overheating
namnit
08-23-2005, 08:38 PM
My van is overheating! I changed the thermostat and sat in the driveway for 20 minutes to see if it overheats, but it didn't. So i took it on a test drive about a half of mile and it went straight up to "RED HOT." I opened up the hood and felt the top radiator hose. It was hot and i could tell that the thermostat wasn't open. Should i just take the the stat out and run it like that??? I need HELP!!!!! Thanx
LeSabre97mint
08-23-2005, 10:24 PM
My van is overheating! I changed the thermostat and sat in the driveway for 20 minutes to see if it overheats, but it didn't. So i took it on a test drive about a half of mile and it went straight up to "RED HOT." I opened up the hood and felt the top radiator hose. It was hot and i could tell that the thermostat wasn't open. Should i just take the the stat out and run it like that??? I need HELP!!!!! Thanx
Hello
I take it that the van was over heating caused you to replace the thermostat. Are you sure you put it in correctly? Spring toward the engine?
What year? How many miles? Any white smoke out the tail pipe?
It does sound like the coolant isn't moving in the engine or radiator.
Dan
Hello
I take it that the van was over heating caused you to replace the thermostat. Are you sure you put it in correctly? Spring toward the engine?
What year? How many miles? Any white smoke out the tail pipe?
It does sound like the coolant isn't moving in the engine or radiator.
Dan
LeSabre97mint
08-23-2005, 10:25 PM
My van is overheating! I changed the thermostat and sat in the driveway for 20 minutes to see if it overheats, but it didn't. So i took it on a test drive about a half of mile and it went straight up to "RED HOT." I opened up the hood and felt the top radiator hose. It was hot and i could tell that the thermostat wasn't open. Should i just take the the stat out and run it like that??? I need HELP!!!!! Thanx
Hello
I take it that the van was over heating caused you to replace the thermostat. Are you sure you put it in correctly? Spring toward the engine?
What year? How many miles? Any white smoke out the tail pipe?
It does sound like the coolant isn't moving in the engine or radiator.
Dan
Hello
I take it that the van was over heating caused you to replace the thermostat. Are you sure you put it in correctly? Spring toward the engine?
What year? How many miles? Any white smoke out the tail pipe?
It does sound like the coolant isn't moving in the engine or radiator.
Dan
fcrew
08-24-2005, 05:58 AM
If you have a '95 to '98 van, have the rad cap checked to see how much pressure it can hold. As they age, the spring in the cap gets weak and can't hold enough pressure.
namnit
08-24-2005, 05:01 PM
I checked the thermostat, it was in the right way. Come to find out that is was the radiator cap. The gasket on the cap was cracked and the water was evaporating out. Thanx for your help!
vmvatbaby
08-24-2005, 08:23 PM
Just a FYI .... I have read that post OBDII vehicals should not run with out a thermostat. VM
floridatgp
08-25-2005, 07:18 AM
a bad radiator cap does not explain your troubles with a fresh thermostat, filled system, over heating in a short drive.
Some models of thermostat come with a check ball to let air bleed thru so you don't get trapped air, maybe that is what happened with your new thermostat, I now drill a small bleed hole in all my thermostats.
Some models of thermostat come with a check ball to let air bleed thru so you don't get trapped air, maybe that is what happened with your new thermostat, I now drill a small bleed hole in all my thermostats.
wiswind
08-27-2005, 12:15 PM
I would also suspect that you had some air trapped in the system. Although replacing the defective radiator cap was a very good idea.
If you are not having any problems now....I would guess that the air pocket has worked it's way out of the system. The Thermostat is the highest point in the engine.....and a logical place for an air pocket to end up. The air acts as a thermal insulator.....which prevents the thermostat from opening. The thermostat should be mounted with the air bleed hole at the top....to permit the air to pass through. But it can only permit the air to pass only so fast.....and if you had just a small piece of crud that just happened to come to rest at that point.....would certainly slow things down some more. Your removing and checking the cap....may have flushed a piece of crud from the weap hole.......or helped to release more air......
If you are not having any problems now....I would guess that the air pocket has worked it's way out of the system. The Thermostat is the highest point in the engine.....and a logical place for an air pocket to end up. The air acts as a thermal insulator.....which prevents the thermostat from opening. The thermostat should be mounted with the air bleed hole at the top....to permit the air to pass through. But it can only permit the air to pass only so fast.....and if you had just a small piece of crud that just happened to come to rest at that point.....would certainly slow things down some more. Your removing and checking the cap....may have flushed a piece of crud from the weap hole.......or helped to release more air......
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