. Ill check the manual or do a search to see how they should run Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hcpcl Posted May 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Have you checked for codes? Do you have a check engine light? If you have not done so, check for codes. I believe both fans should be running on low, not one fan. Ill check the manual or do a search to see how they should run yes i checkd for codes and i got pcm p0603 and ipc b1552 which means system was reset or not ready. but im looking into replacing the fans fan relay. i done everything else according to manual so far, so replacing these is next step. im thinking that the right fan relay is bad for cooling but it works for a/c. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 There are 3 cooling fan relays. Bad relays typically will set a code. Have you determined whether or not the fan is good? Will it eventually run on high? Don't do ANY replacing UNTIL you know how the fans are suppose to work, you DO NOT know if the fans are working incorrectly. DO this AC OFF, let the engine idle watch fans, what happens? Let engine temp get up to 228 degrees what happens? When the fans turn on full at 228 degrees, the temp will drop to about 217 then they will go into low, what happens? Turn ON AC, what happens? Report back your findings before you do anything, we have info here on how the fans should operate, do a search of the achives, under cooling fans Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 Maybe it's time to get a block test kit and check the surge tank for the presence of exhaust gases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hcpcl Posted May 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 i had a bad relay for the right fan for cooling. i got to drive it to gas station and i got a check coolant level reading. so not really thinking until after the fact i tok the cap off and it overheated on the way home. i believe i got some air in the coolant system, so im going to refill because it boiled out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 i had a bad relay for the right fan for cooling. i got to drive it to gas station and i got a check coolant level reading. so not really thinking until after the fact i tok the cap off and it overheated on the way home. i believe i got some air in the coolant system, so im going to refill because it boiled out. Can you do us a favor and explain this in more detail. What do you mean by you TOOK THE CAP OFF AND IT OVERHEATED? WHY did you take the cap off? IF your purge line is CLEAR and FLOWING, the AIR comes out of the system automatically. Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike5514 Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 Lets review, dad replaced water pump and heater core why?. After 94 mph run (change engine oil warning) and boiling over. You changed pump belt serp. belt and drained and flushed radiator filled with gm coolant add tablets. Purge line is flowing! Time for block test like Ranger advised or do the color coolant test. Its done by placing a clear tube on top of the radiator or in the north star case the purge tank, you add a blue liquid and after some time if it turns yellow you have a internal block leak. One thought here the dic warned you to change the oil, when my pump belt broke on my 97sls I shut the car down and installed a new belt on the spot drove 2mi. home and changed the oil. As i understand the 7&1/2 qts. the ns requires helps in cooling, when the engine overheats the oil breaks down and looses some or all of its properties. I think if I were you I would do the block test before driving the car again. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted May 4, 2011 Report Share Posted May 4, 2011 9 out of 10 times when a Northstar has an overheat problem it's a failing HG. Lets face it, THAT is the Northstars one weak link. My approach is to eliminate the most obvious first and save the time and aggravation. If that turns out negative, then chase all the other possibilities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted May 4, 2011 Report Share Posted May 4, 2011 ....If I had an electronic coolant sniffer, obviously I woudl test it first, but to spend $50 or more to test coolant when it could be something simple to me is a waste of money until all else has been eliminated. This is one of those threads I had told myself to "stay away from". But I'm coming out of my cave long enough to speak up in support of Larry's diagnostic approach. AutoZone has (what the supplier calls) a "block tester" as part of their rent-a-tool program. You simply pay for the test fluid. This block tester and fluid is designed to sample for combustion gases present in the coolant reservoir air space. And it works; I used one over the past weekend. A litmus test for combustion gases. AutoZone tester part# 27145 AutoZone test fluid part# 25739 ($7.99) Following a huge sigh of relief at a negative test result, I simply replaced the water pump drive belt and the belt tensioner pulley/bearing assembly. Anyone who has been reading and learning here for any length of time has seen time and time again where a Cadillac owner appears AFTER trying to solve a problem without guidance. There "ain't no way" to change that behaviour, Mike. And I'll bet you will find the same pattern on any other brand of car board. And I see Larry is able to gather his thoughts and type faster than me!! Jim Drive your car. Use your cell phone. CHOOSE ONE ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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