Cadillac Repair: coolant leak, oil dipstick, coolant system

Question
I have been gifted my father 95 eldorado that hasn't been driven in 2 years.  We filled and checked all levels before driving and replaced battery.  Drove it home about 400 miles and it ran great, have put on about 200 more miles.  Yesterday in the driveway I noticed a puddle of coolant on the ground behind the passenger front tire, and I noticed it was running hotter than it had been which was 203-205 up to 223 sitting in traffic, when I turned on the defroster and fans it seemed to help cool it down a little.  When we first started the car within the first 15 miles there was a message on the dash about coolant but I mistakenly took it for a message about the airconditioner. any ideas about where the coolant is leaking from or the cause?

Answer
Hi Sheri,

I just hope you did not damage the engine by running it so hot. You might need head gaskets now from over heating. Engine should never go above 195 degrees. The purpose of coolant/anti-freeze is to raise the boiling point over 212.

Over heating will blow a head gasket, warp the heads and many other types of damage can be done.

Turning the defroster and heat on will first get the cooling fans running and secondly where the anti-freeze is flowing throughout the heater will lower the temperature.

I had an over heat problem last summer and thakfully, I have a convertible. It was 90 degrees outside and my temp guage was rising and here I am to save the engine, running the heater and defroster!!!

The first thing I would tell you is check the oil dipstick. If white and milky, you just took out at minumum, the head gaskets from over heating. If the oil is normal in color, you might be OK.

Next, you will need the cooling system filled. You will need someone that has a cooling system pressure tester to check the coolant system for leaks. This tester is pumped up to about 15 pounds and then if leaking, it will be obvious.

Its possible that you cracked the engine block too from running the engine that hot, but none of this will be known until a pressure test is done.

It is possible that the theormostate stuck causing this problem and you may need to replace that as well.

Because of the engine heat you describe, I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but I am concerned there is serious damage to the engine. Hopefully there won't be.

I would recomend not driving the car and having it towed to a garage to check to see the extent of the damage.

Rob

Hi Sheri,

Thank you for your nomination. I really appreciate it.

Please let me know at robo14@aol.com just how bad or good the engine turned out. Good Luck!

Rob