Malibu oil change drama
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 8:26 am
Yesterday I changed the oil on both the Malibu and my Caprice. I did the Caprice first. It went fine.
Onto the Malibu. I decided to drive it around the neighborhood to warm up the oil. I had driven no more than a mile or so and the engine was almost fully warmed up. Quicker than I remember. Then I realized there was no heat. Uh oh. Drove back home and the temp started creeping up above halfway. Shut it down.
Incidentally, several months back I ordered a new coolant pressure tank cap because the original one was beyond failed and requires prying with a screwdriver to remove. I finally get it out (and it disassembled in front of me as I did) and realize the tank is low on coolant. Ok...
I had some Dexcool so I make up a 50/50 mix and begin to add it to the tank. It ended up taking a 1/2 gallon. And the heat came back. But where did the coolant go? I checked the oil and it looked like it was WAY up the dipstick. I immediately began to freak out since I figured it was eating intake gaskets, something these 3.1Ls were known for but I've never had to deal with that issue. I reinserted the dipstick figuring maybe the oil splashed up from all the engine revving I was doing to get the coolant flowing. After checking it several more times, the level actually appeared normal (in the crosshatch).
Then I did the rest of the oil change which went fine, and the heat works great now. But I still don't know where that coolant went. No signs. I should also point out that I've never known this car to use coolant, ever, except when the water pump let go a few years back. I'll have to keep my eye on it. 136k.
Onto the Malibu. I decided to drive it around the neighborhood to warm up the oil. I had driven no more than a mile or so and the engine was almost fully warmed up. Quicker than I remember. Then I realized there was no heat. Uh oh. Drove back home and the temp started creeping up above halfway. Shut it down.
Incidentally, several months back I ordered a new coolant pressure tank cap because the original one was beyond failed and requires prying with a screwdriver to remove. I finally get it out (and it disassembled in front of me as I did) and realize the tank is low on coolant. Ok...
I had some Dexcool so I make up a 50/50 mix and begin to add it to the tank. It ended up taking a 1/2 gallon. And the heat came back. But where did the coolant go? I checked the oil and it looked like it was WAY up the dipstick. I immediately began to freak out since I figured it was eating intake gaskets, something these 3.1Ls were known for but I've never had to deal with that issue. I reinserted the dipstick figuring maybe the oil splashed up from all the engine revving I was doing to get the coolant flowing. After checking it several more times, the level actually appeared normal (in the crosshatch).
Then I did the rest of the oil change which went fine, and the heat works great now. But I still don't know where that coolant went. No signs. I should also point out that I've never known this car to use coolant, ever, except when the water pump let go a few years back. I'll have to keep my eye on it. 136k.