Nigel77
New Member
Hi guys, hoping to find a bit more information before deciding what to do with my car. Its a Series 2 SV6 VE commodore with 200kkms. For the record, I drive like a regular law abiding citizen always. Never had any major problem until now.
Short version: Engine got abnormally hot one day (no check engine lights or anything, just the needle spiked way above what it normally sits at). Drove it to a mechanic (who did/checked all the following). No water in the oil. Engine sealant has been applied. Water pump replaced shortly after. Radiator cap and various hoses replaced. No coolant leaking inside the cabin. Pressure tested twice with no problems. However, I'm having to top up the coolant every 2-3 days with about 100-200mls to get it to the minimum line on the coolant stick thingy. My oil is still fine since I've been checking it now. Sometimes when I get out of the car I think I can smell that sweet coolant smell. Otherwise, it's been running PERFECTLY fine for the past 6 months like this (radiator fans operating normally and temp needle is rock solid where it should be).
Slightly longer version: There is a decent chance I had been driving while low on coolant for a while before the car overheated. I generally don't check these things (yup, idiot). I noticed for a couple weeks maybe that there was some extra sound coming from the car (like an extra engine/motor noise) even though it was still driving perfect. After the car overheated that one time, I found out the extra sound I was hearing was my radiator fans kicking up a notch. I'd never heard them go that loud before so didn't recognize them. My guess is, I was driving while low on coolant and the car was compensating by blowing the fans harder, and then eventually overheating which is where the short version of the story starts.
So it comes to now and my mechanic is suggesting I need to do the gaskets (at great cost). I guess in researching this topic, I'm worried I've got a cracked head. Either way, not good as I'm assuming coolant is getting into the engine somewhere and combusting as opposed to leaking externally, but nowhere where it's able to get into the oil reserves.
Is there possibly anything we may have missed that could be the issue by any chance that would save me either spending more money than I can afford or ditching the car? Many thanks
Short version: Engine got abnormally hot one day (no check engine lights or anything, just the needle spiked way above what it normally sits at). Drove it to a mechanic (who did/checked all the following). No water in the oil. Engine sealant has been applied. Water pump replaced shortly after. Radiator cap and various hoses replaced. No coolant leaking inside the cabin. Pressure tested twice with no problems. However, I'm having to top up the coolant every 2-3 days with about 100-200mls to get it to the minimum line on the coolant stick thingy. My oil is still fine since I've been checking it now. Sometimes when I get out of the car I think I can smell that sweet coolant smell. Otherwise, it's been running PERFECTLY fine for the past 6 months like this (radiator fans operating normally and temp needle is rock solid where it should be).
Slightly longer version: There is a decent chance I had been driving while low on coolant for a while before the car overheated. I generally don't check these things (yup, idiot). I noticed for a couple weeks maybe that there was some extra sound coming from the car (like an extra engine/motor noise) even though it was still driving perfect. After the car overheated that one time, I found out the extra sound I was hearing was my radiator fans kicking up a notch. I'd never heard them go that loud before so didn't recognize them. My guess is, I was driving while low on coolant and the car was compensating by blowing the fans harder, and then eventually overheating which is where the short version of the story starts.
So it comes to now and my mechanic is suggesting I need to do the gaskets (at great cost). I guess in researching this topic, I'm worried I've got a cracked head. Either way, not good as I'm assuming coolant is getting into the engine somewhere and combusting as opposed to leaking externally, but nowhere where it's able to get into the oil reserves.
Is there possibly anything we may have missed that could be the issue by any chance that would save me either spending more money than I can afford or ditching the car? Many thanks
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