sounds like you have a cracked head or cracked block.however, i would check to make sure it is not transmission oil and thereby ruling out a radiator problem
The most common cause of overheating is a thermostat stuck in the closed position. However, other causes are: faulty water pump, clogged radiator, clogged hose(s), coolant leak or a broken drive belt. I had a 1987 legend with around 160K that was overheating. Antifreeze would boil out of the overflow. I changed my radiator and it fixed the problem.
The air conditioning is a separate system from the cooling system and will not be affected by overheating, however if the overheating problem is associated with an inoperative cooling fan or a blockage in the air flow through the radiator and evaporator then the system will not cool properly.
The most common cause of overheating is a thermostat stuck in the closed position. However, other causes are: faulty water pump, clogged radiator, clogged hose(s), coolant leak or a broken drive belt.
No that's a clogged radiator issue. However if the engine over heats to much, the head will warp and you'll need a new one. Replace your radiator, Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor, and thermostat.
there can be several reasons, however it is usually due to overheating and/or sudden cooling --- such as overheating the engine and then pouring cold water into the radiator, etc. Occasionally, the engine manufacturer may have a flaw in the head casting or too thin metal, etc that will cause it to crack too.
Usually the water pump failure is by leaking. Although it is possible that a failure of the impeller is causing your problem, my experience is that it is more likely a partially clogged radiator. Try opening the windows, turn the heater all the way to hot, fan on high, when the engine is overheating. If the temperature comes back down, the radiator is probably the culprit. Had a similar problem with my 2000 Forester after a failed head gasket had leaked oil into my cooling system. That gunk just doesn't flush out. --Ken
Check for cracked head, or blown head gasket. Coolant in the cylinder, oil, and exhaust gas in the cooling system. This sounds exactly like an issue I had with my 1993 626 with 2.0 4 cyl. Locate the coolant temperature sensor. With the key in the "run" position however the engine off unplug the electrical connection on the sensor. The radiator fan(s) should come on. If not then the sensor is bad. If they do then the problem is likely elsewhere.
well if its overheating doesnt mean its leaking however if it is leaking look to see where its coming from check the side of the radiator ( left and right) check the upper and lower radiator hoses as well as the water pump which on a 2.2 liter is located on the lower back side behind the exhaust manifold on the 3.1 i believe its on the side if no leaks u could have a bad or weak water pump, frozen therostat or damaged radiator water pump thermostat and radiator on 3.1 your looking at maybe 8-900 water pump thermostat and radiator on 2.2 liter your looking at like 12-1300 because u need to do belt tensioner and timing chain on it plus mechanics hate this engine design very poor by Pontiac
check the thermostat, then the water pump, check for leaks (antifreezer) and be sure of having enough antifreezer in the reservoir. All things you should do. However at that age I would bet a paycheck that you need a new radiator.
That depends a lot on your cooling system....radiator, fan, water pump etc. If your car is overheating from a bad head gasket or bad radiator, pump....whatever, then there's not much that is going to keep it from overheating until you have it fixed. Keep in mind that if your vehicle is computer controlled they are not designed to operate with the engine that cool. It will mess up all the settings and the car will run rich and use a ton of fuel. There are aftermarket programs and chips available to compensate for this however.
Flushing the radiator may help with the cooling problem but not necessarily make the engine run smoother. If it is a 6 cyliner engine check for a possible leaking lower intake manifold gasket. If the LIM gasket is bad, it may be leaking coolant into the oil and possibly into the cylinders. Also it may leak externally or it may leak internally. Go to http://www.gaoc.com for more info on this problem. If this is the case, it is a serious problem and you shouldn't drive the car until you get it fixed. I have owned these cars in one form or another since 1994 and the radiator leaves a lot to be desired. The radiator seems to clog very easily. So it requires a lot more maintenance that GM likes to admit. I have never had a problem with the thermostats and only had one water pump failure. I also have never had a problem with the fan but, like others have said, they should be checked as well GOOD LUCK!! Sometimes having the radiator flushed will help; however, it may be your themostat is sticking causing the motor to run hot. If this is the case, you should get a new themostat installed. Also check that the fan is running with the engine hot and in idle. The fans wear out may need replacement. It may also be the fan control circuit. I had that problem! Make sure your radiator cap is not missing the seal! Without the seal pressure is not kept in which will cause the engine to overheat! Simple problem, cheap fix!
A radiator cap would not cause a leak! However, if the radiator cap is holding pressure, other weak parts could signal issues in need of attention.