Engine Losing Power

Yea explains the sudden stall at highway speeds, thats what i get for being lazy with this stupid rad...FIX IT BEFORE IT LEADS TO MORE PROBLEMS!

If it is in fact the LIM leaking that badly, you may want to fix it ASAP. It's possible that the oil and coolant is mixing in with each other. Oil in the coolant isn't all bad, but enough coolant in the oil destroys bearings

would and oil change do the trick if it was mixing? not much coolant has been added only water...

Well, if it IS mixing, an oil change only supplies fresh oil for the coolant to mix with. It won't solve anything.

After the car has been running and hot, check the oil on the dipstick. If it appears milky, there's coolant in it (or water). Also, a light tan mud will build up on the underside of the oil filler cap, and on the radiator cap as well. Those 3 things are good signs that your LIM gaskets are completely shot.

after the gasket and rad swap, sorry

there is silver, looks like metal shavings gunked around the rad cap and floating in the coolant

The silver might be from somebody adding a Stop Leak (Like BarsLeak) to the radiator. That stuff is usually silver or gold in color. Whatever isn't used up from the hole it's meant to repair usually gunks up at the cap. I wouldn't be surprised if that crap is gunked around under the LIM either....it looks like really flaky silver paint.

And yes, absolutely change the oil BEFORE YOU START THE CAR after an LIM gasket change. You can be as careful as you want, but you will more often then not get coolant in the oil during a gasket change.

maybe stuff i used when doing the water pump 2 yrs ago? Or chemicals in the city water?... Radiator is being ordered along with LIM gaskets

So.. LIM gasket $40, Radiator $155, will be ready for pickup by Tue, I guess im going to get the oil/ filter, coolant right now, Anything else I need for prep?

96rivie wrote:

So.. LIM gasket $40, Radiator $155, will be ready for pickup by Tue, I guess im going to get the oil/ filter, coolant right now, Anything else I need for prep?

you could probably use some..

locktite red for the mani bolts
Permatex thread sealer for various bolts in that area.FSM will outline which ones
I benchtop grinder with wire wheel to clean the threads of ALL the bolts which no doubt are covered in old thread sealer and old locktite
A torque wrench

Don't forget some black RTV for where the LIM and the block gaskets meet. You'll need to put some in the corners. The LIM gaskets are in 4 pieces...2 along each head, and 2 rubber "runners" that sit on the block in the valley. If you bought a Fel-Pro LIM set, it should have RTV in it.

Thanks for all the info. This has totaled my car... $2k qoute from dealer for gasket and rad. Well now we all know "wait broke the wagon". Live and learn, nice project for me this week... with little knowledge/ tools/ funds...

Tan gunk built up on oil filler cap... going to do rad today thermo, and hoses, and LIM gasket whenever it gets here...HELL YEA, FTW!!

Well its hott outside 93F still, but im anxious and cant wait, parts are in my hand.

Rad. is done, except for the bracket that you have to fab up for the cooling fans...Anyways would the engine stall if the rad or thermostat goes out?

No it would not, unless it overheated and seized up on you, which I don't think is the case here.

no "oil" or coolant puddles since i got in Fri. night, maybe it was faulty rad, cap that was leaking everywhere under the hood

well, it still has that real hard start. So i guess i will be doing the gasket afterall