Jump to content
CaddyInfo Cadillac Forum

Cooling System Question


up2ng

Recommended Posts

I have replaced my radiator, hoses, water pump&belt, thermostat (A/C 195) and checked all small hoses and purge lines,filled with 6 tabs and 50/50 dex; with that out of the way I can get to the question.

1997 Deville 162,000 miles and can still embarass Mustangs and Ricers.

I seem to have a problem with water flow, when the car is at operating temperature (199-226) if I pop the hood and feel the upper hose it is stiff and hot to the touch but the top of the radiator is not. If I rev the car a little I can feel the hot coolant flow through the top. The car with A/C on peaked at about 235 going uphill and I am just curious (esp about the top of radiator) if this is normal.

BTW I don't see any issues with the Head Gaskets

Link to comment
Share on other sites


You don't say if you ever replaced your radiator. You could have a blockage at the top. 235 going uphill is not serious. If you feel your radiator is blocked you could take it out and have it refurbished, ie boiled out, tanks or tank seals and pressure tested. Don't put any flush in the radiator or pressure flush the system. Remove the radiator and have it serviced at a reputible radiator shop..

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

Mike, he did say he replaced the radiator.

Your discription sounds like there is air in the system. Are you sure the purge line is flowing?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes he did..... missed that...

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

My thought exactly Ranger. Sometimes these can be difficult to get ALL the air out of the system, hence the purge line. I have a freind that took 6 months of driving before his heater core stopped making a gurgling sound.

Never underestimate the amount of a persons greed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have only drained and refilled 2, soon to be 3 Northstars (unless the dealer gets serious about an '03 DHS), but I have never had a problem. What makes me suspicious is the comment "If I rev the car a little I can feel the hot coolant flow through the top". That leads me to believe that there is air in the sytem, but if the purge line is clear, it should be purged the first time it is started and driven.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The pump belt tensioner could be a suspect.

I thought about that, but since he replaceed the pump and belt I assumed he checked, or at least would have noticed if the tensioner was hanging up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This has been an ongoing issue with me.

Bought the car June '04 with 70k miles

First the radiator tanks cracked, replaced radiator Feb '05 100k

Water Pump (Severe Overheat 283+ Camel Mode) Jul '05 120k

Radiator Defective - Core leak Replaced W/ New Feb '06 150k

All hoses Upper,Lower,Bypass except heater & silicone replaced Feb '06

O.K.

Ever since the first radiator replacement (I do 99% of my own work) I noticed that I had to "pump" the upper hose to get flow started, and I had to do it fast or the temp would rise quickly. I just thought that this was a quirk and left it alone, but each time I needed to drain and refill I would have the same problem.

Now as I said I don't believe the head gaskets are a problem because the re are no bubbles, white smoke or water out of the tailpipes.

If I fill the coolant tank to about 2 inches below the neck, the car spits it out, this is where the radiator being cold on top comes into play. The temp would rise, I would pop the hood and the top would be cold so I would think it spit the coolant out ,turn the car off and fill it again in the morning. This became an expensive cycle, I decided to just let go until I got the "low coolant" message, which I never got because it stabilized. Now I know it is supposed to do this but when it is full the temp is stable 201-206 otherwise it is 196-231 which is too much I feel (before the first rad was replaced the temp was 196-205)

Can this possibly be caused by a clogged coolant tank ?

Some one decided to "help" with the radiator cracks and put bars-leak gooey pellet sludge in the surge tank.

This is getting tooooo long.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds like blown head gasket to me. Did you ever think, that due to the "different" design of these engines, that when the head gasket lets go, it puts combustion gasses INTO the cooling system? This would be more likely to cause "boil over" and "Camel mode" but not coolant into the exhaust or "white smoke". I'm guessing here, and sorry to be the messenger, but you may need to go to the dealer with this one.

Never underestimate the amount of a persons greed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds like blown head gasket to me. Did you ever think, that due to the "different" design of these engines, that when the head gasket lets go, it puts combustion gasses INTO the cooling system? This would be more likely to cause "boil over" and "Camel mode" but not coolant into the exhaust or "white smoke". I'm guessing here, and sorry to be the messenger, but you may need to go to the dealer with this one.

Have the coolant tested !

Michael

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Refer to this thread, Rollingthunder had MANY of the same symptoms as you do... it ended up being the bleed tube

http://caddyinfo.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=5012&st=60

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

Refer to this thread, Rollingthunder had MANY of the same symptoms as you do... it ended up being the bleed tube

http://caddyinfo.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=5012&st=60

Yep, I cleared out the hollow bolt and the thermostat 1 year after the overheat.

One weird thing is the car has the AC rad cap (age unknown) so about a month ago I got a stant 16lb that was meant for this car (#230 ?). When I put the stant one on the temps seem to go higher.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...