need help fast

Hi i have a 95 chevy beretta its making a horrible metal grinding sound coming from the valves i think im not positive. also i am getting some coolant in my engine im not sure if its a cracked head or a bad head gasket. The car made a hour and ahalf drive then about 150 miles of city driving and a 270 miles 4 1/2 hour drive highway with no problems. If it was a cracked head wouldn;t it of died by now? Also my cars not overheating but my temp guage says i am after the first 10 mins of driving and then it just out of no where drops from almost over heating to almost cold and then back to normal. and it stays at normal the rest of the time. but it does it every single time i go to drive the car and the cars not warm. i replaced my sensor that goes onto my intake. im not sure what its called. what do you guys think.

A cracked head or blown gasket would blow out coolant thru exhaust, mix coolant with oil, etc. Would continue to run unless you run it to the point of failure due to bad oil, or low coolant. Would be wise to not run it like this, as you can turn a 350- dollar repair to a 2000 dollar repair. Is the oil turning color, white etc.? Is the car loosing coolant in radiator quickly? Checking overflow will not tell you for sure. If the temp guage flutuates it may be loosing coolant in radiator and overheating. May be a lot of air in there, and you can crack a head or block if you run the car like this where temp goes crazy. If the oil is discolored, loosing coolant badly, get it to a shop, or, remove the head(s) and get tested at a machine shop. Advise engine type.

A cracked head or blown gasket would blow out coolant thru exhaust, mix coolant with oil, etc. Would continue to run unless you run it to the point of failure due to bad oil, or low coolant. Would be wise to not run it like this, as you can turn a 350- dollar repair to a 2000 dollar repair. Is the oil turning color, white etc.? Is the car loosing coolant in radiator quickly? Checking overflow will not tell you for sure. If the temp guage flutuates it may be loosing coolant in radiator and overheating. May be a lot of air in there, and you can crack a head or block if you run the car like this where temp goes crazy. If the oil is discolored, loosing coolant badly, get it to a shop, or, remove the head(s) and get tested at a machine shop. Advise engine type.


thje temp guage is not the crazy though like it only does it once or twice and then it goes to normal and doesn;t really move from there at all the rest of the time its being drivin it onl;y does that when the engine is cold. also what about the valve train how bad is that to replace. im pretty good at replacing things and my uncle use rebuil engines so im sure if need be he can help me with this would it be something a novice can handle or would i need his help?

That is beyond me, as I have not done this on these cars. But, Corsica's are not generally hard to deal with as long as you have a manual to deal with it. The noise could be a water pump (could be causing your temp problems too). Pull your belt and see if it or maybe your tensioner pully is making the noise, as these are common problems. The valve train is not. Also, if you have coolant in motor, gonna have to pull the head, don't see any way out of that. If this car has a lot of miles on it, you might be having timing chain noise. Again, please specify what motor you have, 4 cyl(2.2) or 6 cyl (3.1 or 2.8) All of these motors have their little "problems" and might get additional help/comments to guide you.

thje temp guage is not the crazy though like it only does it once or twice and then it goes to normal and doesn;t really move from there at all the rest of the time its being drivin it onl;y does that when the engine is cold. also what about the valve train how bad is that to replace. im pretty good at replacing things and my uncle use rebuil engines so im sure if need be he can help me with this would it be something a novice can handle or would i need his help?


im sorry its a 3.1 liter v6

That complicates things a bit, as you will have to identify which head is leaking fluid into cooling system, or replace both head gaskets etc. How much radiator fluid are you having to add, and is the oil a milky color?

That complicates things a bit, as you will have to identify which head is leaking fluid into cooling system, or replace both head gaskets etc. How much radiator fluid are you having to add, and is the oil a milky color?


when u check on the dipstick the oil is stilll normal looking but if u swipe your finger around the inside of the valve cover that has the fill cap on it u get some milkyness. I have not had to add anyradiator fluid yet. but im going to check my resevior again this morning. u said u can not always tell from that? how else would i tell.

Wiould normally look into radiator, but seems to be my son's old 94 had no radiator cap. If you are not loosing coolant and oil is OK, unsure if what you are describing is really coolant leak. Perhaps someone else will add something to this post.

i had the same milky stuff under my valve covers... you are going to have to replace the lower intake manifold gasket.. go to gm and get the upper and lower intake manifold set.. do not buy them any where else you will have the problem again... also ask for a tube of gms they should know what your talking about its like a rtv... you a generous bead of that along the top of the block where the intake manifold sits..and get just under the gasket at the edges..and up at the top of the gasket where the valve cover mates to the upper intake manifold... i would recommend you get a chiltons or something equal to help you with this process.. its nothing hard promise..have fun