coolant leak overheats only when driving
in the back on the right under the hood there is a coolant leak it's not the head gasket thermostat water pump or heater core, it is overheating right away while driving but it doesn't overheat when idle. I changed the thermostat and water pump
My car has 180000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The external coolant leak you are referring to can be pinpointed by simple pressure testing of the cooling system when the engine is cold. To find the leak that exists in your case, and get the required repair estimated, please request an engine cooling system leak diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you. In regard to the overheating, if the coolant level was low that can cause overheating. There are a few other common causes of overheating, namely a faulty thermostat, a plugged radiator, collapsed hoses, and a faulty water pump or drive belt. Certain engine faults, such as a leaking head gasket or poor engine running condition can also cause overheating. If you desire that this problem be diagnosed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request an engine overheating diagnostic. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Car overheats when driving but not when idling
If your temperature gauge is fine until you make the car work, the most likely issue is coolant flow.
Coolant leaks and engine overheating are usually caused by a failing water pump. Automotive water pumps are designed to leak coolant through weep ports as a warning that they are failing. Aside from overheating, a distinctive grinding or whining noise caused by a bad bearing is also a symptom of a bad pump.
The most common reasons a GMC Envoy is overheating are a coolant leak (water pump, radiator, hose etc.), the radiator fan, or a failed thermostat. Coolant leak (water pump, radiator, hose etc.)
It may be a broken hose and/or a hole in the radiator. Solution: Check your hoses to see if any coolant is coming out. Replace the hose(s) if you notice coolant coming out of them. If you notice coolant leaking out of your thermostat that can be an easy fix.
The most common cause of car overheating is low coolant levels. Coolant is the main cooling fluid that your engine relies on for cooling. Coolant circulates through the engine and removes heat from it. If the coolant reservoir is empty or below the recommended levels, you need to add fresh coolant and top it up.
You May Have Low Coolant
Your engine accumulates a lot of heat when working, and coolant helps to collect this generated heat by transporting it to your vehicle`s radiator for cooling. If the coolant is low and your heater is on, you may notice that your car heater only works when driving.
Leaks are the #1 reason a vehicle begins to overheat. Leaks in hoses, the radiator, water pump, thermostat housing, heater core, head gasket, freeze plugs and a few other things can all lead to problems with the vehicle`s cooling system.
Why is my car overheating but it has coolant in it? It could be that the coolant concentration is not correct, or you may have a bad thermostat, a failed water pump, broken drive belt, or a bad radiator or radiator fan.
A coolant leak is the most common cause of an overheated engine, and having Best Auto Repair conduct a pressure test of the cooling system and radiator cap will quickly pinpoint the problem and have you back on the road in no time.
Engines can overheat for many reasons. In general, it`s because something`s wrong within the cooling system and heat isn`t able to escape the engine compartment. The source of the issue could include a cooling system leak, faulty radiator fan, broken water pump, or clogged coolant hose.
Running an engine without the thermostat can cause the engine to overheat due to the coolant passes through the engine too fast and will not let the coolant absorb the heat from the engine.
Start your car`s engine and allow it to idle. Look through the radiator filler neck to see if the coolant flows. At this time, it should not be flowing as your car has not reached the operating temperature to cause the thermostat to open. If you find the coolant is flowing, it means the thermostat valve is open.
Corrosion within the radiator is one of the leading reasons that coolant leaks. As the tubes get older and weaker, you may get sediment or debris inside that causes a leak. The sealing gasket between the tank and the radiator can also wear out, and that could lead to a leak.
Antifreeze (aka coolant) is pumped through your vehicle`s engine as you drive, absorbing excess heat and exchanging it with the outside air. That means an antifreeze leak could cause the engine to overheat — and that can lead to major engine damage.
Cooling System Leak – This is probably the most common cause of an overheating engine. If any component in your cooling system–which includes your radiator, hoses, water pump, head gasket, and thermostat casket–starts to leak, you`re in trouble.
One way to check for proper coolant circulation is to check the upper and lower radiator hoses. The upper radiator hose should be hot, around 190–200 °F. (The safest and most accurate way to get this temperature reading is with an infrared thermometer.)
Set your multimeter to Ohms X10K (or 10kΩ) mode and connect one of its probes to each of the two terminals in the temperature sensor connector. The gauge should register “OL” meaning that it has detected an open circuit between these two probes; if not, then the temperature sensor may be malfunctioning.
COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR FAULTY: SYMPTOMS
Higher idle speed. Increased fuel consumption. Poor starting behaviour.
Your overheated engine may still be running, but it`s not fine. You risk costly damage to your engine if you keep driving. DON`T panic. Your engine may have lost its cool, but now is the time for you to keep yours!
A leaky or blown head gasket lets air into the cooling system, which ultimately can cause the coolant to boil. Other symptoms of a failing or blown head gasket include air bubbles in the coolant and foaming around the coolant reservoir or expansion reservoir.
Key signs to look out for:
Weak or no airflow. Cold air (not warm) coming through the vents when the heater is on. Coolant leakage visible inside the cabin or a damp smell.
Many issues with a heater control valve can stem from a coolant leak, which can cause your engine to overheat – posing a serious risk of expensive engine damage. It is important to get your vehicle inspected by a car care professional right away if you notice any of the above signs.
If the thermostat is stuck open, not allowing the engine to warm up properly, there won`t much, if any, heat in the passenger compartment. However, if you are smelling coolant in the passenger area, chances are the heater core is leaking as well – not a happy occasion.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
No coolant in the reservoir. Seen low coolant message. I added 2 quarts of 50/50 coolant. Still getting the message. How much coolant doe it need?
ANSWER : Hi there. For the coolant light to go out, you would need to have the coolant between the low line and the full line for the light to go out. If the coolant is low and keeps on being low, then look for any signs of coolant leaks. You may have to use a coolant pressure tester to pressurize the reservoir to allow the leak to be found.
If you need further assistance with the coolant being low and the warning light being on, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : coolant leak overheats only when driving
My car is leaking coolant and telling me to stop the car and check coolant.
ANSWER : Going by your description and the age of the car, I’m going to guess you have a problem with your water pump. The water pump has a rotating seal that often doesn’t leak unless the engine is running. If your water pump is leaking you might be able to see a drip from the bottom of the engine front cover. Before jumping to any conclusions though, you should have a professional pressure test the system to be sure. If you contact Your Mechanic. they can send a technician to your home or office to check out your leak and tell you what it will take to solve it.
Read Full Q/A … : coolant leak overheats only when driving
Oil leaks into coolant & coolant leaks into oil
ANSWER : If the engine is not overheating or running badly, then yes an oil cooler is most likely the issue as it it will allow oil and coolant to mix. Other possibilities are a bad cylinder head gasket or cracked block, but this will generally affect how the engine runs as the combustion chambers are also affected. To have this checked, you may want to enlist the help of a mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will have the tools and expertise to diagnose the oil/coolant leak mixing and perform any needed repairs.
Read Full Q/A … : coolant leak overheats only when driving
My car has a coolant leak
ANSWER : Hello. The most common cause of a random coolant loss on this vehicle is a leaking intake manifold gasket. It commonly starts leaking coolant into the engine, which will be burnt off or will leak externally. I typically do a pressure test and a dye test on the system first to see if I can locate an external leak. If nothing is found, then I do a block test to make sure that there is not a head gasket issue. If nothing shows up there, then I replace the intake gaskets. If you need to have this done, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose the coolant leak and replace the intake gaskets if necessary.
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Coolant leaking 2009 Volvo Diesel D5 engine
ANSWER : Hello – coolant leaks have many sources, sometimes very subtle to locate. Since coolant evaporates on a hot engine, it is often hard to trace to it’s source. It is still possible you have a blown head gasket (early stages), or simply a leaking pipe/hose connection, freeze plug, or other housing that attaches to the engine coolant system. I would recommend a cooling system inspection by a mobile, professional mechanic trained in tracking down these problems, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
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Fuel EVAP line that runs under car is kinked how do I know if it is leaking? Also can I drive it like that if it’s not leaking?
ANSWER : Hi Ricardo. We answered your question earlier. However, if you didn’t receive the reply, here is what we stated earlier. In most cases, an EVAP leak will create an OBD-II trouble code. The best way to detect an EVAP leak is by having a professional mobile mechanic complete a check engine light inspection, they will be able to download the code and determine the source of the leak. That’s the best advice we can offer you. Thanks.
Read Full Q/A … : coolant leak overheats only when driving
Car leaks coolant when left overnight
ANSWER : Hi there. In some instances, after a radiator is replaced, a coolant line can be left loose by accident or can come loose as the hose clamp gets hot. If the car is parked on a slight uphill slope, the radiator coolant might be leaking from one of the top cooling lines or from the radiator overflow reservoir hose.
The best way to know exactly where your vehicle is leaking coolant from is to have a local mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your location to complete an inspection to determine the source of the leak.
Read Full Q/A … : coolant leak overheats only when driving
My car has a coolant leak – 2001 Lincoln Town Car
ANSWER : The heater AC (air conditioning) case has a drain to let out condensation from the case. The heater core is positioned in the case that allows it get out through the case drain on the outside of the engine firewall between the center toward the passenger side of the car in the case of a leak. Bypassing the heater core has stopped the leak but the heater and defroster is not inoperative along with the automatic temperature control of the air conditioner. I recommend having the heater core inspected and replaced to fix the system.
Read Full Q/A … : coolant leak overheats only when driving
