Overheating

Tiny
KEEGANLILES1
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 270,000 MILES
So here is the deal; I have replaced my ECT sensor, thermostat, and water pump, flushed and back flushed my block and heater core flushed my radiator, and checked both heater core hoses, both radiator hoses, and the car still intermittently overheats. It will not blow hot air, heater core does not leak and car runs fine otherwise. I am just lost on what it could be. Previous owner put stop leak in the radiator.
Saturday, February 10th, 2018 AT 6:26 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,871 POSTS
Have you checked if the radiator fan is turning on?

The best suspect is a leaking cylinder head gasket. There is a tool to perform a chemical test for that. It involves drawing air from the radiator, while the engine is running, through a glass cylinder with two chambers partially-filled with a special dark blue liquid. If combustion gases are sneaking into the cooling system, the liquid will turn bright yellow.

When that air sneaks in, it can pool under the thermostat, preventing it from opening. Thermostats must be hit with hot liquid to open. Hot air will not do it.

You can find the tool at an auto parts store that rents or borrows tools, but they will make you buy your own bottle of fluid. It becomes ineffective if it is contaminated with coolant, or if it freezes. They do not want to risk having you contaminate their fluid, then they borrow it like that to the next person. Due to the cost of the fluid, it might be less expensive to have your mechanic do this test. It just takes a few minutes.
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Saturday, February 10th, 2018 AT 7:31 PM
Tiny
JIS001
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,411 POSTS
Just to add to it, if they put stop leak then I would suspect a plugged radiator.
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Sunday, February 11th, 2018 AT 12:27 AM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,871 POSTS
Dandy point. Wish I would have thought of that.
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Sunday, February 11th, 2018 AT 9:22 PM

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