I have an 86 that I've only had a month or so. When I got it, it ran hot but didn't overheat. I've replaced the radiator and thermostat and not the car overheats. It also makes a squeeling/bearing type noise when I start it. After replacing those parts, I filled the cooling system and left it to run. After about 10 mins it overheated. The next day I filled the radiator again. I figured that I hadn't put in enough water and when I replaced the thermostat/radiator I didn't have enough fluid due to air. Well it overheated again AND all the fluid was gone. The radiator drained after the car heated up. I am assuming that the therostat opened up so I put in some more. Could it be that I have a blown head gastket? I don't see any smoke comming out of the tail pipe. Could it be that I still just need to add water? The hose from the water pump to the radiator never got hot.

What is the easiest way to tell if the head gasket is blown or that I need a new water pump?

 

If the head gasket is bad, you'll be able to smell the anti-freeze coming out of the exhaust pipe. However, it takes a while for you to lose all of your anti-freeze through the engine, it wouldn't drain that quickly. It does sound like it is your water pump that is bad. The car will overheat really quickly whenever the water pump is bad, however I don't think that you would lose any coolant. You might also want to check if you have any leaky hoses. Take it to a mechanic and have them pressure test your system, usually it's free because if they find something wrong, they'll assume that you'll have them fix it.

-C-

 

After thinking about it, the water loss could be due to the engine doing that volcano thing when it overheated.

 

Is it coming out through the cap? I had that problem on a car once and it was due to the cap was not holding enough pressure anymore.

SuDZ

 

How you like me now gold teeth when i smile try to take me out da ghetto but i'm still buckwild...uhhhhhh!!!!!!

 

this doesn't really answer your question, but when I had a 87 (RIP..poor bastard got hit by a semi when parked) the engine would tend to overheat in the summer during city driving. A quick fix (learned this from a friend who had a 82 Porcshe 924) was to unlatch the hood from under the dash so it is open a crack, but keep it locked down from the front. This created a 'vent' so to speak for the engine and the temp gauge actaully dropped back to normal upon driving. just don't bring that bad boy up on the highway.....