Engine over-heating and Radiator then overflows fluid or steam.

Engine over-heating and Radiator then overflows fluid or steam.

We have by-passed the usual route for powering the cooling fan. We are using a switch placed on top of the front fender from the car battery to power the cooling fan "by hand". It seems the engine overheats very quickly, maybe at about 4 miles & definitely by a 10 mile trip on the road, & when it does the radiator starts spilling over with fluid or steaming. You can hear the fluid inside the radiator boiling. We replenish the radiator fluid after one of these leaks & keep driving until it overheats again. I had a simple test done that indicates the head gaskets are sti

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :

First of all, overheating the engine will damage it. The list of reasons why is long, but here is a partial list of reasons why overheating the engine will ruin it.

The engine oil becomes much thinner at higher temps.
The engine oil can bake on to metal parts
Engines have very tight spaces for pressurized oil to lubricate the parts. When the engine is too hot, these spaces become smaller, or disappear all together.
Gaskets fail easier.
Metal parts can become warped.
You can overheat the transmission by overheating the engine. First of all they are bolted together and share the heat. Second, the cooler lines from the transmission go to the radiator to be cooled. When the radiator is boiling, this cooks the transmission fluid. Too much heat is the number one problem with transmission failure.

Second, there really isn’t such a thing as weakening it, it’s either runs well, or it doesn’t. Considering that the engine is over heating in such a short time and distance, I would assume that the coolant is not circulating. The first and easiest part to check or replace would be the thermostat (as needed). While the engine is running and full of coolant, feel the upper and lower radiator hoses. If one is hot, and the other is not, the thermostat might be stuck closed.

Finally, I believe, based on my gut feeling, that the the water pump has failed. I have seen the impeller that circulates the coolant come off before. When this happens, the coolant does not circulate. It will heat up quickly when it can not reach the radiator. It will then boil. This does not happen at 212 degrees. A 50/50 mix of coolant and water, under 16 psi of pressure, will boil around 260 degrees. This creates extra pressure in the system. The radiator cap is designed to release any pressure over it’s rating into the coolant reservoir. It will quickly overflow under these circumstances. The cooling fan that you hard wired will not do much of anything because the hot coolant in the engine never gets to the radiator, until its too late and boiling. You can confirm this when the engine is hot, the fan will be blowing cold air.

I would not delay having this repaired. Consider having a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come by and address your overheating concerns.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

One of the most common causes is a blown head gasket, in which the air pressure inside the cylinder heads is transferred to the cooling system. This escaped air causes bubbling in the coolant/antifreeze reservoir, which can often be mistaken for boiling.

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.

Whether it`s a defective part or an overheating engine, coolant is somehow escaping your engine. The reason it typically escaped in the form of steam is that the system is pressurized, and very hot – if there`s a leak, the coolant that escapes vaporizes.

If the coolant tank is full, the problem may be electrical or mechanical in nature, in which case a tow to the nearest repair shop is definitely in order. A leaking hose, worn or broken fan belt, bad water pump, or malfunctioning thermostat may be the culprit.

Coolant Leaks

Oftentimes when the thermostat fails, it remains in its closed position. As the engine overheats, coolant will overflow out of the thermostat housing. This means that coolant leaking out of your engine could be a sign that your thermostat has gone bad.

Low radiator coolant levels can cause the engine to overheat, which can lead to severe engine damage.

If the radiator cap is stuck, fluid cannot get released. This will cause pressure to build inside of the radiator, causing the hose to leak or break open. If you notice coolant near the radiator or the radiator cap, then you clearly have leaky coolant.

COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR FAULTY: SYMPTOMS

Higher idle speed. Increased fuel consumption. Poor starting behaviour.

Bad coolant reservoirs may fail to store the excess coolant or combat the increased pressure, resulting in the engine overheating. You`ll notice the temperature gauge flickering on your dashboard when this happens. Besides these faulty reservoir tank symptoms, you could also have an overflowing coolant tank.

May cause overheating. Also, a dirty air filter will not be able to provide the oxygen needed to provide a proper air-fuel mix. This can cause the temperature of your engine to rise to dangerous levels. Eventually, your vehicle`s engine could overheat which could lead you to the side of the road.

Technically speaking yes you can use plain water in your cooling system but it isn`t recommended as a long term solution and certainly not in extreme weather conditions.

Can an engine survive overheating? Yes – as long as you respond quickly and don`t let your car go into full meltdown mode, it should be repairable. Too much heat can result in further complications, such as cracks leading to significant oil leaks or loss of performance.

It doesn`t take long for harm to hit your engine when your car overheats. According to housegrail.com, it only takes 30-60 seconds of additional heat before damage occurs to the interior.

The only way to change this pressure is to increase/decrease pump flow or add or remove restriction from the system. The water component of coolant boiling, in the hottest areas of the engine, creates expansive vapor, which further pressurizes the system.

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.

Other than your vehicle consistently running too hot, other signs of a bad radiator might include low coolant levels, coolant that looks rusty, radiator hose problems, and coolant leaks.

Because cooling systems are designed for specific pressure. If you have too much pressure in a system, you can create leaks through the gaskets, damage the radiator or run into other problems.

A failing oxygen sensor is an oft-overlooked cause of overheating. Your converter links to oxygen sensors in your vehicle. These sensors are used to measure the mix of air and liquid fuel. If the mix is off and becomes too rich, your catalytic converter can overheat as a result.

One of the first things you will notice is the temperature gauge is higher than normal. It may even start to fluctuate frequently. If you notice the gauge is hovering ¾ of the way from the top, then your thermostat is experiencing damage in the form of overheating. This can soon lead to your engine and car overheating.

When a water pump completely fails, it is no longer able to move coolant through the engine; this causes it to overheat. If you see steam, pull over immediately and call your mechanic for assistance — continuing to drive with an overheated engine can damage it to the point that it will need to be completely replaced.

When there`s a leak in the cooling system, the pressure of the liquid drops and so does the boiling point of the coolant/antifreeze. Cooling systems are pressurised to raise the boiling point of the fluid, with the pressure cap and the overflow helping to raise the temperature at which the coolant/antifreeze boils.

The real danger of overfilling your coolant lies in the possibility of hot coolant leaking throughout your engine bay, which could cause serious damage to wiring and electrical components. If a hose does burst, your engine could be deprived of coolant and cause significant issues.

Standard thermostats: Enlist a friend or family member to assist, Position one person by the thermostat and one person by the furnace. Slowly turn the thermostat from off to heat and increase the temperature. Both the thermostat and furnace should make a sound.

A faulty Thermostat or a Leaking Head Gasket can cause Overheating or High Coolant Pressure inside the Radiator which can lead to a crack.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Engine over-heating and Radiator then overflows fluid or steam.

ANSWER : First of all, overheating the engine will damage it. The list of reasons why is long, but here is a partial list of reasons why overheating the engine will ruin it.

I would not delay having this repaired. Consider having a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come by and address your overheating concerns.

Read Full Q/A … : Engine over-heating and Radiator then overflows fluid or steam.

My radiator is spitting out coolant onto my engine and the check engine light is on but no overheating and its sometimes dont want to start should I get a new radiator

ANSWER : Hi there:

Before you decide to purchase a new radiator and have a new radiator installed on your 2005 Nissan Murano, I’d recommend having a professional mechanic complete a car is leaking coolant inspection first. This will allow them to determine why your radiator is spilling coolant, and also what’s causing your check engine light to occur. It could be a faulty coolant line or other cooling system component is damaged. It might even be caused by an air bubble.

Read Full Q/A … : Engine over-heating and Radiator then overflows fluid or steam.

Temperature gauge says overheating, engine feels only warm. Heater not blowing hot air.

ANSWER : Hi there. From the description you have provided, your vehicle overheating may be a combination of problems. The cooling system work you performed, replacing the radiator, the thermostat, the radiator fan switch and flushing the cooling system, should of taken care of your vehicle’s overheating. It could be, a faulty water pump impeller. From the symptoms you have described. It could be, air trapped in the cooling system. Purging the air can be tricky, sometimes. There is a bleeder screw that helps purge the air. Start the vehicle, with radiator cap removed, heater turned on, open bleeder screw and close when antifreeze come out.

Allow thermostat to open, it may percolate a bit before it opens, once the thermostat opens, accelerate the RPM a few times, check heater hoses for heat on both sides. You should see flow in the top of the radiator if, water pump is working and thermostat is open. Bring up RPM, add antifreeze, and reinstall radiator cap, let engine return to idle. Squeeze the upper hose, if pressure exists, the system is full. It could be, the engine temperature sensor or temperature gauge is faulty. I recommend having you vehicle’s engine overheating be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.

Read Full Q/A … : Engine over-heating and Radiator then overflows fluid or steam.

Hi, I got my corolla 2012 engine overheated due to bad radiator, I replaced the radiator but the engine pick is not the same.

ANSWER : Hi There,
Depending on how severe the engine overheating before was, this may have resulted in a blown head gasket or a head gasket that may have partially caused a cylinder leak. When this happens, this can cause the compression in any given cylinder to drop as a result of the cylinder head gasket being damaged. As the gasket leaks and cylinder pressure (or compression) drops, this will result in a loss of power. A blown head gasket may cause a number of different symptoms. A head gasket that fails between cylinders will generally cause a misfire and potentially compression leaks from one cylinder into another. Low compression will eventually result in a rough idling engine. When the head gasket fails between a cylinder and the coolant port, coolant may leak into the cylinder causing it to be burnt with the fuel charge in the combustion chamber. This often results in misfires on startup, especially after the engine is run, turned off and restarted. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle to determine what the proper diagnosis may be.

Read Full Q/A … : Engine over-heating and Radiator then overflows fluid or steam.

Hey Allen. I just rebuilt (?) the engine on my 06 Acura TL. Now the engine line went on. They told me the engine? can blow up if I

ANSWER : Hi there. I think it may be a good idea to find a new mechanic. Fortunately, our mobile mechanics are able to complete most diagnostic inspections and complete a lot of repairs services at your location, and on your schedule. In what you are describing above, the current issue seems to be with your EVAP system, which is designed to relieve pressure in the fuel tank and also collect harmful vapors before they escape into the air. Now, in regards to the car "blowing up"; that’s a bit dramatic, but it is important to have your issues repaired if it’s related to the EVAP system. Here is what I would recommend. Set up an appointment to have one of our mobile mechanics come to your location to complete a check engine light inspection – (click here to set up an appointment). This will allow them to download the stored error codes that cause the light to illuminate and determine what parts need repair or replacement. Then, they’ll be better prepared to provide you with a repair estimate and complete the repairs in most cases for you.

Read Full Q/A … : Engine over-heating and Radiator then overflows fluid or steam.

Service engine soon. Light not blinking. Diagnostics engine head radiator hot. I see no problems no overheating?

ANSWER : Hello. Thank you for writing in. It would be beneficial to have the diagnostic codes that were pulled from the scan. Have you checked the level of the coolant? You should start there. Make sure that the thermostat is completely submerged as it will not give you an accurate reading if the coolant level is low. It is possible for the engine to consume the coolant and you would not see any signs of a leak. You may see white smoke or steam if this is the case. Also make sure that the radiator cap is on tightly and securely. If the belt is slipping on the water pump, then there will be poor circulation of coolant and overheating could be an issue. Due to the recent belt work, and the role the belts play in the cooling system, double check that system as well. Check the belt for excess play with the vehicle off, and then turn on the vehicle and observe the belts. You should be able to reset the codes and see if it triggers again. Make sure no sensors have been knocked loose in the process. Check the listed components and take further diagnosis from there.

Read Full Q/A … : Engine over-heating and Radiator then overflows fluid or steam.

Car overheating after losing green fluid from radiator.

ANSWER : The green fluid on the side of the radiator could just be from the cap being left off. It also could be from a leak. I believe your car overheated because while driving with the cap off of the radiator too much coolant came out. This left room for air in the cooling system which got sealed in by replacing the cap. An air pocket in your coolant system could block coolant from being able to flow through the radiator and cool your engine down. I would enlist the help of a mechanic to help find your coolant leak so you don’t need to worry about the cap getting left off again.

Read Full Q/A … : Engine over-heating and Radiator then overflows fluid or steam.

New head gaskets not over heating or dripping fluid but radiator is steaming and spraying a little fluid. What is wrong ?

ANSWER : Hello, thanks for writing in. The best way to determine what your issue is would be to find the source of your leak. There are a few places to check first. One of which is the top radiator hose. Holes typically form on this hose from the fan or engine heat. Also check your radiator cap and make sure it is working properly. The pressurized cap can cause steam and spray type leak patterns. Once you find the source of the leak, you will be able to take corrective action. For more help resolving the leak, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

Read Full Q/A … : Engine over-heating and Radiator then overflows fluid or steam.