I have a 96 SUV that has had its share of problems. Every week or so I have to refill the coolant beacuse it is almost bone dry... my garage floor is covered in coolant (yes I finally put a drip pan down). My car overheats repeatedly and I'm not sure if its related but a couple times a week when I shift into park the rpm's shoot up to 2.5 and it sounds like I'm flooring it. (also idles around 2) When that happens my car coasts like its still in gear, which I'm pretty sure it is. Do I need a new radiator? Temerapture gauge? What should I do?
2006-11-14 04:33:03 · 9 answers · asked by Ash 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Antifreeze can leak out of a number of places. I'd check your hoses and waterpump first. When the pump is going bad, coolant will start leaking out of a weep hole. A bad radiator can also instigate coolant loss... The only way to test your radiator is to have it pressure tested. If you let your engine overheat to many times, you'll end up blowing your head gaskets, or even worse, warp your heads.
2006-11-14 04:50:59 · answer #1 · answered by jtaylorsewell 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You obviously have a leak in the system, which is designed to be a closed circuit under pressure.
Most common causes are:
1.-worn seal in the water pump.
2.-leak in hose
3.-radiator leak
You will need to have somone look for the leak and have it fixed (replace part)
There is a temporary fix that you can try, Autopart stores sell an aluminum based powder that can be added to the coolant and will plug a radiator leak. I had good results when is not a pump related failure.
There is no relation between the cooland leak and the RPM problem.
The RPM problem seem to be related to the binding or stuck Idle valve, which regulates the speed of the engine at idle, clean or replace and should do fine.
Good luck
2006-11-14 04:42:44 · answer #2 · answered by Wrenchmeister 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be coming from a number of locations.
A coolant hose could be leaking.
A seal could be bad in your water pump
A gasket could be leaking.
The radiator could be leaking
Don't keep driving it like this. Sooner or later, it is going to leave you stranded on the side of the road.
Driving with low coolant can cause severe damage to your engine.
Bring it to a reputable mechanic ASAP. If you cook your engine, it will cost you a lot more than the repair will cost!
2006-11-14 04:50:01 · answer #3 · answered by Mad Jack 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first thing you need to do is find out where the leak is, it might be a broken radiator hose, or the radiator itself may be leaking. Once you determine where it's leaking from, it should be relatively easy to fix. If you aren't comfortable doing it yourself, go to a good garage and get it checked out. Good luck.
2006-11-14 04:43:12 · answer #4 · answered by boots 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to get it to a good tech who can diagnose and repair the problem. Driving it like this will only further damage the engine.
2006-11-14 04:49:23 · answer #5 · answered by jarhed 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You probably need a new engine if you wait till it's bone dry to fill it.
2006-11-14 10:10:46 · answer #6 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
once you're rad isn't pressurized adequate, coolant is likely to boil. the better the stress, the hotter it must be to boil liquid. in reality a crack ought to have led to the boiling over and also you'd be wonderful.
2016-10-16 08:55:26 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the head gasket has blown
2006-11-14 04:44:32 · answer #8 · answered by Miniman 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I bet the head gasket is blown.
I hope it's not, for your sake...because it can be expensive.
2006-11-14 04:35:36 · answer #9 · answered by Sgt. Pepper 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋