Your thermostat is sticking in the closed position,it is usually located where the top radiator hose connects to the engine. Very inexpensive item
every 5 years
You could have a intake gasket leaking. You need to take it to your local mechanic, one that you can trust, have them pressure test you cooling system. Could also possibly be a head or head gasket leaking to the inside. You need to have it check asap.
Our 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette was doing the same thing plus we'd get low coolant indicators every 3 or 4 weeks. I went nuts almost trying to find the leaking coolant. It turned out that it was misting it's way out of the intake manifold gasket located on the top of the engine on the drivers side. You might see a small puddle of coolant on top of the block. Apparently it's a common issue with those engines.
A thermostat that is stuck in the closed position is a very common cause of overheating. A new thermostat should be installed every time the coolant is changed.
3.1L V6 are famous for bad intake manifold gaskets that are made of plastic. See if you can find the source of the leak and how bad. Too much leaking could cause overheating problems. A bad water pump will also cause problems. btw, I blew my engine by not getting the intake manifold gasket repaired in a timely fashion. IF you have the money I would get it changed to avoid problems down the road.
You have a leak in the cooling system. If you don't see evidence of coolant leaking on the ground, you probably have a head gasket problem. Have the system pressure tested soon before more serious damage is done.
no coolant leak. no smoke or steam. no water in oil. overheats about every 125 miles. auto trans. cold air.
Yes, coolant can leak from the engine. If it's hot outside and you're running the Air Conditioner (AC) and you back up and see a liquid on the ground, it's probably condensation from the AC unit. Or, it could be collant leaking from the engine. How old is the car? Do you consider radiator hoses to be part of the engine? Radiator hoses should be replaced every 3-5 years, especially if there are bulges, or if they're leaking.
Seeing smoke from the tailpipe usually means your engine is leaking something thru a gasket. There are multiple gaskets as well that could be leaking. ou have to determine what fluid id leaking (coolant or oil (or both)). The color ofthe smoke helps tell what type of fluid is leaking. White - coolant / blue/black - oil. Coolant - usually leaks thru the intake gasket which is VERY VERY common on Alero's. They now have a better grade intake gasket available. I just replaced mine on my 99 (under warranty thankfully). It costs around $500. Oil - you could be burning oil from worn piston rings, crankshaft seal, gasket, cracked part or head gasket (where it mixes with coolant). To find out what is leaking - check the level of coolant in the reservoir and monitor the level over the course of a week or two. If it gets lower, you are leaking coolant. Same for oil. Get an oil change and then check the level every week to see if you are gradually getting lower. you can also have a shop do a compression test of the engine. Hope this helps.
If there aren't any visible leaks, its leaking internally. The 3.1L V6 engines are known for bad gaskets. Is there oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil? Is there a tan frothy substance on the oil fill cap? If so, your coolant is getting into the oil.
42,000 gallons of oil leaking in Gulf every day
The most probable cause is the failure of the seal around the shaft of the pump that isolates the impeller, which is on the coolant side of the pump, from the pulley side (the "outside") of the pump. When this seal fails, coolant can "get past" the seal and leave the coolant system to escape. The hole is in the bottom of the outer housing, and it's put there so water can drain out if it is leaking past the seal. This (the leaking water) is a sign to anyone inspecting the assembly that the pump is leaking, and in almost every case, it's because the seal has failed. Which means you will have to replace the pump.