Foxes are just godly, overheating questions and story

[Andres2882]

Before I get reamed about posting a story in tech, the main purpose of this thread is to asks some tech question - though I'd also like to brag about our cars.

Have a test this morning, wake up hella' late. I pull into the parking lot and mother nature commences to dump a monsoon on UCF. So I'm looking around for my umbrella and cannot find the damn thing. I shut off my dual fans and get out of my car - leaving it running for some reason - and scour through my backseat for an umbrella. No luck. Annoyed cuz I was getting soaked, I don't think and shut my door. Realizing what I just did, I practically punch myself in the face. Car idling in spot, fans off, test in 2 minutes - GREAT!

So I call my girl, tell her to get down here with my spare keys in a hurry and then run into school to fly through my test. Get done in 25 minutes or so and rush out, thinking she would have gotten there in time. She's there, but has a story of her own. Pulling into school, my car is surround by parking services. Apparently is was smoking so bad that they noticed it and came and opened the lock and shut it off - didnt think they were that good Opening the hood, my radiator is still hot hot hot. Starter hesitates a bit on startup cuz of the heat, but I get my fans on and scurry to a gas station. Dump a whole gallon in the reservoir and let her sit for a bit. Driving home, about 5 miles. Temperature starts climbing, by the time I got home, she was steady over the red line on the stock temp gauge, not good.

I let her cool down and put 2.5 gallons of water in the radiator, burped the lines etc. I check the dipstick and its clean oil, no fluid that I can see. Radiator smells like coolant, not exhaust. SO:

Is there anything else I need to check?
Can I assume I got away lucky?
Should I slap a new H/C/I combo on there for the sake of safety?

Seriously, anything I should keep an eye on?

 

[281pony]

might have gotten lucky it seems like.

you left your car idling for 25 minutes unattended though? jesus christ

 

[Andres2882]

Well, it was locked and missing my test would have meant failing my class . Still, shameful I know

 

[281pony]

yeah, i can see what you mean.

just as easily as they "broke in" and shut it off, someone could have done that and stolen it though. alot of pricks out there

 

[Kerpal]

I guess I probably don't need to point out that a termostat control on those fans would be a good idea....

 

[v8only]

I think you did what you could given the circumstances. It's good you're putting your education above your transportation vehicle.

Cast iron engines don't blow head gaskets nearly as easy as aluminum headed engines. you could have gotten lucky. First thing I'd do is a compression check. Do your compression check, and pay very special attention to the temps and cross your fingers. you'll know very soon if you have a problem.

 

[Michael Yount]

The only other thing I'd have checked out is the "nut" behind the wheel. Hope you got away lucky.

 

[88gtvertboy]

If your car does not continue to overheat than you might have gotten away without serious damage, but if you are still noticing a rise in the temp. then you might want to see if you have any HC's in your radiator by having a shop use a emissions machine. Hope that helps ya

 

[Andres2882]

Well, for anyone who's still interested, it seems I may have gotten away very lucky. Have been driving the car for almost a week now and have notice no coolant in the oil or any problem with coolant. I flushed the coolant system to make sure and also to get my coolant/water levels back to par. So far, so good!

 

[willys1]

Did you pass the test??