92 Taurus Overheating

[tarcraig]

Radiator was changed few weeks back and the car was running fine. It started overheating again its got a bit nosier when driving also feels like your driving on a flat tire but am not. Been told could be head gasket is that expensive to fix it can be drove for 20-30 min before you have to stop and let it cool down. Any suggestions really appreciated

[KimMG]

Are you losing coolant?
Is the thermostat opening?
Is the fan working? Are the bearings and fan blade good?
Did you check the oil? Is the level good? Is there water in the oil?
How old is the water pump? Is the bearing loose in the pump?
Driving with blown head gasket(s) can cause severe engine damage. Having the head gaskets replaced can be expensive.

[shorod]

If you can get the spark plugs out fairly easily, pull them and see if any of the plugs seem cleaner or have more oil than the others. If one is exceptionally clean, you probably have coolant leaking into that cylinder from either a head gasket problem or a cracked head. You could get an indication if this is the problem by removing the radiator cap when the engine and cooling system is cold, top off the radiator if the coolant level is not to the neck. Then start the car and let it run for a bit. Watch the coolant in the radiator. If the coolant bubbles after the car has been running a bit, you probably have a bad head gasket. The compression from the cylinder(s) is entering the cooling system through the void in the gasket causing the bubbles. If the coolant just wavers, but doesn't bubble, the compression probably is not entering the cooling system.

If one or more plug is really oily, then you might have bad head gasket or bad rings. Checking the oil for coolant is a good suggestion for this. Pull the dipstick and if you the oil looks like chocolate milk, you are getting moisture into the oiling system, likely through a void in the head gasket.

Either of these issues could cause an engine miss which is probably what you are experiencing that feels like a flat tire and is causing the engine to be noisier than usual.

As KimMG mentioned, replacing the head gaskets can be expensive and time consuming.

-Rod