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New engine, coolant boiling, wtf????

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Old Aug 3, 2008 | 04:01 AM
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Default New engine, coolant boiling, wtf????

And my saga of bad luck continues. Bought a brand new assembled LQ9 408 3rd party. Previous owner bought it a few weeks prior, needed money and I bought it off him. Had it shipped to shop that was gonna do swap and for some reason when he built the engine he decided to go with GM head bolts. I had ARP studs on my old engine so had those put on the 408 prior to install.

Car runs great, didn't really notice anything different. I was hearing noises when I'd turn it off but didn't really think much of it. I drove it approx 500 miles shortly after picking it up on the highway with A/C on the whole time, no temp problems. Other day I drive maybe 10 miles with A/C on and notice temp guage starts heading towards the red. Turn off the A/C and it goes down and settles around 210. I then realize the noise I'm hearing when I turn off the car is my coolant boiling. Fill it up with water and take it out the next day and sure enough, after about 15 miles I stop and water is just pouring out of the coolant fill cap.

From doing a search on here, I'm assuming that is a classic sign of head gasket issue? Like I said, temp guage doesn't budge as long as A/C isn't on, yet coolant is still boiling.
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Old Aug 3, 2008 | 07:05 AM
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It prob just needs to be bleed more. If coolant is escaping into the motor its going to smell and come out of the tail pipe and have some smoke, if its getting in the oil it will be milkshake and if its neither, then rebleed.

I always tilt my nose up and the rear on the ground to give it the best chance to get any air out.
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Old Aug 3, 2008 | 11:08 AM
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^^^^ X2
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Old Aug 3, 2008 | 05:25 PM
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may want to check and make sure the fans are coming on as well.
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Old Aug 3, 2008 | 06:09 PM
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Doesn;t really matter how hot it gets, it should not boil over unless there is air in the system.

I know its all new, but most commonly its a blown head gasket. I can't see an air bubble in the coolany system causing that bad of a boiling over problem.
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Old Aug 3, 2008 | 06:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Gregg 00SS
Like I said, temp guage doesn't budge as long as A/C isn't on, yet coolant is still boiling.
This is a clear sign that your condensor is clogged up with dirt and debris.
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Old Aug 3, 2008 | 10:06 PM
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Make sure you have a good radiator cap also.
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Old Aug 3, 2008 | 10:17 PM
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Originally Posted by needadvice
This is a clear sign that your condensor is clogged up with dirt and debris.
X2. Clean out between them VERY good. And get a new cap also, theyre cheap.
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