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!

 

[gofer]

If it starts overheating during cruise conditions ducting and a bigger radiator are really the only thing you can do, removing the t-stat isn't the answer.

 

[steve]

Ducting and better fans/shrouding. If the stock radiator isn't getting enough airflow a bigger one is also going to suffer from same problem.

 

[dsmkid2]

Ok I need help ill explain from beginning when I bought the car I didn't know the guyhad done an oil change but I misinterpreted the oil reading on the dipstick and added to much I didn't use mobil 1 some other brand probably wasn't as good but anyways I added like 2 quarts on top of it so it basically had excess oil the car sat for weeks after because Im saving up to put itnon the road but started up fine never overheated nothing wrong with it then one day my friend wanted to take it for a spin so I put his license plate on my car and we drove arounf the block for 5 min he Did not drive hard just shifting at 4rpm never even got into 3rd then when we got back smoke was coming out the side of my engine and this was after we drained the excess oil people keep telling me its a valve cover gasket or a head gasket but I don't think its a head gasket the next day I started it up smoked a little bit but not as much but every time I rev it up I see the temperature metere rising past the middle it got up like a quarter away from the H mark then Iet off gas but I don't see my engine smoking anymore but I think its overheating now I'm so confused

 

[kamikazeredneck]

Ok I need help ill explain from beginning when I bought the car I didn't know the guyhad done an oil change but I misinterpreted the oil reading on the dipstick and added to much I didn't use mobil 1 some other brand probably wasn't as good but anyways I added like 2 quarts on top of it so it basically had excess oil the car sat for weeks after because Im saving up to put itnon the road but started up fine never overheated nothing wrong with it then one day my friend wanted to take it for a spin so I put his license plate on my car and we drove arounf the block for 5 min he Did not drive hard just shifting at 4rpm never even got into 3rd then when we got back smoke was coming out the side of my engine and this was after we drained the excess oil people keep telling me its a valve cover gasket or a head gasket but I don't think its a head gasket the next day I started it up smoked a little bit but not as much but every time I rev it up I see the temperature metere rising past the middle it got up like a quarter away from the H mark then Iet off gas but I don't see my engine smoking anymore but I think its overheating now I'm so confused

First off I don't think over filling the oil is even a problem. I add an extra quart every time I go to the track and have never heard of problems with over filling the oil causing adverse effects. Now for the overheating problem. Do you know when the last time the water pump was changed? Is there any coolant missing from the system? Have you done a coolant pressure test? Compression test? Leak down test? All of these tests can help identify a coolant problem.

 

[dsmkid2]

I know the guy put in a new water pump but the overheating problem occured after the excess oil and the joy ride it was fine when I bought it I just don't know what the side effects of the oil was maybe I didn't use the right engine oil idk

 

[Rock2610d]

Well it could be lots of things.

1) does it have a belt to turn the water pump?
2) Is there water in the radiator?
3) "Back smoke was coming out the side of my engine" concerns me....turbo charger issues maybe. Should not be coolant related.
4) Oil overfill should not cause overheating
5) Is temperature gauge working right?
6) Does motor seem hot?
7) Does it run good until it get hot?

 

[kamikazeredneck]

Just because the water pump has been changed doesn't mean it's working properly. Also are the fans coming on when it starts overheating? Like Rock said, could be a turbo issue. Is there coolant in the system. There are so many things it could be so we need more info to properly send you in the correct direction.

 

[dsmkid2]

The turbo is new so I doubt it its big 16g evo 3 and I'm only running on 13 psi

 

[Rock2610d]

First thing I would do is remove the thermostat. See if it gets hot without one. If not put a new t stat in.

 

[dsmkid2]

The guy i bought it from drove the car 40 min to my house no problem no overheating no smoke nothing the car sat in my driveway for like a month I started up every now and then but the only time I ran it was a couple days ago with my friend and it was onky for like 5 min around the block then this problem started happening

 

[njc1064]

The head gasket is a definite possibility, but, you should do some basic troubleshooting before jumping to conclusions.

Does the car have adequate coolant? Are you seeing any leaks under the car at all?

Have you changed the thermostat? Thermostats are cheap (<$30), and, can cause over heating.


How about the fans? Are they clicking on at any point?

If you're seeing the smoke coming from the engine bay, specifically between the block and the head, you can be reasonably sure that you have a blown head gasket. If the leak is that bad, chances are your oil and coolant will be mixing, creating a milky mixture. You can drain the oil and see how it looks.



If it were me, i'd:

-pressure test the system
-replace radiator cap
-verify both fans are working
-replace thermostat
-flush system and replace with fresh fluid

 

[kamikazeredneck]

I'm sorry man but without you listening to us and checking things there is nothing we can do. You will have to do something other than just keep telling us what you think it isn't and that it was running fine before. Things change and parts break even if it has just been sitting. You will have to do something to help us help you, otherwise there is nothing we can do. You can go to Autozone and rent a coolant pressure tester, compression tester, leak down tester. Also a thermostat is like 15 bucks and you can test it by just putting it into a clear glass with boiling water in it and see if it opens.

 

[njc1064]

If it was running before without any overheating issues, you should definitely check the to make sure you still have coolant. If you weren't paying much attention to the car, a small leak could've released a large amount of coolant over time.

Did you check the tension on the water pump belt?

 

[dsmkid2]

I'm sorry I'm still new to all this its my first car i don't really no half if these things people are mentioning haha

 

[eclipsyco]

Bad advices guys overfilling is as bad as no oil If you overfill the crankcase with oil, it will allow the moving parts (crankshaft) to foam the oil up and create air... And I think you get the point your could easily over heat your engine and blow gaskets. Probably 1 extra quarter doesn't affect so much but 50% (2 quarters) more that is needed no bueno.

 

[dsmkid2]

Pressure test is the first thing I'm going to do if I go to a mechanic how much you think they will charge me?

 

[Rock2610d]

Bad advices guys overfilling is as bad as no oil If you overfill the crankcase with oil, it will allow the moving parts (crankshaft) to foam the oil up and create air... And I think you get the point your could easily over heat your engine and blow gaskets. Probably 1 extra quarter doesn't affect so much but 50% (2 quarters) more that is needed no bueno.

I personally have to disagree with this. I agree 8 or 10 quarts might cause issues but not 2 additional quarts. I am trying to remember but the bottom of the block widens out pretty good and 2 additional quarts would probably just add a couple inches to the depth of the oil.

 

[eclipsyco]

I personally have to disagree with this. I agree 8 or 10 quarts might cause issues but not 2 additional quarts. I am trying to remember but the bottom of the block widens out pretty good and 2 additional quarts would probably just add a couple inches to the depth of the oil.

8 or 10 quarts!? Our engine barely use 4 and 4 is enough to fill the oil pan if you fill the bottom of the block with oil the oil just sits there and boil there's a reason for the marks on the dipstick.

 

[kamikazeredneck]

Just go pick up a free tester from Autozone or your closest auto parts store. They usually will let you rent them for free with a deposit that they give back when you return the item. It's free and you'll learn something in the process.

8 or 10 quarts!? Our engine barely use 4 and 4 is enough to fill the oil pan if you fill the bottom of the block with oil the oil just sits there and boil there's a reason for the marks on the dipstick.

Ok so it really doesn't matter because if the OP just does some small tests he will most likely figure out the problem regardless whether or not the oil being too much or too little. The tests will show if there is a seal bad or what not so we are trying to solve the problem not trying to undo something that's already done.

 

[dsmkid2]

I just wanna know if its a blown head gasket if not I'm happy

 

[eclipsyco]

Yes exactly! I just wanted to point that out not to argue or anything!
To the OP do as many told above already do the tests and hope for the best.
Good luck bro

 

[dsmkid2]

Thanks ill try the small things first know head gasket is an expensive fix I'm hoping its something minor

 

[92AWDHX40]

Well do some tests, that's when you learn to do your own hg replacement many of us have done it and there are plenty of threads to show you step by step to do it, I used my 24 dollar manual over a decade ago to do mine saved money and learned a lot.

 

[craig4g63]

8 quarts of oil will definitely touch the bottom of the crank during operation.

 

[dsmkid2]

So I'm guessing that's a bad thing

Ok I think I found my problem when I turn onnmy car are my 2 fans in the back of the radiator supposed to spin?