96 Grand Am 3.1 runnin hot

[daytona3_8]

Hi i have a 96 Grand Am GT with the 3.1 150k
AWESOME car always has power even when you dont need it...
the past few months it would randomly overheat,more or less get just to the red,so i would shut the car off for 5 10 min and it would be just fine
Now its losing coolant about a gallon a week.
im thinking its a head gasket because the oil has nasty milky crap in it and steam comes out if i take off the oil cap. is there any other signs i should look for?

second,
if it is the gasket are there any special tools i need and how long,hard off a job do you think it is
thanks for lots of replys

Josh

[The Right Formula]

Originally Posted by daytona3_8

Hi i have a 96 Grand Am GT with the 3.1 150k
AWESOME car always has power even when you dont need it...
the past few months it would randomly overheat,more or less get just to the red,so i would shut the car off for 5 10 min and it would be just fine
Now its losing coolant about a gallon a week.
im thinking its a head gasket because the oil has nasty milky crap in it and steam comes out if i take off the oil cap. is there any other signs i should look for?

second,
if it is the gasket are there any special tools i need and how long,hard off a job do you think it is
thanks for lots of replys

Josh

Well, you called it: 'nasty milky crap' in oil is a telltale sign. You'll want to fix it sooner rather than later! Unfortunately, because our engine layout, head gaskets tend to be very pricey. Call around to several shops and get quotes as well as time-estimates.

[xeroinfinity]

Originally Posted by daytona3_8

Hi i have a 96 Grand Am GT with the 3.1 150k
AWESOME car always has power even when you dont need it...
the past few months it would randomly overheat,more or less get just to the red,so i would shut the car off for 5 10 min and it would be just fine
Now its losing coolant about a gallon a week.
im thinking its a head gasket because the oil has nasty milky crap in it and steam comes out if i take off the oil cap. is there any other signs i should look for?

second,
if it is the gasket are there any special tools i need and how long,hard off a job do you think it is
thanks for lots of replys

Josh

Sounds like a lower intake manifold (LIM) gasket to me.
Very typical of the 3.1-3.4 pre 2003, as the gaskets were updated in 03'.
You can do a compression test to check if it is the head gaskets.
Plus, with a head gasket blown the engine usualy runs kinda rough with little or no power.

Being over 10 years old it wouldnt hurt though to change the head gaskets while it was apart for the LIM work.
Here is a link for the LIM procedure....

It's kind of a long job since so many things need marked when disconnecting all those wires and plugs.
Probly take at least 8-10hrs, maybe even more if you are not mechanicaly experianced.

You can buy the gakset kit from NAPA for $98.99 - http://www.napaonline.com/masterpage...et+Set+(Intake)

http://www.napaonline.com/masterpage...=10&SubCatId=3

You might call around if you are doing both the LIM and heads and see if you can find a kit for the LIM & head gaskets, it would be cheaper.
FEL PRO makes the best gaskets I've seen for a few pennies more.

Also new head bolts are used if they are removed, they are about $20-25

PS- I WOULD NOT DRIVE IT UNTILL ITS FIXED.
It's a good way to ruin your engine bearings, those are not cheap nor are they cheap/easy to install.

Good Luck

[daytona3_8]

ok thanks alot...i planed on just driving to work and back 2 miles till thursday...one of my frineds said it might be a cracked head does that sound lagit? thanks again for the help

[daytona3_8]

well stupid me had to pick up my friend cuz his car died.
so it was fine on the way there but the way back got hot and died. so i stoped and let cool for a bit and i notice the oil seemlike it was boiling ,i guess coolant was boiling, so i went to start it and it turned over almost like the bat was dead then nothing at all. do you think i f'ed it up or is it fixable.note i dont have alot of money
thanks again Josh

[xeroinfinity]

Bad idea running the engine at all if thier is coolant in the oil.
It WILL damage your engine bearings and could very well lock up the engine, due to lack of oil lubricating the crank/cam rod bearing, etc etc.

Loosing the amount of coolant your loosing in a week I'd say your LIM is the culprit.....
.... but, since you have overheated it to the point of shutting down the motor, it might just have a blown/cracked head.

Much cheaper if just the head(s) were damaged, but if bearings are bad, that's gonna cost to have fixed.

Good Luck!

[daytona3_8]

so i jumped the car and it started but had no power and died and the bat light came on.
so i know the car still runs,does that sound like a battery or alternater to you??

[xeroinfinity]

Well if you had to jump it to start, then I would assume the battery was dead or maybe its connections are dirty/loose.

I still would not drive it, a used 3.1 runs around $800-1200+/-, to rebuild it would cost much more.

[daytona3_8]

no more driving got a tow thanks to my girl frined (she has AAA) thnak god. im gonna start digging into it tomorrow and get the parts thursday. ill let you know how it goes
Thanks again for all the help!!! Josh

[daytona3_8]

one last thing i hope...do you think you could send me a guide on the head gasket to i figured its an extra 40 bucks that cant hurt anything

[Mr. Guy]

I'll make it and future repairs easier for you...

Look around at your local auto parts store for Hayes manuals. Each one usually covers whichever car you have and a few others...they run about $20 each, and will tell you how to do just about any repair on your engine/accessories, as well as some general interior and exterior repairs. If you need to fix something, it's almost certain to be in the manual.

They also include engine specifications (you WILL need those, like for example how tight the head bolts need to be torqued down, and the order to torque them), wiring diagrams, vacuum diagrams, and (if you're lucky) a troubleshooting section and model-specific repairs. Pretty informitive manual for $20, and it pays for itself when you consider how much you save doing things yourself and right the first time, rather than paying someone else or screwing up and having to buy new parts *again*.

There's also another popular brand who makes manuals like this, I forget the name but I've heard bad things about them. Seems like it was Chilton or summat...but that might be yet another brand. Anyway, yea...go with Hayes, I've never had a problem with my manual

[Blaze_316_316]

Order a Valley Pan Gasket Set .. and you will be set, **Note: do not mix up order in which you take push rods out**

[daytona3_8]

well one last thing...i hope. i konw the car has bad stuts/mounts and control arm bearings how hard are those to replace(i know you need a special tool for the struts)

[xeroinfinity]

struts arent that bad you just need the coil spring compressor. The control arm bushing are not always easy.
But with the struts out it is easier.

It would probly be best to purchase a manual since you are going to be doing so many things. So thats alot of torq specs you'd need.
Haynes manuals are not the best but will work fine for what you are doing.

also thier should be a cyl head proceedure in the Tips & Maintenance subforum.

[daytona3_8]

so after 6 hours i finally got the intake off...and only broke 2 minor parts and lost one bolt and a 15 mm wrench...dont know how i managed to do that.
any way when i was pulling the intake off some sand (not alot about a pinch) fell into one of the valves should i worry about this or how should i get it out. i was thinking a can of air and spray it.
and yes xero you were oh so rigth about the lim gasket being bad.i could tell it wasnt the fisrt time it had been done and many of the bolts came off with a sligth pull if that and some were on so tight well yeah.
but the oil has alot of coolant in it do you think i should cange it right away drive it for a few miles change it again and then after 100 or so chage it again so on...?
one last thing i got a book chilton. waste of money same with haynes any other good ones. i remember chilton had pictures and all kinds of goodies now it sucks. i had to remove the power stearing pump and it said take off hoses and suck remove 3 bolts...nothing about taking off a motor mount.

well sorry about all the questions and bitching i just like to hear everyones opinions...THANKS!!!!