Ok, I've had a few problems overheating, I'd lose some water then I'd fill it back up, bleed the lines etc, and the car would run cool as a cucumber for hours even on a 100 degree day in traffic. 5 or 6 hours later, it shoots right up to red starts bubbling out of the resovoir, I fill it back up, bleed etc. It's fine. Repeat.

Well, I've been hearing this noise. Especially at a an idle.

Click here to watch sound48

Well it was running cool. I had left it alone. Waited an hour or so, went to start it and heard like a backfire in the engine then I immediately stopped. Waited a couple of minutes, then tried it a gain. It wouldn't even turn over. It was like the motor was seized. waited an hour with the hood open letting it cool since it felt pretty hot under there even though the last time driven showed temps of 180-200max.

Came back after an hour and it struggled a little, then started. But the original noise was gone that is in the video, but replaced by something metal tumbling around like in a dryer! I thought something was seriously broke!

So I let it sit for a while then figure I have to move it out of the way so I can get my other vehicles parked to use instead, and the car started up fine then went back to making the noise in the video instead of the big clunking tumbling part!

Please tell me this sounds familiar to someone.

Thanks in advance for help that you can give, it's a 95 z28 A4 75000 miles, I only paid $3000 for it.

-Robert

 

Might be the water pump making that noise. Take the accessory belt off and see if the noise is still there. The seizing thing makes me think of coolant leakage into a cylinder, but you did not say anything about clouds of white smoke.

 

Yep, white smoke is coming out, the noise has stopped completely but white smoke that doesn't really smell like gas is coming out of the exhaust.

 

I'm really thinking it's a blown head gasket. Is there a tutorial somewhere telling how to fix this? Should I do a pressure test? I've heard of it but not been able to find out enough information on how to perform it.

Thanks for your help so far!

 

i just replaced my waterpump on my car yesterday and when some coolant spilled on to my pulley and belt system it made that same squeeky noise. I can't explain any other part of your problem but my car made that same noise with a coolant soaked belt and pulleys.

 

Thanks for the info! Does the 95z28 have vented or non vented optispark?

The noise is gone now.

I am going to try and change the headgasket, should I get a chilton? Any pitfalls that I should know about?

 

1995 has a vented opti.

Check your oil for water.

Pull the plugs to see what cylinder(s) have issues.

 

It would look like chocolate milk right?

When I pull the plugs what am I looking for as evidence?

 

The oil will look like that if water is getting in there. It may or may not be.

The cylinder that is burning coolant will have a plug that is very light and clean. It will be so different looking than the others, that you will know.

 

ok, water in the oil.

Any how to for this head gasket change?

thanks so much for the help, it really is appreciated

 

http://www.afrashteh.com/guide/install.htm

 

Looks like fun. Should I swap out the optispark and cam? What's the prices on them(roundabout)