overheating after coolant flush

Flying_NEB · Post by **Flying_NEB** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 4:02 pm

Well, I thought I'd start a new one cause this could be part of the heater problem or separate. I just bought this car a week ago. It had a 135K on it. The timing belt looked good but I figured I'd go ahead and change the oil, coolant, and thermostat. Changed the oil a couple days ago - all good. Also, the heater wasn't blowing hot air - it seemed like it was just the ambient air from outside. So, I changed the coolant and thermostat hoping that might help it out. Now it's overheating in less than 3 miles. It sounds like the coolant is boiling at times. The fan is kicking on and blowing at the engine. The coolant is full. Any thoughts?

refect · Post by **refect** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 4:15 pm

you might have air bubbles in your coolant system from doing the flush. when you do a coolant change you ususally will have some air in the system and it causes the car to heat up real fast and possibly over heat too. once it has cooled down take the top off and check to see if it is full to the top. if not full then top it off, and keep doing so till it remains full after driving it around. you might have to top it off a couple of times depending on how much air is in there. once it stays full after driving it around you should have all the air out and it should be good from there.

Flying_NEB · Post by **Flying_NEB** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 4:22 pm

I'll try that and see how it goes. Should I fill it beyond the "hot full" point?

refect · Post by **refect** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 4:29 pm

in your overflow can keep the level at the line where it says full. when i say take the cap off and make sure it is full to the top im talkin about the cap that is on the motor (close to the radiator) where you filled it back up with coolant from, and making sure it is full to the top there. do not take this cap off though if you motor is till pretty hot. let it cool down for a while or else hot coolant will come overflow out for a little due to all the pressure, and make a mess. it wont do that once it has cooled down though.

boxcarfan · Post by **boxcarfan** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:54 pm

try to get the front in as high as possiable when fillin it up...air bubbles can get up in the cylinder head...which is where it gets hotter than anyother place...

Flying_NEB · Post by **Flying_NEB** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 6:31 pm

I've been hunting down the air bubbles and it seems to be working. thanks for the help.

ewetho · Post by **ewetho** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 7:48 pm

If you know anyone who is a mechanic/technician see if they own an AirLift. It actually allows you drain the system and then suck it down to about 25"hg vacuum and then uses the vacuum to suck the coolant in to fill it. Works great. Never had an air bubble yet!!! Flushes are great but sometime that vacuum fill is wonderful!!!

dblsg · Post by **dblsg** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:01 pm

i think you have your thermostat on backwards

gilly02le · Post by **gilly02le** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 9:39 pm

that or your rad cap might be donefore.. one of my family friends just spent a crapload of money trying to get his pt cruiser to stop overheating.. after a new rad, hoses, 2 flushes, waterpump and timing, turned out it was just the cap.... glad i don't take my car to the Stealership, lol

Flying_NEB · Post by **Flying_NEB** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 12:00 am

it's all good now.

dblsg · Post by **dblsg** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 9:13 am

^ what was the problem?