TRY TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT But, a 20O2 CHEVY MALIBU 3.1L OVERHEATED AND BLEW MOTOR. WE HAVE REPLACED IT WITH A GOOD ONE FROM A BUICK. PRIOR TO INSTALLATION, WE REPLACED INTAKE GASKETS, T-STAT, PLUGS, OIL PAN GASKETS AND THE TIMING COVER-DUE TO SLIGHT PULLEY MOUNTING DIFFERENCE.
START AND RUN ENGINE IN BAY AND ALL IS GOOD. ROAD TEST GOOD. GIVE TO CUSTOMER AND OVERHEATS IN FIRST FEW MILES. THEY PICKED IT UP THE NEXT DAY. AFTER RECHECKING MULTIPLE TIMES, FOUND THAT IT OVERHEATS PUSHES A LITTLE COOLANT OUT OVERFLOW, AND GOES BACK TO NORMAL AND REMAINS GOOD FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. IT WILL ONLY DO THIS AFTER THE ENGINE COOLS. IT WILL ONLY
OVERHEAT ONCE OR TWICE DURING THE WARM UP CYCLE ONLY, THEN IT'S OK. TRIED MULTIPLE T-STATS, REPLACED HOSES AND RADIATOR. STILL DOES IT. TOOK T-STAT OUT OF VEHICLE AND IT STILL HAPPENS. AFTER REPLACING EVERY PART OF THE COOLING SYSTEM MULTIPLE TIMES, IT STILL HAPPENS! LAST IDEA WE HAVE IS THERE IS A CRACK INSIDE MOTOR THAT ONLY OPENS A CERTAIN TEMP. AND SEALS BACK UP. WE JUST CANNOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF THIS. BUT CATCHING IT AT THE RIGHT TEMP IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. DOES THIS SOUND LIKE A POSSIBILITY TO YOU? I WOULD THINK IT SHOULD SHOW ON A BLOCK TEST AT ANYTIME BUT IT DOESN'T. I AM THE SERVICE MANAGER IN JACKSONVILLE, FL. RECENTLY PUT DOWN THE TOOLS TO TRY MANAGER. 15 YRS IN SHOP PRIOR. 10YRS AT GM DEALER. THE TECH WORKING ON CAR IS ALSO GM CERT. AND 35 YRS EXP. OWNER ALSO EXPERIENCED AND AT A LOSS. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS OR SUGGESTIONS? THANKS FOR ANY HELP. LOOKING FOR A GOOD SITE LIKE THIS TO USE REGULARLY. I'M TRYING IT OUT FIRST AND IF IT GOES WELL, WE WILL MAKE REGULAR CONTRIBUTIONS.
Well, I've go to say right off the bat, this is a head gasket problem. This sure does not sound like the original problem that blew the engine is still there. The tech may have replaced the intake gaskets because they were leaking, but the rear head, passenger side corner leaking coolant may have been wet because of the intake. Easy to miss that. Even if not leaking externally, this is a good sign of a head gasket failure. Your Tech should be familiar that the rear head is very common to have a blown gasket. Most of the time they leak externally, but not always. Have seen these exact conditions a few times, they will overheat once or twice during the warm up cycle, burp, then be fine all day long. Sometimes you can catch it with a cooling system dye test looking for combustion gases. I would remove both heads and send them out to a machine shop to have checked for cracks just to safe.
Chevy Malibu Timing Question
My name is Keith, I have a 2000 Chevy Malibu. The in engine is still mounted. All I did was take off old harmonic balancer and put a new one on. I wan to know how to put the bolt back in with out the crank turning. If the crank turns will that affect my timing and if so is there an easy way to set timing if it is off?
Answer: Sounds like you are not using power tools. With hand tools you will need to take off the flywheel cover and hold the flywheel. Either use the special tool, or a large pry bar to prevent it from moving.
Malibu And Sunfire Engine Swap
I have a 2004 Malibu, engine is gone out. Found a 2002 Sunfire with same 2.2 are there any differences between the 2 years?
Answer: No big differences between those two motors. Ot should drop right in. Uou may have small difference with how a wiring harness is routed or small things likje that, but it will work just fine.
