98 Z28 Cooling issues
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 325
Likes: 30
From: Toronto, Ont
98 Z28 Cooling issues I know this has probably been talked about a million times but after countless hours searching I just figured I'd make another thread regarding my car. It's a '98 Camaro Z28. The motor is all stock. The issues I'm having are the car keeps boiling over but not all the time. I don't use the car much but when I have it's been fine except on a few occasions. The temp gauge gets up to the middle (100) and that's when it will boil over but it doesn't get any hotter. Both fans work with the AC on. The last time it boiled over was 2 weeks ago. After letting it sit an hour or so after it did that, I checked the rad level figuring I had to fill it up before heading home. The rad was still full of coolant. My overflow was at the proper level as well. Letting the car sit for a few days I checked the levels again and again.. everything is normal. There's no coolant in my oil, no smoke out the tailpipe, doesn't smell like coolant and the coolant levels are fine. What gives? The stat and housing was changed by the previous owner and he used normal green coolant. After it boiled over the first time I made sure to bleed the system for awhile thinking there was air in it. The car worked great for about a week after that and it happened again. I've been told it could be multiple things. Head gasket, stat, blockage etc.
It's driving me crazy that I can't drive this car right now with the weather we're having. Please help. Maybe I just have a shitty stat?
It's driving me crazy that I can't drive this car right now with the weather we're having. Please help. Maybe I just have a shitty stat?
Staging Lane
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Hampton Roads, VA
There are a couple simple things I would do. If your cap is not holding the correct pressure, the radiator contents will boil over. Replace the cap. If that does not fix it, then possibly your antifreeze to water mixture might not be correct (i.e. 50/50). Drain and replace the coolant. Make sure to get the air out of the system if you do replace the fluid. If those don't work, then you likely have one of the mechanical/engine issues that you mention.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 325
Likes: 30
From: Toronto, Ont
I changed the rad cap when this happened the first time. I was going to change the stat also but things got in the way and I never really had time. I talked to my buddy who is a GM mechanic at a local dealership and he seems to think it's the head gasket. Compression is getting through and pumping air into my cooling system. I was hoping this wasn't the case but just my luck. Thanks for the replies guys! I have my own thread in the Canadian section about the car so I'll post up updates/progress there.
