Overheating is the number one cause of blown head gaskets and they're expensive to repair, so that overheating thing must be fixed pronto.
Did he loosen the two brass screws to let the trapped air escape from the cooling system? They're rather small and located on both sides of the engine in plain view. Easiest one to locate is on the right where the top radiator hose connects to the engine and looks like a pipe. Find that one and look on the left for another. Crank the engine and let it warm up then slowly loosen the screws until spurting stops and water runs out steady. You don't have to take them all the way out, just loosen a few turns. You won't lose a lot of coolant, maybe 2 or 3 ozs out of each screw. Be careful tightening them because they're brass and it's very soft metal and the threads strip easy. Can't remember which way tightens and which way loosens? Rightey-titey, lefty-loosey. Clockwise tightens, counter clockwise loosens. For the next few mornings check the white tank reservoir and make sure it is filled to the proper level.
Other thoughts on overheating: You didn't say when it is overheating but if it's at idle or in city traffic the radiator coling fans could be inoperative. Read these links and they'll explain better than I.
http://www.arrowheadradiator.com/Why...verheating.htm
Assuming the engine is full of coolant: If you crank it and drive off and it overheats in a few miles it's probably a blown head gasket or a stuck or sticking thermostat. If overheating is intermitten (sometimes it does it under a condition and sometimes a different condition) probably a sticking thermostat. If the water pump is leaking it could be introducing air into the system, but if it is you will find coolant under the vehicle. Have you parked it and let it sit overnight and in the morning looked under it to see if there's coolant under it? Did you check the oil dip stick and see if there's evidence of water in the oil?
For a 'good' mechanic overheating problems are easily diagnosed and I strongly suggest you get a second opinion. One last tip: If it overheats it is best to let it sit at least a half hour, preferably an hour, with the hood open to allow the engine to cool on it's own. You go putting cold water in an overheated engine and you could crack a head and now you'll spend big bucks to fix it. The moment you see it overheating pull well off the road to safety and shut it down. Whole lot less expensive to pay a tow truck than get a blown head gasket replaced.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST: NEVER, EVER TAKE THE RADIATOR CAP OFF WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT OR OVERHEATED ! !
We're talking super heated hot water and if it's steam goodness knows how hot it is and you could be BADLY BURNED big time. Open the hood and let it cool down.
The info you gave was very sparse and not much to go on, so give us some more info and we'll go from there. For openers, when is it overheating and under what driving conditions? Good luck getting it fixed and hope the fix is not a costly one.
Show Printable Version | 
Subscribe to this Thread
04-06-2006, 08:25 PM
Awwwww . . . Now that wuz sweeet and I shore do 'preciate it. 
