Cadillac Repair: 1999 Deville Overheating, bolt holes, coolant system
QuestionI bought a 1999 Deville with 55,000 miles in January. It has since overheated and all coolant gone. Took it to a mechanic to Dx the problem. He saw evidence of leakage from the lower hose and tightened it. Ran fine for several weeks then did the same thing. I had to be towed off the freeway. The same mechanic "suggested" it is a head gasket and to think about what to do as it would cost 3k plus to repair that. I see no puddles of coolant on the ground nor do I see "steam" from the exhaust. Any ideas?
AnswerThe most common problem with this engine is that combustion chamber pressure is getting into the coolant system because of stripped/stretched head bolts in the engine block. This is a very very common fault with this engine and requires drilling out all the head bolt holes in the engine block and installing STEEL HELI-COILS and different head bolts.
How Cadillac got away with making this lousy engine and not honoring their lousy design is beyond me.