NEED HELP!! This car will not stop overheating

[SeadudeRXP]

I am at my wits end with this thing at this point. So I am reaching out to someone smarter than me.

Car has been overheating and is constantly low on coolant. It looked as though the overflow tank and radiator were leaking. So I replaced the radiator and overflow tanks with aluminum ones. Water pump was replaced 50k miles ago(car is at 127k). Ive bled the system countless times so I dont believe air is my issue either.

This is my DD. I need help. Im considering a compression or leak down test to determine if its the head gasket.

Any advice??

[not a gt]

Have you checked under passenger side floormat to see if carpet wet from a leaking heater core?
BTW, I am in Alma, GA

[SeadudeRXP]

Its not leaking anywhere. That's the problem. It warms up and drives perfectly normal, and then overheats and spews coolant everywhere inside the engine compartment. Monday I made it 45 mins down the road before it overheated. That makes me think its a head gasket.

[not a gt]

Originally Posted by SeadudeRXP

Its not leaking anywhere. That's the problem. It warms up and drives perfectly normal, and then overheats and spews coolant everywhere inside the engine compartment. Monday I made it 45 mins down the road before it overheated. That makes me think its a head gasket.

Have you also verified the o rings on both sides of the coolant crossover havent spilt? On each side of crossover the pipe is pushed into the block with an oring and it could leak from there. I would verify that as well as a good coolant cap before moving on to something more complicated.

[SeadudeRXP]

No all of those things are fine. I just bought a new cap as well.

[DJAMiller]

This might sound silly and maybe I'm missing the obvious but couldn't you start it up and let it heat up to watch where it's leaking from? Does you oil look milky? If it's the head gasket you'll likely be getting coolant in your oil, it will look milky if it's in there.

[SeadudeRXP]

I realized earlier today that i needed to check the oil, but it was too dark outside to check when I had time. I plan to check that tomorrow. I think the issue is I'm getting air in the system somehow.

[01yellerCobra]

Rent a cooling system tester from Autozone. Then you can pressurize the system and listen for leaks. When my head gaskets went it was painfully obvious. Aside from the milk shake in the pan I has Casper the friendly ghost following me.

[VA-Mach1]

Bad thermostat?????

[DSG2003Mach1]

You are burping from the crossover tube, correct?

[Mach828]

Since its only spewing when it warms up I'm guessing its once the thermostat opens. Pop the hood, start it, and see where it starts leaking from once it warms up.

[Dsg_Tyler04]

I just had an overheating issue not too long ago myself. Took it to the dealer and turned out to be a bad thermostat

[SeadudeRXP]

Originally Posted by DSG2003Mach1

You are burping from the crossover tube, correct?

Yea.

Also, I checked the oil and found no coolant. Don't get me wrong, I hope its not a head gasket, but I don't see how else I keep getting this much air in the system. The last time it over heated I had been on the highway for 45 mins.

This is my DD and I'm commuting 150 miles a day right now for work.

[Mach828]

Its extremely unlikely its the head gasket.

[Lonestar77777]

I am betting the heater core is bad.

LS

[ShakeMe]

What is your percentage of antifreeze/water? If you are using a 50/50 try 70/30 or even more antifreeze. As mentioned before the heater core can have a pin hole in it. The stat can be faulty and sticking open/close or even partly open/close.

Here's something, are you sure the fan is turning on?

[SeadudeRXP]

Originally Posted by ShakeMe

What is your percentage of antifreeze/water? If you are using a 50/50 try 70/30 or even more antifreeze. As mentioned before the heater core can have a pin hole in it. The stat can be faulty and sticking open/close or even partly open/close.

Here's something, are you sure the fan is turning on?

At this point its probably 70% water. But I dont see why the mixture would cause any issues. I'll be honest I haven't checked the heater core.

[NastyNate]

I dont see the point in raising the ratio to 70/30 anti/water . While it will raise the boiling point the mixture WONT be as efficient at keeping the engine cool!

[slojunk91]

^^^^^^^^exactly

[SeadudeRXP]

Dropped the car off yesterday to have the head gasket and coolant system checked out. I should know something tomorrow afternoon. I guess I will go from there tomorrow.

Do we have a pool going on possible problems? Heater core/Head gasket/ Some other leak I haven't found/ etc..?

I'll keep ya'll posted.

And thanks to everyone for all the help so far. Its good to know this forum is still full of people willing to help each other out.

[JeromeMach1]

Here's something, are you sure the fan is turning on?

I second this question.

Jerome

[DSG2003Mach1]

Originally Posted by JeromeMach1

I second this question.

Jerome

and if so are we sure the high speed is functioning as well? (let car warm to around 208, low speed fan should kick on with factory settings, turn AC on and fan should kick up to high speed)

[Dan03mach]

I'd like to see how you are filling it up and burping the system my self. Take the thermastat out and put it in some water on the stove and see if it is opening fully. If that is working put it back. Open the resivor and open the crossover fill hole. Fill the crossover till it is completely full I use a funnel so it puts pressure all the way to the resivor and burps all the air out of the system. I also put a funnel on the resivor to catch the extra water so it also keeps the crossover completely full to the very top when you screw the cap back on it. Next start the car with the resivor cap off and let it run and idle till the temp gets up there. It should burp all the air out. turn the heater on to make sure all the air is out of the heater core lines too. If you see water coming out the fire while onto the ground out the condensate drain you have a leaking heater core. Now if you can monitor the coolant temps through a programmer that would be great. After you let it idle for a long time and all the air is out and everything is hot. pull some water out of the resivor with a hose or something then put the cap on and see if it over heats still.

[SeadudeRXP]

Fan is working fine, system is burped correctly. I know how to burp the system.

I took the car to a local shop. The problem was the water pump. Come to find out, the water pump was leaking down the face of the engine, running around the motor and oil pan, then running down the exhaust and dripping at the back of the car. I would have never seen that. I've been driving it the last few days with no problems so far. As of now that looks like it fixed the problem.

Thanks for all the help guys.

[Mike03Mach]

Originally Posted by SeadudeRXP

Fan is working fine, system is burped correctly. I know how to burp the system.

I took the car to a local shop. The problem was the water pump. Come to find out, the water pump was leaking down the face of the engine, running around the motor and oil pan, then running down the exhaust and dripping at the back of the car. I would have never seen that. I've been driving it the last few days with no problems so far. As of now that looks like it fixed the problem.

Thanks for all the help guys.

I think my water pump might be bad also. I’m having the same issues you said. Changed the thermostat, new cap, burped the system and it still over heats. Gonna take it in to get it checked out also.