I got an appt with my regular mechanic this Weds. What can I do to cool the engine?
2007-01-06 15:23:58 · 6 answers · asked by HROK 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Drive as little as possible, preferably only to your mechanic.
2007-01-06 15:26:59 · answer #1 · answered by ladybugewa 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Running the heater will take some of the heat off the engine, but it will still over heat, it'll just take longer.
If I were you Id turn the car on and pop open the radiator cap. first see if the water is flowing or if there is water.
If there isnt water fill the radiator keep the engine running, there shoud be 1 hose on the top right for out flow and one on the bottom left for intake. see if either one drips or has a tear. Also check where the hose on the bottom connects to the engine, thats your water pump, Look at where the pump connects to the engine and see if is leaking.
If there is water and it dosent seem to be flowing you either have a bad water pump or a bad thermostat. Also keep in mind that the water wont start flowing till the car gets hot enough for the thermostat to open....."you cars normal operating temp"....
If you dont have water flow ant the car is getting hotter. Turn it off and let it cool. Then look where the upper hose connects to the engine. There is usually just a snap ring or a band that you can unscrew to pull the hose off the engine. Once pulled off there is a flange bolted to the engine with usually two bolts. Take out the two bolts on the flange where the hose connected, pull off the flange look inside there will be a round metal object with a spring in it... thats youre thermostat, take if out if it is rusted shut get a new one and reinstal it the whole process takes about 20 min for the avrege person... a new gasket will be needed if you go this route.
If the thermostat looks fine put the flange and the hose back ont the engine without the thermostat and a gasket....start the car the water should flow imeediatley with the thermostat gone.... if it dosent the water pump is broken. The water pump has ten bolts or less and only requires silicone or a gasket on install... anyone at your local pep boys, napa, or kragins cold talk you through it , or you coud by the manual a Haynes run about 20$.
If you do have flow when the car is running and the thermostat is out then the thermostat is out and you just need to replace it ...... thermostats run about 10 $ with a 2 $ gasket. water pumps run about 100 $. also make sure you have coolant plus if you water in you engine seems murkey or is white and gooey you have a blown head gasket or a blown galley in you engine. In either case send the car to the shop. if the engine has a blown galley it usually isnt repairable, if the head is warped it is definatley fix able but is very pricey if you do have a blown head or head gasket oil will be leaking on the engine where the head connects to the engine. you should able to tsee the trail.
if you do have a blown head or gasket and cant afford to fix it pull the thermostat as explaned in the paragraph above and you can get away wiht driveing a car that just runs hot or has a bown head or head gasket for months if not years.
2007-01-07 00:34:42 · answer #2 · answered by joe d 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, there is a couple of reasons your engine may be overheating. The cooling fan not working, the fan clutch not engaging, the thermostat stuck on the closed position, an obstruction to the radiator, blown head gaskets, and no fluid in the system. If you are not mechanically inclined, you might consider not driving your car till the mechanic looks at it. You didn't say what make and model your car was, but if you have an engine with an aluminum head/heads you could turn a simple repair into a costly one. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
2007-01-06 23:51:28 · answer #3 · answered by Archangel 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
don't drive it. You will ruin your engine. Check your coolant level while its cold. Running your heater on full hot and heater blower on high will help a little.
2007-01-06 23:28:29 · answer #4 · answered by R1volta 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just make sure the coolant if full and drive it as little as possible.
2007-01-07 00:19:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's this damn global warming!!!
if it wasn't so hot and all george bush's fault your car would be nice and cool!!!
blasted gwb and his global warming scheme to corner the oil market!!!
ahhhh globballlll warmmmminnnggg!!!
2007-01-07 00:11:57 · answer #6 · answered by tangsausagees 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋