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can losing fluid cause over heating from thermostat.
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so if my temperature is quite high and the air when its on hot is not hot then whats going on is the thermostat poked
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bgd73
Jan 02, 2008
A thermostat sticks open and closed randomly for several reasons. headgasket sucking air, water pump sucking air, frigid cold can fail even a good thermostat into bizarre actions. This after acknowledging the system is not using coolant. Also a reservoir will fill up with cold fluid if thermostat is stuck closed in the cold. An engine can do many different things and make a thermostat problem elusive. You could also pack up and move towards 70 degrees where none of this will be of concern for decades at a time and hope the crazy north gets manly parts that function after 100+ years of the internal combustion engine resides in paradise with the other engineers of no concern. -
Nov 22, 2005
With engine cold, remove radiator cap. Start car and watch the fluid level at radiator opening. When engine warms up the thermostat opens and the water level goes down because it's being released through the thermostat to circulate and cool the motor.
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Nov 22, 2005
If you're driving down the freeway and your car is about to overheat because you have a stuck thermostat, turn off the air conditioner, and put the heat on full blast. Engine coolant will run through the heater core and be cooled by the heater blower. This should get your coolant temperature down a little bit to keep you going. Yes, it will be very hot, but open the windows and think of how you'll no longer be stuck on the highway.
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Nov 22, 2005
You will get almost identical symptoms to a sticking thermostat if you fit a normal thermostat to a car that requires a dual-acting thermostat (eg., some Corvettes). A dual-acting thermostat has a spring-loaded valve that closes the bypass circuit.
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Nov 22, 2005
If the upper radiator hose is hot at the engine end and cool at the radiator end, coolant is not circulating. The upper hose is normally cooler than the lower hose due to cooling via the radiator.
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Nov 22, 2005
This should be done only as a last resort and should confirm any doubt after following any of the previous tips. Remove the thermostat and place it in a coffee mug of boiling water (roughly 180-200 degrees). If the thermostat fails to open, it is faulty. If it does open, your problem lies elsewhere.
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Nov 22, 2005
When there is a continuous rise in temp in temp indicator, then watch for leakage in the radiator, heater core & hoses, through dummies fixed at the bottom of engine block if it is casted. If there is no leakage in these then thermostat could be faulty.
