Overheating

SVXMAN2001 · #1 05-24-2007, 12:34 PM

well my overheating issue dates back almost 5 - 6 months. Originally it was found that my overheating was due to a few cracks in my radiator (due to the radiator laying up against two screws)....well I just replaced the radiator this morning with a known good used one. I replaced it, put in fluid (50/50 mix) and the car was running at the correct temp for about 20 min then began overheating all the way up to redline. The fluid was violently bubbling and spewing out of the radiator filler opening, white smoke was pouring out from the radiator filler as well....I am thinking worst case scenario here, but just wanted to see what you all thought...your feedback and comments are appreciated, thanks.

longassname · #2 05-24-2007, 12:46 PM

You are right about the worst scenario...
You have two to choose from: bad head gasket or bad trans

I would guess the head gasket but don't guess. These scenarios are too expensive to guess at.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVXMAN2001

well my overheating issue dates back almost 5 - 6 months. Originally it was found that my overheating was due to a few cracks in my radiator (due to the radiator laying up against two screws)....well I just replaced the radiator this morning with a known good used one. I replaced it, put in fluid (50/50 mix) and the car was running at the correct temp for about 20 min then began overheating all the way up to redline. The fluid was violently bubbling and spewing out of the radiator filler opening, white smoke was pouring out from the radiator filler as well....I am thinking worst case scenario here, but just wanted to see what you all thought...your feedback and comments are appreciated, thanks.

SVXMAN2001 · #3 05-24-2007, 12:56 PM

How does the transmission cause the engine to overheat? I have an external cooler for the transmission lines, i suppose it could be that the cooler isn't working. Can i just take the lines off of the cooler and connect them to the radiator lines on at the bottom of the radiator? Would this be causing the spewing of fluid out of the top? Oh also forgot to mention that some of the sounds i am hearing are a gurgling and hissing from the radiator filler opening...

ensteele · #4 05-24-2007, 01:08 PM

I would make sure the water pump is working ok. If it is not pumping liquid, that would do it as well. I would first check all of your connections on the radiator and make sure they are ok and in the right place. I hope you find that it is not the worse case.

SVXMAN2001 · #5 05-24-2007, 01:12 PM

Earl, the water pump was done about 30k ago. The connectors on the radiator are working (as far as i know) cause they are on once the car reaches the normal operating temperature. How would i know if the water pump isn't operating normally?

dcarrb · #6 05-24-2007, 02:31 PM

Consider something as simple and inexpensive as a cranky thermostat before jumping to costly conclusions. Absent white smoke out the tailpipes, obvious oil in the coolant or vice-versa, that's the first thing I'd do: Change the thermostat.

Could be your radiator cracked from overheating, rather than the other way around.

dcb

longassname · #7 05-24-2007, 01:11 PM

When a transmission goes bad it makes heat. That heat is dissipated with the transmission cooler, be it in your radiator or strapped in front of your radiator--either way the heat ends up in your radiator.

To avoid that some of us use fender mounted transmission coolers. If you have a fender mounted transmission cooler and you aren't using your radiator transmission cooler at all then you can eliminate your transmission being the problem right away--otherwise you have to consider it.

Chances are it's a head gasket. If you block test it and it says it's a head gasket then it's a head gasket. If you block test it and it doesn't say it's a head gasket it might still be a head gasket. I would probably start by getting it block tested or buying a block test from napa and block testing it myself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVXMAN2001

How does the transmission cause the engine to overheat? I have an external cooler for the transmission lines, i suppose it could be that the cooler isn't working. Can i just take the lines off of the cooler and connect them to the radiator lines on at the bottom of the radiator? Would this be causing the spewing of fluid out of the top? Oh also forgot to mention that some of the sounds i am hearing are a gurgling and hissing from the radiator filler opening...

SSSVX · #8 05-24-2007, 10:29 PM

how many miles on your svx motor now? how do the coolant and the engine oil look?

do you oil change on schedules?

according to your profile, your mileage may be not even 100k.
good luck.

SVXMAN2001 · #9 05-25-2007, 07:32 AM

I am super meticulous with this car, I have 126k on it. Oil done at least every 3k sometimes 2.5k. That's the frustrating thing, i take such good care of it and there is always something going wrong...

dcarrb · #10 05-25-2007, 07:42 AM

Remember: Any 10-15 year old car having logged over 100,000 miles will require diligent attention to keep it road-worthy and reliable.

dcb

svxfiles · #11 05-25-2007, 08:27 AM

Make sure the water pump, driven by the timing belt is turning.
A locked pump can sit there with the belt slipping past it without making a sound, or smoke.

SVXMAN2001 · #12 05-25-2007, 08:48 AM

two questions....

1) Tom, Can i view the water pump without taking all the accessory belts off?

2) Mike, is the heater outlet hose the bottom hose connecting the waterpump/thermostat to the radiator? There are only two so i am assuming the bottom is the outlet and the top is in the inlet?