Car overheating!

[STRAN]

Had to post this separately from my others.

Apparently I did not drive this car long enough, it is over heating! oh so nice. The PO is definetly getting a call.

After the car warms up the gauge just goes straight to the top. Thermostate? Help a guy who is freaking out!

worst part is I don't have the cash to take this in and get it fixed.

[ImpalaSlayer]

have you done any work to the coolant system? it may just need to be bled out.

[W4LTD]

Had to post this separately from my others.

Apparently I did not drive this car long enough, it is over heating! oh so nice. The PO is definetly getting a call.

After the car warms up the gauge just goes straight to the top. Thermostate? Help a guy who is freaking out!

worst part is I don't have the cash to take this in and get it fixed.

Why are you involving the police in this matter? ;)

[Krytin]

have you done any work to the coolant system? it may just need to be bled out.
+1 on that^^^
Air in system needs to be bled out through crossover pipe.

[STRAN]

Why are you involving the police in this matter? ;)

PO is Previous owner. I bought the car yesterday and was told there were no major issues. Did not catch it on the test drive. Did not drive it long enough or failed to notice it. Point is I am sure the owner knew of the problem, or at least I intend to find out.

Also since I am living away from home at the moment i have no resourses, tools, garage and so on.

[justbob]

Chances are he just had some work done and a small amount of air is trapped in the system. This is very very common with this engine. It may benefit you to pick up a cheap 1/4" ratchet and open the small access hole on the cross over tube and do a search on here on how to "burp" the system.

[ImpalaSlayer]

Chances are he just had some work done and a small amount of air is trapped in the system. This is very very common with this engine. It may benefit you to pick up a cheap 1/4" ratchet and open the small access hole on the cross over tube and do a search on here on how to "burp" the system.

basically the way i do it is turn the heater on full blast and fill it through the hole on the cross over tube.

[justbob]

I just can't see ANYBODY selling a car knowing that is gonna immediately overheat is all.

[STRAN]

I just finish researching the burping thing, heading out to give it a try. I figure an hour or two including time to go get the tools. Will have to ride my bike for that while the car cools.

I can imagine someone selling a car like that, but it is hard to imagine this young lady doing it. She was very nice, maybe clueless. Still I am not going to be walked on. If I can fix it fine, goes to the shop there is a problem. It is not like it has been months since I bought the car, hasn't even been 24 hours.

[Pops]

Buyer beware and its not like Walmart!

[shodude]

i had a horrible time bleding my blue. what i had to do it jack the front up as high as possible making the fill hole the highest point on the car and while it was running, i kept filling it with fluid, wait for bubles to stop, fill... ect. It took a bit but that finally cured my car. it would only do what you described in the winter though which i found odd.

[J-MAN]

When it happened to mine the electric fan was shot. Good luck with the PO.

[BigCars4Ever]

Buy a funnel that you can jam in the fill hole. It aides in the burping process.

[LANDY]

my thermostat froze up one random cold morning.
that would be my first guess

[ImpalaSlayer]

my thermostat froze up one random cold morning.
that would be my first guess

you live in FL how cold is cold? :lol:

[LANDY]

you live in FL how cold is cold? :lol:


high 30's, and i hadnt used the car for almost a week, i used my motorcycle instead :D

[STRAN]

update.
ok, first I am in Bakersfield California.
here is a link to my welcome thread if you are interested in the details of my situation and why I would be so ....upset.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=58135


Another reason to be upset is it cannot be smoged in CA if it can't be run and therefore can not be registered. Meanwhile the bank is waiting for it's title.



Anyway. After researching and reading your replays I hopped on my bicycle and rode to the hardware store, they carry Craftsman. Bought a long handled ratchet and the adapter and 1/4 drive. The plug came of easy (whew) and guess what, there was no fluid in the crossover member at all. Gee. So I filled her up using a 34oz water bottle and FOUR trips up to the appartment. jeeze. There is some antifreeze in there but not much, something to do later.

I used this method of 'burping as discribed by BLOWNMERC.

The important thing is, when filling the system after a spill-and-fill or service of the thermostat or any other component, to open the degas bottle cap but fill through the crossover tube until the bottle is full, put the cap on the bottle and continue to fill through the crossover until full. Then take it out on a good interstate run and let the water pump push all remaining air to the degas bottle. Top off and have a good one.

This has worked well, I took the car for a ride and the temp remained normal. I plan on checking for more air and 'burping it again for good measure. maybe I can get my hands on some antifreeze.

[STRAN]

Buyer beware and its not like Walmart!

You got that right Pops.

I feel like such a dumb-ass. Maybe I will change my user name to Dumbass.

Thanks for the help guys. I don't know what I would do without sites like this.

[Ms. Denmark]

Whew! Glad it all worked out. :) We're all capable of moments of panic, but fortunately we have all these knowlegeable guys on the forum to help us take a deep breath and figure out what to do!! :help: If you own a Marauder, you need to become a member of mm.net for sure! Anyway.....WELCOME!!

[justbob]

This site will always treat you right not to mention years of great archived info to research! We are a small bunch, but the amount of wealth you would have thought this car was in production for 20 years.

[STRAN]

Sweet, I will tell you that it is forums like this that have helped me maintain and repair my other vehciles. However the site for my Honda Odessey, thou informative and a good source, had people that were not very friendly. Plus alot of them think the Odessey is the 'end all'....It is just a mini van and certainly not a exclusive club to own one. sheese. Love this site so far as the people are great and helpful.

[Pat]

Whoa right there. Something does not compute. Why is the car empty of fluid in the first place?

Ask the PO what was done to cause that. Fluid does not just evaporate like that.

You may want to check for leaks or a blown head gasket.

Sorry to be so negative when you were able to solve this problem but I don't think
your out of the woods yet?

See that PO, pronto.

Regards,

Pat

[justbob]

Sweet, I will tell you that it is forums like this that have helped me maintain and repair my other vehciles. However the site for my Honda Odessey, thou informative and a good source, had people that were not very friendly. Plus alot of them think the Odessey is the 'end all'....It is just a mini van and certainly not a exclusive club to own one. sheese. Love this site so far as the people are great and helpful.
You wanna meet some weirdo's check out feoa.com "Ford escort owners association" I belong to that for the daily driver. WOW. Creepy!

Even worse, hyundai, My father in laws car broke so I joined that site for info and I ended up school'in them on thier own cars! Idiots!

[STRAN]

Talked to the PO and she is clueless, of course. I checked the oil and no signs of water in the oil but will check again to be safe. Also there is no leakage under the car. My thought is it was serviced and the tech did not fill the radiator after checking something or repairing something.

But you are right, there was to much missing. Of course I don't anyone has checked it in quite some time. The car has been sitting idle for a year or so. The owner got it in a divorce settlement and she was not interested in keeping it or driving it so it sat. At least that is the story.

[Marauderjack]

Maybe "ex-Hubby" sabotaged it before leaving it for her??:rolleyes::argue: :confused:

[Hotrauder]

Let us hope. Please be sure to get a proper water/antifreeze mix in there as you need that to protect the metal surfaces, lubricate the pump, ect. Keep a close eye on the guage and check the coolant levels frequently. It will pay to be a little paranoid for a while. :D Dennis

[MrBluGruv]

Maybe "ex-Hubby" sabotaged it before leaving it for her??:rolleyes::argue: :confused:


I guess divorce can make you do horribly unspeakable things sometimes, like willfully damaging a Marauder.

[Blackened300a]

No you guys read wrong, he said the PO was a woman. You know they dont look under the hood until the lights come on and the smoke is pouring out from everywhere. :D

I had that same panic after changing my thermostat. The temp gauge rose and I was flipping out. You may want to burp the system a few more times and when the engine is cold, open the crossover tube and make sure its full of coolant.

[Marauderjack]

He also said it was sitting for a year or so and she didn't like it or drive it!!:shake:

[STRAN]

Yup and yup, and I have already burped it again. Did not think of the lubrication issue, defenitely have to do something about that. Is there a drain plug, I ask because the crossover pipe and plug and burping are all new to me so wondering if there is an unusual way to drain of some coolant.

[Krytin]

plastic petcock on bottom of one of the end tanks - passenger side i think.

[Todd]

Yup and yup, and I have already burped it again. Did not think of the lubrication issue, defenitely have to do something about that. Is there a drain plug, I ask because the crossover pipe and plug and burping are all new to me so wondering if there is an unusual way to drain of some coolant.

Depending on the temps you get in Bakersfield (I have no clue where that is), the amount of antifreeze still in there may be ok. If you read the back of a bottle of Redline 'Water Wetter', it talks about various percentages and their effectiveness when used with Water Wetter. Straight Water Wetter and water get the best cooling results but to keep rust protection up, you need some antifreeze.

I would use 25% antifreeze (or less), one bottle of Water Wetter, and the rest distilled water. I live in north east Florida. Gets maybe 25degrees for a couple hours a year. If it gets real cold there and you need more of the antifreeze action, raise the percentage of antifreeze accordingly.

I highly recommend a bottle of Water Wetter if you can. Worst case you can use it to top off your degas bottle if you dont want to drain any from the system. It will take longer than dumping it in the crossover tube but will get mixed back in the system eventually.



Also, elevating the front end will help. I just left mine on the steepest part of my driveway with the nose of the car on the high side. Someone else above mentioned jacking it up. But as you said, you are limited on tools. It helps to let the car warm all the way up and crack the plug on the crossover tube just until you see fluid. Leave until you see only water/antifreeze come out and then shut. I would not open that plug while the car is turned off.

[STRAN]

Todd, Excellent advise, I will get some Water Wetter asap and add it in The distilled water is a great idea to, when things settle and my tools are at my disposal I plan on ramping up mantinance and go over all the systems. Get the girl up to speed so to speak.

[RacerX]

Bakersfield... When I lived in Ridgecrest (China Lake), I would see a half inch dusting of snow every two years... Mojave Desert in SOCAL.

[GreekGod]

I would use 25% antifreeze (or less), one bottle of Water Wetter, and the rest distilled water.

NEVER EVER NEVER use a different percentage of antifreeze than the manufacturer recommends! Normally, it is 50%. It is STUPID advice to use 25%!!! The only exception might be for a race car!

[babbage]

Let us hope. Please be sure to get a proper water/antifreeze mix in there as you need that to protect the metal surfaces, lubricate the pump, ect. Keep a close eye on the guage and check the coolant levels frequently. It will pay to be a little paranoid for a while. :D Dennis


Please re-read this!! (above) ;) I agree, no regular tap water in the cooling system! Use 50/50 prestone premixed..

You can also use a hose to blast the radiator fins from the inside out. You'll have to remove the shroud to do this best, but this will help your cooling system perform.

[babbage]

NEVER EVER NEVER use a different percentage of antifreeze than the manufacturer recommends! Normally, it is 50%. It is STUPID advice to use 25%!!! The only exception might be for a race car!


Sure you shouted really loud but you didn't say why. I'm in Upstate NY so I wouldn't do this. You shouldn't shout that loud without education. (e.g. a detailed reasoning)

[GreekGod]

Sure you shouted really loud but you didn't say why. I'm in Upstate NY so I wouldn't do this. You shouldn't shout that loud without education. (e.g. a detailed reasoning)

Fair enough...from wikipedia...(re: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifreeze )...


Antifreeze is a cryoprotectant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryoprotectant) used in internal combustion engines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_combustion_engine), and for many other heat transfer applications, such as HVAC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HVAC) chillers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiller) and solar water heaters (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_water_heater). The purpose of antifreeze is to prevent a rigid enclosure from undergoing physical stresses and catastrophic deformation due to the expansion that occurs when water (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water) turns to ice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice). Compounds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_compound) are added to the water to reduce the freezing point (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freezing_point) of the mixture below the lowest temperature (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperature) that the system is likely to be exposed to, and to inhibit corrosion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrosion_inhibitor) in cooling systems (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiator_%28engine_cooling%29) , which often contain a range of electrochemically (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrochemical) incompatible metals (aluminum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminum), cast iron (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cast_iron), copper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper), lead (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead) solder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solder), etc.).
The term colligative agent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colligative_agent) may better describe the benefits of these compounds in warm climates, since they not only achieve freezing point depression in the winter when mixed with water, they coincidentally achieve boiling point (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_point) elevation of water. Colligative agents are properly referred to as both antifreeze and "anti-boil" when used for both properties. The term engine coolant is widely used in the automotive industry, which covers its primary function of convective heat transfer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convective_heat_transfer).

[babbage]

Wow a cut and paste - impressive!

[Todd]

NEVER EVER NEVER use a different percentage of antifreeze than the manufacturer recommends! Normally, it is 50%. It is STUPID advice to use 25%!!! The only exception might be for a race car!



I just wish people who yelled at me like that and called my advice stupid would do it in person to my face rather than on an internet site. It doesn't accomplish much at all.

All I have to say is countless people run water wetter with less than 50/50 mix and have no issues whatsoever. In this litigious society, the lawsuits would have been flowing if there were widespread issues.

And just in case you needed reminding, I did say to specifically run that lesser percentage in conjunction with the use of water wetter.


I never said my way is the ONLY way. I just said it is an acceptable way. (contrary to the OPINION you posted above).


Here is a link to the white paper from Redline regarding the water wetter product (I assume it could apply to any of the products like this including Royal Purples 'purple ice' I think it is called).

It is worth a read IMHO.
http://www.redlineoil.com/content/files/tech/WaterWetter%20Tech%20Info.pdf

[Marauderjack]

I have used 25/75 for 5 years with Water Wetter and have NO PROBLEMS!!!:shake:

Antifreeze's primary function is to prevent freezing...it has some anti-corrosion properties but mostly from oxidizing agents that "surface corrode" the cooling system much like anodizing....water pumps don't need any lubrication unless the seals are bad and then you have other problems to deal with!!:rolleyes:

If freezing ain't a problem just what is wrong with running something other than 50/50??:confused:

[juno]

Good read Todd!!

[FordNut]

(I assume it could apply to any of the products like this including Royal Purples 'purple ice' I think it is called).

I believe the RP stuff states on the label that it is not compatible with antifreeze. The Red Line Water Wetter specifically states that it IS compatible with antifreeze.