First of all, thanks for the great work you guys do for us consumers. Hope the donation helps.
I'll keep this short: Had a bad radiator in 2007 - it ws replaced & everything fine for about 7 months. Car started to run hot again. Radiator fan worked properly but noticed a radiator seal leaking - added some stop leak and the seal was fixed. Two months later, engine started to run hot again for no reason. Went back to radiator repair shop for warranty service and the tech noticed with a thermal thermomonter that the temperature on the engine block was higher than the temperature on the radiator; thus it was concluded that there was no water reaching the engine block for some reason. This was confirmed because when the engine ran hot, the radiator would make some bubbling and gurgling noises and coolant in the overflow tank started boiling as if it were in a pot on the stove.
He told me that the thermostat was probably not allowing the coolant to get through to the block and suggested that it be replaced. We replaced it and the problem continued. Since we live in South Florida and never need heat for the car, I went to my mechanic and had the thermostat removed completely and operated the car without the thermostat. The mechanic also stated that the bubbling problem was probably the result of the radiator being defective. Since I explained that the radiator was a year old (its a rebuilt radiatir) it couldn't be defective.
Went back to the radiator repair shop and the guy hinted that if the radiator was bad it was due to some engine overheating problems which would have caused the radiator to go bad and thus wowuld not qualify for any warranty repairs (which I thought was bull s**t and told him so) but he would work something out anyway. I left without having anything done.
Four days ago, I noticed a large pool of liquid under the car and noticed some vapor/light steam coming from thdre the car chassis. I thought it may have been a freeze plug so I immediately purchased some head gasket sealer and used it as a hopeful temporary measure. I opened the hood and noticed that the heating line was separated - got it reconnected and the boiling problem in the overflow tank and the overheating problem continued.
I'm going to get the radiator pressure tested and the system flushed to see if there maybe any internal leaking going on. BTW - engine, when a normal temp runs fine, no oil in coolant - there is some exhaust smoke but that is because the real oil seal needs replacing as there is a small oil leaking problem.
I am at wits end and you guys are my last resort - possible next step - a replacement vehicle that I cannot afford right now.
Robert P.
I'll keep this short: Had a bad radiator in 2007 - it ws replaced & everything fine for about 7 months. Car started to run hot again. Radiator fan worked properly but noticed a radiator seal leaking - added some stop leak and the seal was fixed. Two months later, engine started to run hot again for no reason. Went back to radiator repair shop for warranty service and the tech noticed with a thermal thermomonter that the temperature on the engine block was higher than the temperature on the radiator; thus it was concluded that there was no water reaching the engine block for some reason. This was confirmed because when the engine ran hot, the radiator would make some bubbling and gurgling noises and coolant in the overflow tank started boiling as if it were in a pot on the stove.
He told me that the thermostat was probably not allowing the coolant to get through to the block and suggested that it be replaced. We replaced it and the problem continued. Since we live in South Florida and never need heat for the car, I went to my mechanic and had the thermostat removed completely and operated the car without the thermostat. The mechanic also stated that the bubbling problem was probably the result of the radiator being defective. Since I explained that the radiator was a year old (its a rebuilt radiatir) it couldn't be defective.
Went back to the radiator repair shop and the guy hinted that if the radiator was bad it was due to some engine overheating problems which would have caused the radiator to go bad and thus wowuld not qualify for any warranty repairs (which I thought was bull s**t and told him so) but he would work something out anyway. I left without having anything done.
Four days ago, I noticed a large pool of liquid under the car and noticed some vapor/light steam coming from thdre the car chassis. I thought it may have been a freeze plug so I immediately purchased some head gasket sealer and used it as a hopeful temporary measure. I opened the hood and noticed that the heating line was separated - got it reconnected and the boiling problem in the overflow tank and the overheating problem continued.
I'm going to get the radiator pressure tested and the system flushed to see if there maybe any internal leaking going on. BTW - engine, when a normal temp runs fine, no oil in coolant - there is some exhaust smoke but that is because the real oil seal needs replacing as there is a small oil leaking problem.
I am at wits end and you guys are my last resort - possible next step - a replacement vehicle that I cannot afford right now.
Robert P.
Sep 25, 2008 at 9:17 PM
