Car Overheated / Overheating / Overheats [MERGED]

[NTRCOOL]

OVERHEATING? The issues and their solutions have remained the same- either you don't have enough cool air reaching the rad, there's a cooling system obstruction which is preventing coolant from circulating, or your head gasket has failed and is allowing coolant to be consumed or pushed away from the engine.

Discuss all possible overheating problems and solutions here.


OK,
I just left my house to go over to my GF's,and happen to look down and see my needle right before the red mark. This just happened out of nowhere. I stop the car as quickly as i can, and pour in some coolant(Coolant a little low). Still same thing. Welp im in the middle of the road, and HAD to get it home. Im only 5 min from my house. I decided to try and make it(I really had no other choice). Welp I drive no faster than 20mph, and the temp needle is BARELY into the red the whole way.And occasionaly to the left of it. Am I ok?? Do ya think any damage was done?? And im thinking either thermostat, or water pump. For each of those, whats a round about $$ figure to get replaced?? Any info you have would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

[rkcstr]

I had an issue with overheating over last summer. Noticed that the lower radiator hose never warmed up no matter how long the car idled and the coolant temp was up to operating with fans kicking on an everything. Replaced the thermostat and issues cleared up. I replaced it with a stock mitsu unit whereas the old one was actually almost new aftermarket (Autozone, Advance, etc) as I just had the engine rebuilt. It's a simple fix, in addition to finding coolant leaks, so may as well try it. Also, I just fixed some of my own leaks, things to look for are bulging lines when temps are hot, I had one that bulged and had the old spring clamp that would leak by when hot, but looked normal cold, cracks in the radiator cap gasket, etc.

 

[dsmcarnag3]

doesn't take much to act up. being low a half gallon of coolant can cause an air pocket to form. mine got a little hot the other day, after it cooled off I topped it off. been fine since.

 

[WES_393]

That pic was up on Gold Camp Road. I've made aure that thw resivoir never goes empty.

The resevoir is just an overflow, the radiator cap is what needs to be up to the brim full. If you pulled out the thermostat and the sensor and no coolant flowed out, it was very low and wasn't cooling the engine properly. The lower radiator hose being cold is definitely a sign that the T-stat was bad.

 

[bryanwheat]

IF no coolant came out when you remove the the thermostat cover than you are pretty low on coolant. Did you actually check the level by taking the cap off, or did you just put it in the overflow?

 

[92AWDHX40]

Check for leaks, and make sure your thermostat is working properly.

 

[spyderdrifter]

I didn't check the coolant level at the cap sue to that part neing hot at that time. The lower radiator hose was cold even after driving the car 15 miles home with the new t-stat. I'm gonna try to make time today to inspect my water pump and fill the system at the cap and see how it reacts to that.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Do a compression test too could be your head gasket is going out.

 

[dsm92gsx]

If your lower hose is cold most likely there is a big air bubble somewhere. On both hoses grab and squeeze and shake the crap out of them going throughout the whole hose. The lower may be a bit harder but give it a shot.

I had the same problem minus the leak and that's what it was on my lower hose.

 

[supermario300hp]

OK last night did some rough driving on the car. Ran it good for like 35min. as i was on a side street. the car started revving like crazy the temp jumped up over200 and so i pulled over in two blocks popped the hood. and my newly installed monster can overflo tank was boiling. poured 4 bottles cold water in it.gave it like 20min.bleed the air out. I then let the car sit for like 5hours. drove home with heat on and the car did not overheat again. So now im terrified that i broke something or i blew my head gasket, What should i do now? Anybody else have this problem before? I really dont know what to do next.

 

[hypergenesis]

OK last night did some rough driving on the car. Ran it good for like 35min. as i was on a side street. the car started revving like crazy the temp jumped up over200 and so i pulled over in two blocks popped the hood. and my newly installed monster can overflo tank was boiling. poured 4 bottles cold water in it.gave it like 20min.bleed the air out. I then let the car sit for like 5hours. drove home with heat on and the car did not overheat again. So now im terrified that i broke something or i blew my head gasket, What should i do now? Anybody else have this problem before? I really dont know what to do next.

Get a Leak down test done to see if you did mess something up through the engine.
Also do a compression test to see how everythings doing.

A

 

[BLINKY619]

My gst always ran around 210 give or take

 

[gusu]

Did you recently open up your coolant system for any reason?



*edit* I just read you just installed that new overflow. I'm really thinking it was just a air bubble. Shit happens to me almost every time I change coolant because I always forget to get the air out. I really need to start making a check list.

 

[phunny]

How far over 200? It doesn't sound like a big deal though unless it's still over heating. As stated above, compression or preferably a leakdown test would tell you all you need to know.

 

[supermario300hp]

thanks for your quick responses. it didnt go far over 200 maybe like 220-230 but i noticed it quick and pulled over. I guess it could have been an air bubble from when i did the overflow. ill do a leak down and compression test and see what happens...thanks again.

My gst always ran around 210 give or take

that seems a little high. both my TSIs never ran over 190. and the one i have now never went over 180... hopefully i didnt f anything up.

 

[dsmGSTtuner]

if you blew your head gasket your oil would look like chocolate milk. check your oil and see what it looks like. if its milky, then you blew your head gasket. if not, you are in the clear

 

[supermario300hp]

if you blew your head gasket your oil would look like chocolate milk. check your oil and see what it looks like. if its milky, then you blew your head gasket. if not, you are in the clear

I will do that. car needs and oil change anyways.

 

[1995 brian]

X2 on the leakdown test and compression test. Also it will help you find any coolant leaks of you have any.

 

[bryanwheat]

if you blew your head gasket your oil would look like chocolate milk. check your oil and see what it looks like. if its milky, then you blew your head gasket. if not, you are in the clear

It depends on where the gasket is blown. Most of the time the combustion chamber will leak into the coolant passages. This will not result in coolant in oil or oil in coolant.

 

[nickk90]

Putting cold water in a over heated car before it cools down isn't the best idea. You should allow it to cool down first . You can poor water over the radiator itself to help speed the down and turn the ignition on to kick the fans on.

And DSMs run hot. On a hot day at a stop light my car gets 210ish. It normally runs at about 205.

When you say 220-230 how did you come up with that figure did you have a logger or scan tool to read the temp at the time?

 

[supermario300hp]

Putting cold water in a over heated car before it cools down isn't the best idea. You should allow it to cool down first . You can poor water over the radiator itself to help speed the down and turn the ignition on to kick the fans on.

And DSMs run hot. On a hot day at a stop light my car gets 210ish. It normally runs at about 205.

When you say 220-230 how did you come up with that figure did you have a logger or scan tool to read the temp at the time?

I understand its not the best idea but when im blocking a city street in chicago and cabbies are trying to run me down, you have to make do. thats wierd mine never runs that hot. I have a temp gauge in the car and thats where it was reading at.

 

[007jimmy]

When was the last time you changed the radiator cap/ thermostat? If it happens again these 2 things are easy/cheap to replace.

 

[supermario300hp]

just changed them this morning car hasnt overheated again. and i ordered a mishimoto radiator and all new hoses.

 

[slayer450]

I wouldn't worry about it, most newer car run about 210 for emissions. If I'm right damage usually doesn't happen till around 260-280.

 

[josh1095]

## plenty safe at 220. like another said, cap and t stat. those are very common failure points

 

[DSM1G90]

What I was going to say - Rad cap let go.

BUT as you're doing a new cap, make sure the cap gasket mating surfaces are also clean and smooth since corrosion loves to build up there and the cap won't seat correctly with two dirty surfaces.

DSM