GA16de running hot. help!

[petey_97]

Alright everyone, I just replaced the headgasket in my 97 sentra. I got the head set so every gasket I took off I replaced, exhaust manifold gasket, intake etc. Finally got it done, fired it up and it ran. It got to operating temperature really quickly, and smelled like burning coolant. I opened up the overflow and there was a little bubble that kept surfacing, so I opened the rap cap and revved it but it didn't spew out. I shut it off and checked the oil, but there was no coolant in with it. It's worth noting that a little bit of steam was coming from the rocker cover and exhaust maniold while it was running and the mil was on for a "camshaft position sensor" but it did not have this code before I started the build. It's also worth noting that I had the head sent it to a machine shop to relash the valves and clean the headgasket mounting surface. I'm thinking perhaps I did not clean the block surface as well as I should have, but I'm not sure. any ideas? Kinda ruined my day.

Matt

[PapaSmurf2k3]

It might be something as simple as the system didn't bleed properly and there is an air bubble stuck in there. Try massaging the hoses a bit as it warms up.

Have you driven it at all? Definitely don't run it too hot though, you could warp the head and then have to re-do everything you just did :/

[petey_97]

Theres 2 bleeder screws, one by the distributor and one by the thermostat, I opened both of them and coolant started coming out. It's worth noting that I ran the car again, the mil for the cam sensor is now off, and I also noticed that it is fine when it's warming up, its only when the thermostat opens and it goes into closed loop that the smell and steam starts coming out. I havn't driven the car at all yet, it's just been idling in the garage for about 10 mins, it also never overheats it reaches operating temp then the fans come on, the valve cover itself is hot and it wreaks of antifreeze. I will try the hose trick though, I didn't think of that