I have a '98 Chevy Lumina and just in the past week or so I've been noticing that the temperature gauge rises and falls the whole time I'm driving. When it rises, it doesn't go into the "red" range; that is up to 260, which is the highest number on the gauge, but it does lean farther to the right (higher) than I thought would be normal. It'll do this for a few minutes and then go back down to the middle for a few minutes. It does this over and over. I know there's a cooling fan under the hood that keeps the car from overheating--is that what's going on? Also, last week when I drove over some big hills going to a friend's house (we live in mountainous central NH), I could smell burning oil. I haven't really smelled it since. Is it time to take the car in for a checkup, or is this normal? The car has over 235,000 miles on it. The "service engine soon" light has been on ever since we purchased it from another individual about 18 months ago. Suggestions? Thx.
2007-08-14 12:48:19 · 12 answers · asked by peachy78 5 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
First of all, congrats on driving your chevy 200K+ miles! If it died tomorrow it led a very productive life...
If your temp keeps going up it is most likely an issue with your cooling system/radiator. Get a transmission flush. Also, next time the car starts heating up turn your HEAT on and flip the fan switch to high. Make sure your windows are open. If you notice the temp guage coming back down then it's definitely a cooling issue. A car that old probably has all kinds of corrosion in the thermostat. The valve could be stuck.
Are you sure that's burning oil and not your engine burning??? Change the oil with synthetic.
If the check engine light is on you need to take it a dealer or mechanic who can read the on board diagnostic computer (ODB, not to be confused with old dirty bastard from the Wu tang clan).
2007-08-14 12:56:44 · answer #1 · answered by Richard S. 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you have a couple of problems: a cooling problem which may be a bad thermostat or a fan belt. Smelling oil almost always is from an oil leak somewhere. Determine if you are losing any oil, and then where is it coming from. The "Service Engine Soon" light is indicating that your Lumina is ready for an electronic Diagnostic Check where you may find one or several Fault Codes. Analyse the Fault Codes. Yes, it is time to go in for service. Maybe you are overdue for an oil change if you haven't been in for service in the last 18 months. Get help now, before something serious breaks.
2007-08-14 13:08:50 · answer #2 · answered by Phillip S 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This temperature gauge fluctuation is a common symptom of a blown head gasket.Get a compression or cylinder leak down test performed.
ADDITIONAL: a malfunctioning or "sticking" thermostat will not produce a fluctuating gauge,usually a bad thermostat will either be stuck open or closed,in which case will manifest a cold condition with the system not reaching operating temperature or an over heating system,but not both.The fluctuation in the case of a blown head gasket is caused by exhaust gasses entering the cooling system and pressurising the system rapidly causing the thermostat to open and close repeatedly.Trust me I have seen this many times before.
2007-08-14 12:54:21 · answer #3 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The check engine light is the second clue that it's due for a checkup. The first clue is the 235,000 miles. Hope your ready to get rid of it before too long. With regular maintenance it may make it to 300,000 but I wouldn't bet on it.
2007-08-14 12:55:05 · answer #4 · answered by mustanger 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
with that many miles i would guess there is a lot of debris accumulated on the a/c condensor restricting airflow across the radiator.. not sure where you live but with the recent heatwave in the midwest there are cars all over the side of the road broke down due to overheating...most of them were allways on the verge of problems but when temps reach 100 outside the weakest link will surface
2007-08-14 13:04:38 · answer #5 · answered by John St.Louis 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not the fan going on and off--that wouldn't make that much difference. More likely it's the thermostat as the mechanic suggests.
2007-08-14 12:55:30 · answer #6 · answered by DelK 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
appropriate now, i could want a "widely used" automobile, which includes a primary Honda Civic over a Hybrid. it is beacuse you may might want topersistent the hybrid a minimum of 50,000 miles in the previous you may injury even on the greater preliminary fee of the motor vehicle over a classic one. additionally, after guarantee expires it would desire to be very costly to alter the batteries while they placed on out.
2016-12-13 07:47:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe the thermostat needs replacing? Clearly something is not right!
2007-08-14 12:53:23 · answer #8 · answered by Sal*UK 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it sounds like your thermostat is sticking. i would try getting a new one as soon as possible along with getting your coolant system completely flushed, not just drained.
Good luck.
2007-08-14 12:52:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would take it in to get looked at and check the water in it and iol
2007-08-14 12:56:12 · answer #10 · answered by jen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋