Howard-
In the beginning...... When the all aluminum engine was first introduced, it
was plagued with overheating problems, which were a contributing factor to the
engine's demise.
Common antifreeze of the day had nothing to combat aluminum corrosion. The
proper antifreeze was available, but not widely so, but was at hand at the
dealers, at a price substantially higher than "regular" antifreeze at other
sources. Doesn't take a genius to figure out the end of this story. I once
bought a lot of 6 215 engines. Upon removing the heads, all the cylinders were
filled with corrosion, some white semi-solid substance. The seller was unaware
of the condition & returned the purchase price. I don't know if they could have
been salvaged, but that is what was happening years ago.
Remember that many of the cars were sold as a second car to owners of Buicks &
Olds who were used to a car that tolerated almost zero maintenance. The idea of
flushing & cleaning the cooling system yearly would not have occurred to them.
In my own mind, I find it amazing that so many of the original engines have
survived. In the last 30 days I have found two complete running cars, an F85
convertible undergoing restoration, & a Buick special.
Jim Stuart
Slim's mail wrote:
> To all,
>
> My background is British cars and some other imports and have the ASE
> certification as Master + L-1 but I have little experience working on the
> Buick / Olds 215 except rebuilding one 3500 Rover 215 and pulling down one
> Olds 215. I have always heard that the 215 had a history of overheating.
> Others with 215 experience tell me they never seen this. Has anyone out
> there had any real experience with 215 overheating that couldn't be caused
> by the normal things that cause overheating like, radiator problems, lower
> hose collapsing, thermostat not opening or not installed, water pump
> impeller problems, ignition timing, lean carb, intake air leaks, excessive
> carbon buildup in combustion chambers, wrong heat range plugs and a half
> dozen other causes. I read the article Dec. 97 Street Rod and can't see what
> blocking off a heater port can have to do with coolant circulation unless
> none of the cars that used the 215 had heater valves. If the thermostat did
> not have a bleed hole or giggle valve and someone did not turn the heater
> valve on or had put a plug in the port then that system would be difficult
> to impossible to get the air out of the system on a fill up from empty.
> As for the article statement of early problems with antifreeze. Could this
> have come from Alcohol based antifreeze left over from the early days? I
> know from experience that alcohol forms a jelly like substance when in
> contact with aluminum. If it does not act as an insulator then it for sure
> will clog a radiator.
>
> I guess what I am wanting to know , Is this history of overheating just a
> lingering "Old wives tale" like "Don't charge a battery on a concrete
> floor"????
>
> Howard
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