Engine Cooling problem
1995 Honda Civic 4 cyl
The overall problem with my car is that it overheats. I took it on a dirt road a few months ago (that was a bad idea) and I think the dirt clogged the radiator or something and it died (but the rest of my car's fine). So I got a new radiator but this one leaks too, but not as bad. It leaks out at the top, right below where the top part meets the rest of the radiator. But it only leaks when im filling it, once im driving its fine. Until it gets hot (after a few days), then it blows out steam. Ive also noticed that the hose going from the radiator into the white container next to it (the reservoir?) Blows out air because the colant/water thats in there bubbles (not boils) after the cars been on for a while. Also the level of the fluid in the container fluxuates and is almost always dirty looking even after I dump out the dirty fluid and replace it with clean colant/water. The warning on the radiator says to wait until the engine cools to take the radiator cap off because its pressurized and it'll shoot out and burn me, but I can take it off right after I park and it doesnt do anything, I think because its not pressurized anymore because of the leak. Or something. (?)
ive already flushed and cleaned the cooling system before I put radiator stop leak stuff in it (which didnt seem to help much). When I turn the heat on, if i've just filled the radiator, the heat is hot and everything runs fine, but afer a while the heat turns cool and then I know the engine temperature needle is going to rise and its time to put more colant/water in the radiator.
So I guess im wondering why it does this and how to fix it.
On a somewhat seperate note, I think my car has electrical issues that may or may not be connected. I noticed it when I first got the car (september 2010) because everytime I turned the car off everything electrical (the clock and radio) would reset.
I also think I have a power surge because when the car is in park or if im just stoped at a red light, the engine will rev, but as soon as I start going again its fine. But it doesnt do it all the time.
When I fill the gas tank it'll squirt out fuel before it shuts off if I dont watch it carefully too.
Are any of these problems connected and what can I do? Thanks!
Thursday, February 8th, 2018 AT 1:02 PM
(Merged)