PLEASE HELP.... cooling problem!!

[DeLo360]

So my car started overheated about a month ago. I stoped running the car right at the 3/4 mark on the water temp gauge, so it wasnt too late. I come to find out that i had absolutely no coolent in my car, and there was no leak or burst hoses anywhere. Since this happened right as a pulled into work, i did my shift and tackled the problem in the parking lot later that night.

I poured about a gallon and a half of water into the radiator and filled the coolent tank as well. The car ran 100% fine all the way home, and there was no loss of water or anything up until now. I checked ragularly.

So i pull into the gym today, and i hear bubbling under the hood. I open the hood up and i notice the coolant tank overflowing (keep in mind i still have water in the car) and bubbling up like its boiling or something. Also, the radiator cap is releasing a lot of pressure as well, showing little bits of bubbling underneath. NOTE: the car did not overheart, infact it ran cooler then normal.

I let the car cool while i did my workout, and poured about a half gallon of water back into the radiator. Car is fine now, but at this point i want to fix whatever is wrong with it and just be done with this.

It seems to me that no water is getting sucked in from the coolant tank into the radiator/ engine. Which is why there was enough pressure to act the way it did today.

Someone please help me out... i'm goin back to school soon and i would like the car back in good shape.

Thank you so much,
Dave

 

[GSX93DSM]

I would look into your thermostat and you might have a air bubble some where. You could try getting a new thermostat and fi;ll the car up run it and leave the cap off and let it get warm and cut it off then top off the antifreeze and try it from there and see what you get.

 

[VicBoost]

How about your top rad hose if everything full and same with the second bay?

 

[Arrow_Runner]

If it were me I would go ahead and replace the thermostat and radiator cap. It may or may not fix your problem, but it will atleast be preventative maintenance for in the long run and it's not too expensive.

 

[Newlogics]

You're blowing exhaust into coolant.
It's time for a head gasket job.
sorry bro.

 

[diablos991]

To test for exhaust gasses in your coolant, have a hydrocarbon test done on the coolant. I got one done for $15 at a local radiator shop. If it is the exhaust gasses then you need a Head Gasket.

 

[DeLo360]

Thanks for all the replies. Ok as far as the whole exhaust deal can someone guide me to a section or post some info on how that might have caused my situation. I'm at a 106K right now, so is it about that time for a head gasket change?

Also, to answer the other question.... yes, both the coolant tank and radiator are full. To me it seems that there is no coolant (or in my case water) ever going from the tank to the engine/radiator. The coolant level in the tank didnt fluctuate at all before doing this.

Looking forward to all the responses, especially about the head gasket. I never thought of this.

Thanks again,
Dave

 

[RWKustoms]

Same thing happened to me when I had my 95 GS. I would have to keep filling up with coolant every other week or so. If you're not the most technically inclined person like diablos991 said have a hydrocarbon test done, and if it is your HG then it might run you anywhere between $200-$600 (in my area) depending on if your head is warped and will need machine shop work.

 

[jumpfroggy]

You didn't say if you'd tried the thermostat or the cap yet. Have you? The coolant needs to be pressurized or it'll boil. The cap is responsible for maintaining coolant pressure, so sometimes your cap goes bad, it'll let the pressure get too low, coolant will boil, then you got air bubbles everywhere, coolant escaping, and finally no coolant and a hot engine.

I second the headgasket posibility. I had the same thing happen on an old car. Coolant was bubbling out of the car, engine was overheating. Easy thing is to check the oil and coolant. If the oil is chocolate-milk colored (brown instead of dirty black), or coolant will have traces of oil in it. Also, you can uncap radiator and start car (put cloth on it or something, don't want shooting coolant) and wait a bit... you might see bubbles that smell like exhaust coming out of the coolant. Headgasket.

Mileage really doesn't have a lot to do with when you'll need a headgasket, it's all maintenance. My friend locked up a 3 year old car engine by not changing the oil (oil got cut by the gas as a solvent, I think, so basically the engine just siezed).

Any other symptoms? Lets try to narrow down what is/isn't happening. Oh yeah... you should be using distilled water, or dist. water + antifreeze.

 

[98gst14b]

Iv had a similar problem, everythign would be great and if I had the ac on it would overheat so i turn it off, it starts to cool down. I come to a red light and starts to heat up, start moving again and it cools down. Iv had to refill the coolant maybe once every one or two weeks. I checked everything, fans, waterpump, hydrocarbon test, everything! and found out my radiator cap was bad. Try replacing it...is your overflow tank full when you refill your radiator?? If so that could be a sign of cap failure. I replaced it and my radiator has been full ever since...hope this helps!

 

[91Bomb]

Sounds like your t-stat may be sticking closed intermitantly. Replace it and see if the problem goes away.

 

[DeLo360]

Well, i'll start with the radiator cap. I checked it out and that damn thing has all of the seals cracked and rotted.

Symptoms:

1)Overheated only once one month ago. (might be my fault since i have not kept up w/ coolant)
2)Does not over heat w/ ac on or being stoped at a light
*however, recently when stopped water temp fluctuates between halfway and its normal possition at 1/3 on gauge.
3)Today needle did not fluctuate at all even when stopped.
4)I park the car and coolent is bubbling out of tank and out of the sides of radiator cap.
*car did not over heat though.
5)From the first time the car overheated to Today the coolant level in the tank did not budge one bit.


I dont know guys. I take care of the car pretty well. The worst thing i have done to this point is run the engine to 6500 miles on this last oil change. But i have been keeping up with the oil and adding to it if it drops. Before then its been changed every 3 - 4000 miles. So i have no idea how my head gasket could be bad. Oh well, its hopefull thinking... i'll keep everyone posted.

I wish i knew of a preventive maintanince list for our cars so that i could fix things before they actually break... haha.

 

[diablos991]

You might as well replace both the radiator cap and the thermostat. They are easy and cheap. You may also want to consider a coolant flush.

Hopefully these things will fix your problem. keep us updated.

 

[91Bomb]

Well, i'll start with the radiator cap. I checked it out and that damn thing has all of the seals cracked and rotted.

Symptoms:

1)Overheated only once one month ago. (might be my fault since i have not kept up w/ coolant)
2)Does not over heat w/ ac on or being stoped at a light
*however, recently when stopped water temp fluctuates between halfway and its normal possition at 1/3 on gauge.
3)Today needle did not fluctuate at all even when stopped.
4)I park the car and coolent is bubbling out of tank and out of the sides of radiator cap.
*car did not over heat though.
5)From the first time the car overheated to Today the coolant level in the tank did not budge one bit.


I dont know guys. I take care of the car pretty well. The worst thing i have done to this point is run the engine to 6500 miles on this last oil change. But i have been keeping up with the oil and adding to it if it drops. Before then its been changed every 3 - 4000 miles. So i have no idea how my head gasket could be bad. Oh well, its hopefull thinking... i'll keep everyone posted.

I wish i knew of a preventive maintanince list for our cars so that i could fix things before they actually break... haha.

Seriously, put a new T-stat in. It's part of preventive maintenance and they do wear out due to a number of reasons and they get gunked up with sludge from the coolant system. They only cost like 5 to 8 bucks, are easy to change and is the 1st thing that should be suspected when the temp needle runs high (aside from being low on coolant).
Why are you even thinking bad headgasket at this point when you have a radiator cap that needs replacing and haven't even tried a new t-stat yet? Those are basic maintenance items and the t-stat especially should be replaced the minute you have an overheating situation that isn't easily explained by either a low coolant situation or a rad. fan that's not working properly.

Report back after you've got that new cap + t-stat installed.

 

[SaiyanFury]

When and if you change your rad cap, perhaps consider a high pressure one? My old cap went to hell as my engine was so old before the rebuild, but I got a high pressure one, and it hasn't bled coolant, even after I overheated a few times. One trick I've found is if you're on the road and your car is starting to overheat, pull over, shut your car down, but leave your key in the accessory position. Your fans will run until the coolant is back to normal operating temperature. I think it's at half the temp gauge. I run Water Wetter and a low temp (180 degree) thermostat so my temp norm is a lot lower than factory. But it's just something to keep in mind if you're on the road between destinations. I did this as my car was overheating on my move from Canada to here in Florida when I was in Tennessee, going through the Mountains just south of Chattanooga, and it worked like a charm. It can be annoying pulling over every few minutes or so, but it does work. Just something to bear in mind.

 

[Newlogics]

Well, i'll start with the radiator cap. I checked it out and that damn thing has all of the seals cracked and rotted.

Symptoms:

1)Overheated only once one month ago. (might be my fault since i have not kept up w/ coolant)
2)Does not over heat w/ ac on or being stoped at a light
*however, recently when stopped water temp fluctuates between halfway and its normal possition at 1/3 on gauge.
3)Today needle did not fluctuate at all even when stopped.
4)I park the car and coolent is bubbling out of tank and out of the sides of radiator cap.
*car did not over heat though.
5)From the first time the car overheated to Today the coolant level in the tank did not budge one bit.


I dont know guys. I take care of the car pretty well. The worst thing i have done to this point is run the engine to 6500 miles on this last oil change. But i have been keeping up with the oil and adding to it if it drops. Before then its been changed every 3 - 4000 miles. So i have no idea how my head gasket could be bad. Oh well, its hopefull thinking... i'll keep everyone posted.

I wish i knew of a preventive maintanince list for our cars so that i could fix things before they actually break... haha.

A quick test to see if cap is your problem , is to simply feel upper rad. hose when car is fully warm. If hose is firm, then cap is fine. If hose easily squizes, then cap is your culprit.

 

[DeLo360]

Just to keep everyon updated. I put a new cap on and all seems well. The car runs at a perfect tempt and the needle doesnt even budge. Also the water in the coolant tank seems to actually be moving into the engine and radiator as well. I havent had time to put in the t-stat in yet b/c my alternator died and i ahve been busy with that. And on top of that i should be getting my 2 pistons calipers, new rotors, and ss brake lines for my break upgrade on monday so i will def have my hands full. Not to mention an oil change and a coolant flush. Anyhoo, i'll post back when the t-stat is in and i have had a chance drive on it for a while. I appreciate everyone's help. Oh and yeah... what is up with not having a seal with the new t-stat? I have to go and buy that crap seperately.

Dave

 

[91Bomb]

Oh and yeah... what is up with not having a seal with the new t-stat? I have to go and buy that crap seperately.

I beleive there's no separate gasket used which seems strange but I'm pretty sure that's how it is.

 

[diablos991]

I beleive there's no separate gasket used which seems strange but I'm pretty sure that's how it is.

My thermostat came with a gasket. If it didn't come with a gasket, you could use some RTV gasket crap on there to make one.

 

[jumpfroggy]

Glad to see it was a really simple fix. Reading back, you mention that you don't think coolant was gettin to the engine. It most likely was, since it was getting hot enough to boil. But since your cap was bad, it would let pressure out when the car was on (causing boil) and then it would not let a vacuun form when cold (to suck coolant back in from the reservoir). soo now you should see it take in a bit from the reservoir now and then. I'd still do the thermostat as a precaution, don't want to have to do this again.

I just had to get some coolant, and they were out of distilled water. But I noticed the coolant directions say to add tap water. Go figure. Can't be worse than what's already in there, I seriously need a coolant flush. let us know when you do t-stat and how things go.