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Why would the low coolant light come on in a Chevy Malibu but the temperature gauge not be running hot yet coolant is boiling over in the overflow tank so the car engine is running hot?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Possibly a stuck thermostat.
Answer
You have a bad head gasket or head, letting exhaust gases build up pressure in the cooling system
Answer
Did you just (drain and) refill the coolant? If so you likely have air trapped and locked in the head(s) at the top of the coolant passages in the cooling system / engine. The temperature gauge or indicator light is not showing any overheated temperature or only moves a very small amount (if you have a gauge as opposed to an indicator light) because the temperature sensor is not immersed in the coolant and is only in contact with hot air which is not anywhere near enough to get proper thermal transfer to show the correct temperature. Because the gaseous medium has no where near the thermal density and conductivity as the liquid does. If this is the case, it is very likely that your head(s) are now cracked. Obviously if this is the case, once you have the resultant damages repaired, you need to find out the proper procedure for filling your vehicle with coolant and ensuring that you don't end up with air trapped in it again.
Tip #1: if the rubber seal on your radiator cap is all bloated, distorted, wavy and looks damaged and deteriorated, it is quite likely that you have hot exhaust gases leaking from the cylinders into the coolant passages.
Tip #2: If you are working on your vehicle and can not find the information that you need, phone a car dealership and ask for the foreman and talk to them about your problem. Most car dealerships are very happy to readily help you out. As someone who worked as an independent mechanic on every make and type of vehicles for many years, I did this all of the time and never got the cold shoulder or was brushed off even once regardless if I told them that I was 'The Car Doctor' or 'Joe Schmoe'
The only dumb questions are the ones that you don't ask about things that you need to know! In this instance if we are correct that five minute phone call that 'saved you time' will now cost you days of work and thousands of dollars.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
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How does the coolant reservoir work?
when the engine is running and coolant will become hot to its operating temperature,the cooling system is under pressure,coolant will overflow and goes to coolant reservoir.when the engine goes cold coolant will go back to the rediator.
What is the running coolant temperature?
Anything below 240.
Why is coolant running back into the overflow in a 1995 ford ranger?
You may have a cracked head or a bad head gasket.
Where is the radiator cap on a 1998 Saturn sl2?
Technically, there is no fill cap on the radiator. To add coolant, open the overflow tank. It should be on the Passenger side fender, next to the windshield fluid tank. The coolant tank is pressurized when the engine is hot. Be very careful removing the cap to the coolant overflow if the engine has been running, since the scalding hot coolant can burn you.
Why is the temperature gauge on high after replacing the engine coolant temperature sensor?
Because the motor is running to hot try flushing your radiator and putting new coolant in.
Does the gauge that tells you if your engine is running hot have a fuse or sensor?
Your engine coolant temperature gauge has a sensor ( there is also a engine coolant temperature sensor that is used for the computer / PCM )
When do you add coolant with the car started or not?
You should add coolant with the engine off and cool, top off the radiator and fill the coolant reservoir to the cool or cold level. When the system is hot or running it will be pressurized and will be dangerous to open. You can however add coolant to the overflow reservoir at any time.
Why coolant leaks when engine is off but heat wont work when engine running?
The heat is not working because you are very low on coolant, probably because of the leak. Seems to me that it should leak worse when it is running, so I am going to assume you are talking about the coolant overflowing the reservoir, in which case goes back to you being low on coolant and the engine boiling the coolant.
Why would anti freeze leak from exhaust pipe?
A blown head gasket could allow coolant to enter the combustion chamber from the water jacket. The coolant probably is running out the exhaust on first start-up. More often, you will notice the coolant being pumped out of the overflow as the exhaust gas pressurizes the coolant. You should look for this symptom when the engine warms up. Coolant in the exhaust on start-up and then the coolant overpressure overflow from the expansion tank or radiator happening together is almost sure indication of the head gasket failure.
Why does the overflow tube leak on a 1999 Cadillac eldorado when sitting still and running?
First I would let the car sit overnight. The next BEFORE starting the engine, open the hood and inspect the level of the coolant in the OVERFLOW JAR. If level is too high, adjust to proper level ( sometimes the container is accidently OVERFILLED ) . If it continues, extreme temps caused by one of many things is pushing the coolant out of the overflow tube
What if your coolant keeps boiling out?
Thermostat needs to be replaced, it is not opening (most common). Is electric fan on radiator running normally from time to time?
Is it normal for smoke to pour out of the overflow hose connected to the coolant reservoir?
this sounds like a bad thing to me...like the reservoir and/or the cooling system, has no antifreeze in it and heat from the engine is exiting through the cooling system. Does your temperature gauge read in the normal range? Is the car running OK? FriPilot
