Expert: Rob Painter - 6/12/2011

Question
I was driving up a short but steep grade and my Cadillac started smoking from the middle firewall area, possibly from the engine, it was coming from underneath and behind the engine.  The radiator was not overheating, the water level was good, the oil was good and clean.  The car stalled out, we pulled it to the side of the road, let it cool & it will not start back up again.  Once it stalled on us the gas level red empty with the gas light on.  Before it stalled we had 1/2 tank.  Could this be a blown head & if so how do you tell.  The gaskets were replaced in the last two years.

Answer
Hello,


It does not matter if you changed head gaskets before. They are not maintenance, but are the result from over heating. They are never the cause but the effect on this aluminum engine from over heating.

Now, the best way to check for any cooling system leak is to use a pressure tester. If you have any type of leak it is easily detected and that is how you can determine any cooling system leak.

Heads or gaskets have 3 different ways to leak. External. Internal where the coolant goes into the oil. The third way is through the combustion chamber and white smoke will come out of the exhaust.

these engines cannot take any type of heat. Aluminum begins to melt when it is overheating. This engine and when I say that, I mean aluminum in all displacements is great on mileage and quick, but notorious for overheating issues. I have 3 more questions on over heating Cadillac engines.

Cadillac design on this engine sucked. They knew they had these issues and instead would rip the consumer off when they drove the engine hot either by selling parts or engines for billions of dollars. I thought it would have been a good idea to put a bright orange warning label affixed to the dash warning people.

It is unbelievable as to just how many people destroy these engines by running the engine hot like the old cast iron Chevys.

A good used engine is not available. They have all been overheated in the junk yards.

I have mentioned before even AMC/Renault Alliance built a better engine. At least it could be serviced. A piston and liner kit was available and the cost to repair an overheated engine was dramatically less.

As for yours,I need to know more. Does it crank? I am concerned about the fuel level. Turn the ignition on and see if you can hear the fuel pump running by the filler. With electric fuel pumps that are run empty, they lose their prime, suck air and burn out.

As for the smoke, could be a valve cover. Possibly and this is bad, did you bow a rod or crack the block?

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