Cooling Issues

[aNotchAbove]

I've been having some cooling issues with my car lately. Sometimes when I start it up and go for a drive the temp gauge will rise like it should, but it will go all the way to the top of the gauge within 5minutes or so. If I shut it down for 5-10 minutes and start it up again it cools down and everything is fine.

I've checked the plugs and they're fine. Theres no water in the oil or vise versa. The car doesn't blow white smoke, in fact it runs perfect. There's no bubbles in the coolant either. I plan on checking for hydrocarbons in the coolant when I can get the kit ordered, but thats about all I can think of.

Anyone know what could be causing this or has anyone else has similar issues?

 

[aNotchAbove]

Oh, and when it reaches the top of the temp gauge it starts spitting coolant out the overflow, but after that it runs fine.

 

[Black1987Stang]

Are you using stock temp gauge or aftermarket? It goes ALL THE WAY to the top? if so it would be overheating, if it's stock gauge, I wouldn't depend on that for the actual temp.

 

[aNotchAbove]

It is the stock gauge and I know the car is getting hot because if it didn't it wouldn't be spitting up coolant. It doesn't go ALL THE WAY to the top, but it goes to the "N" or the "O" in normal, which is one notch away from being at the top.

 

[Deleted member 87397]

Have you checked your thermostat? Sounds like it might be having intermittent problems. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Then next time you start it and your guage pegs, check the upper rad hose to see if It's hot. It should be hot from coolant flow going through it. If it's not hot enough that might be your problem.

*Disclaimer* Touching a radiator hose that could be hot is dangerous use extreme caution, maybe even use a thin rag between your hand the hose.**

 

[Black1987Stang]

Have you checked your thermostat? Sounds like it might be having intermittent problems. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Then next time you start it and your guage pegs, check the upper rad hose to see if It's hot. It should be hot from coolant flow going through it. If it's not hot enough that might be your problem.

*Disclaimer* Touching a radiator hose that could be hot is dangerous use extreme caution, maybe even use a thin rag between your hand the hose.**

What he said ^^^^ Sounds like thermostat...

 

[aNotchAbove]

Havn't checked the thermostat but now that you mention it I'm going to replace it and see what happens. The rad hose gets hot whenever the thermostat opens; just hotter when its overheating.

 

[Deleted member 87397]

Havn't checked the thermostat but now that you mention it I'm going to replace it and see what happens. The rad hose gets hot whenever the thermostat opens; just hotter when its overheating.

If it's overheating then the stat is not working and would cause that hose to be cooler because of no coolant flow through it. I suppse that super high underhood temps could offset it, but just throw a new stat in and see what she does.