I have 2000 Camaro base 3.8 v6 Automatic 175000 miles owned since new. Have done regular maintenance. Car has performed well all these years.
Problem now is a light clicking lifter and sticky oil in the coolant. Does not overheat. Car guy friends state that I have a blown head gasket. Before opening up the engine to fix the lifter, reseal the intake manifold, install new head gaskets, my question is the following:
I would like to clean the coolant system. I have found you tubers using dishwasher detergent and simple green to clean the system. However, if I would do that first before the repairs would I cause more problems because oil is leaking into the coolant system? Another suggestion was to remove the intake and heads (solvent clean them), but how would I clean the coolant passages in the block without getting cleaning solution in the oil galleys and cylinders?
Thank you
I would like to clean the coolant system. I have found you tubers using dishwasher detergent and simple green to clean the system.
Just use a hose and clean the individual parts of the cooling system. As far as the heater core, if you run the hose in the opposite direction to normal coolant circulation, you may get additional crud out of the system. The radiator as one unit, the engine block, and the heater core.
However, if I would do that first before the repairs would I cause more problems because oil is leaking into the coolant system?
Fix the head gasket if it's leaking, first. You can confirm that by using a head gasket tester. If you do your head gasket and it wasn't the problem, it's a waste of time. I too suspect your head gasket is leaking, but it helps to make sure.
Another suggestion was to remove the intake and heads (solvent clean them), but how would I clean the coolant passages in the block without getting cleaning solution in the oil galleys and cylinders?
Don't use solvents to clean out your heads, etc. Do it with water, only.
Don't change just one lifter. All of them are equally worn. If it's not bad, I would live with it, personally. My '79 Pontiac has a little bit of lifter noise. It happens on older vehicles. It'll never be a collector's item.
but how would I clean the coolant passages in the block without getting cleaning solution in the oil galleys and cylinders?
by doing it after your reassemble everything.
Another suggestion was to remove the intake and heads (solvent clean them),
if you blew a head gasket then you have to deck the heads (machine them). This automatically means they get cleaned. Be it with solvent, or abrasive blasting. When I get my heads back from the shop they look brand new.
But the engine doesn't care if there's a bit of oil in there. It's not a concern at all.
What you should focus on is the radiator and heater core. That's where the tiny passages are. I would just rinse them through with hot hot soapy water and they'll be fine.
Thank you MountainManJoe, I found a reputable machine shop to deck the heads. First they will hot tank them to check for cracks plus I do not have to remove the valve train. 🙂