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Olds cutlass supreme overheating.?

I recently had the head gasket replaced in my 1996 olds cutlass 3.1L coupe.

Since then it will occasionally redline after just simple driving and I am finding that if I open the air blead valve that is above the waterpump this will cool the engine below redline and then after a bit it will go back to more normal tempatures.

I have been suggested that there is an airlock in my system and that is causing the overheating.

it has also been suggested that the thermostat is sticking causing it.

And finally it was suggested that the headgasket didn't seal and that is injecting air into the system... which would be another very expensive repair job...

which of these is most likely and what routes should I go about fixing the problem without just taking it to a shop and hoping for the best?

Update:

I bought my car used and I don't have an owners manual...

where is the second bleed valve?

2 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    I own a shop, and this is what I think; You have an air lock in the system. Try this; park the vehicle with the front end as high as you can, and allow it to sit over night. Crack the air bleeder, and see if you get air from the system. The idea is to get the radiator cap higher than the rest of the engine. I know this may sound stupid, but it does work. As the engine cools back down the air will go to the highest point, which will either be the bleeder valve, or the cap area. This has been a problem with those types of engines. As for a second bleeder valve, they are talking about the drain plug or pitcock at the bottom of the tank. Some has them, and some doesn't. Have a pressure test done on the system, and the cap too. If you have a leak anywhere, the test will find it. Don't guess at this, just take it in, and have the pressure test done, and this way you will know for sure if it is an air lock, and not a gasket. A gasket will leak down pretty fast under pressure. An air bubble can be a major pain in the @ss to get out sometimes, so getting the front end up high usually works.

    Glad to help out, Good Luck!!!

    Source(s): Certified Master Mechanic, Shop Owner, 40 yrs. experience.
  • 1 decade ago

    you should have 2 air bleeders open both uptill you get steady stream if it still red lines its possible head gasket was put in wrong way printed side goes down.

    Source(s): former gm tech
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