1994 Z28 problem

[tonytone74]

Hello all. Can anyone give me a suggestion or advice on what to do ? My camaro lets out all the antifreeze from the reserve tank. When the car gets hot the antifreeze overflows and pours out till the radiator is dry and the temperature starts to shoot up real high. The fan and the "service engine soon" light constantly go on. The car no longer has heat inside. One guy said it was the thermostat so I had the thermostat changed. The problem was still there. Some other guy said it's definitely the radiator, since the fluid was rust-colored and a bubbling sound came from inside it, so I bought a brand new radiator and had it installed but, sure enough, the car still had the same problem. These guys call themselves mechanics but I think they're a bunch of idiots. I don't know much about mechanical stuff but I know I'm getting jerked. The car's obviously not circulating the antifreeze properly. Finally, some other guy said that it's most probably the water pump. I,m going nuts with this thing and I really love my car but, before I head out to buy a water pump, can anyone please give me a suggestion or advice on what to do or what it can really be ? Thanks for reading and I'd definitely appreciate any help.

[Morley]

Fill the cooling system and overflow bottle. start the car and watch the water in the overflow...are there lots of bubbles being pumped into it? If so, you have a blown head gasket. the "brown" coolant could be from someone adding regular green coolant to tha system. GM used Dexcool in the cooling systems and isn't compatable with any other coolant and will turn into a brown sludge if mixed with green coolant.

[wrightz28]

additionaly did they replace the radiator cap with the rad or stat?

[tonytone74]

Gentlemen, thank you for the quick replies. My brother just looked at my car and found that a pressure screw located, I believe, where the water pump is, was not tightened. Therefor, the pump wasn't able to distribute the coolant through the system. He tightened it, we took the car for a spin on the highway, and not a drop of antifreeze leaked out. The temperature reading was normal and the car seems to be doing excellent. Morley, thank you very much for the tip and quick response. I didn't know about the DEXCOOL antifreeze thing. That's good to know. WrightZ28, my brother changed the cap on the radiator. That's also a good tip. Thank you both, and safe driving.

[wrightz28]

Yeah, what I was getting at, no pressure = no boil over proteaction, very good work!

[Sonic5395]

Just a comment for the DEXCOOL antifreeze for your 94 Z. In the owners manual it states that it uses the normal (green) coolant..The 94 didn't come with DEXCOOL (orange coolant). I have a 94 Z that has some coolant issues right now and just thought I would put in my 2 sense.
Good Luck

Originally Posted by wrightz28

Yeah, what I was getting at, no pressure = no boil over proteaction, very good work!

[tonytone74]

Thanks, Sonic.