Runs Hot

[doug294]

Ok here is the deal, sometimes when I got up a steep hill/mountain, race, or run down the high way my temp goes like 3/4 the way up. What would cause this? Just being ran strong then slow/stopping?

[Tanked]

Make sure you have enough coolant in your system...I had mine drain out once and the needle would go nuts. I'm surprised my engine didn't explode.

With the thermostat-controlled fan in the engine, it shouldn't heat up much, if at all, even when it's being pushed. You might want to check your thermostat or the engine fan.

[doug294]

how do I check the thermo?

[Tanked]

Not sure...if its stuck partially shut though, it won't let enough coolant through your engine block, which would make it overheat. I had a thermostat problem, except mine was stuck open - it would take forever for my engine to heat up.

[4-Door Flunky]

Your temp gauge shouldn't go up at all, even if you're going up a big hill, or it's a hot day, or you're towing your brother's cadillac. Seeing that thing move is evidence you gotta take some action.
It's nearly impossible to tell just by looking at a thermostat if it's any good or not. If you've gone to the trouble to take it out, you're already in for the trouble of putting it back, and they are only $7, so just replace it.
I have heard of dropping one into a pan of boiling water to see if it opens up, if you're just curious and feel like playing.
Do check your radiator hoses. Sometimes the hose clamp might be a little loose, losing a few drops of coolant, which over time can become a reason for overheating.
There are some emergency procedures. If you think it's going to overheat and absolutely can't stop, turn your heater on full blast. It helps a lot. You can also use higher octane fuel..richer fuel burns at a lower temperature, causes less heat.
One other possible cause of excessive heat is anything that makes your engine run too lean, like a plugged injector.
Flunky
PS-If your engine's timing is out of adjustment, that can also be a factor in overheating.
If you've got plenty of coolant, you might try bleeding the system. There's a little bitty nipple valve that you put a 12mm wrench onto to let air bubbles out of the coolant.

[i_a_n112784]

On one of my older hondas (86 civic sedan) it would do similar things where it would heat up, go down a bit, then back up. The heat tended to vary with RPM. It ended up being a new waterpump that fixed it.

[civickiller]

i ahd the same thing, turned out to be my thermostat stucked closed

[turbcivic]

Fix the termastat or else you are going to have to fix a head gasket.

[Rufes1]

yes and you do not want to fux0r ur head

[turbcivic]

by now i have off so many heads, it isn't funny. A head job has come about as easy as an oil change now. Head off and back on in under three hours.

[johnb16a2]

Check the fins on your radiator. They can rot away after a decade or so (can't transfer enough heat to the air). If the radiator looks good have the radiator flow tested by a shop (can't flow enough coolant under high load conditions to work properly). Good luck.

[95civicman]

Originally posted by turbcivic
A head job has come about as easy as an oil change now.