Pontiac Repair: steam in engine compartment, head gasket, pontiac sunfire

Question
QUESTION: I have a 1997 pontiac sunfire. It just started to overheat. There is steam coming from the engine compartment. What could cause this porblem?

ANSWER: Hi Latisha:

well the steam is from the coolant boiling due to the over heat. it can just be comming from the over flow tank pushing the hot coolant out or it can be a lot of other things Like a water pump,Hose,Head gasket it depends on where the leak is as to what the issue is. once the engine cools off you can top off the radiator over flow tank and let it run with the hood open to see if you can see where the leak is. Generally it will leak water out before it starts to over heat and boil over. Good Luck :)


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your response. I took it to a mechanic he found the leak > it was the hose from the radiator to the engine. DO you kno what makes them go? The steam was shooting out at the hose. Will it damage my engine. I caught the problem immediately. and parked my car in front ot my house

ANSWER: Age is a huge factor on the hose going. I bet it was the original. no one ever changes a hose as maintence they wait untill they blow or spring a leak before they are replaced. The heat cycles take a toll on the hoses more so then anything else these days. The new cars use a coolant called dex cool and it's easier on the rubber parts then the old green coolant was.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: yes one of the hoses is smooth rubber the other is a ridged hardlike plastic. I should not have any problems after changing the hose. I also see on the coolant container it says dexcool coolant only. Should it be diluted with water. Also should i have the system flushed once i replaced the hose?

Answer
No reason for a flush unless you added any coolant other then dex-cool. It should be added at 50/50 coolant and water. you should be okay if you caught it right away and din't let the car overheat. just keep an eye on the level the next day or two. You could have an air pocket trapped in the system and the level will drop in the overflow tank once the air is expelled from the system.