98 neon overheating and leaking oil

[shayna0301]

I have a 98 Plymouth Neon that is leaking oil and overheating. I have replaced my oil pan gasket, water pump, and timing belt. After doing that my car did not overheat for about 4 weeks and has recently started again. There is no water in my oil so I do not think its a head gasket. It overheats faster if my car is stopped at a light or for a long period of time. I do not see radiator fluid leaking from my car anywhere, but the fluid in my overflow tank boils after my car warms up from driving. I also have a bad egr vavle and wondered if that had anything to do with either problem?

[mechhound]

Do the fan(s) behind the radiator run when the car starts to overheat? You say it overheats faster if the car is stopped at a light for a long period of time, the fan not running is the first thing to come to mind there. When you are on an open highway going say 50 MPH or faster, the fan wouldn't be needed as the speed of the car would force the air through the radiator.

[shayna0301]

I think that it's my fan as well. I have not heard it kick on. I know it's not the thermostat cause I have already replaced that as well. How would I know what exactly waws wrong with the fan. What I mean is how do I know if it's the fan itself, wiring, or the fuse. Or would I be better off replacing all of it? Also, would that be why the fluid in my overflow tank is boiling?

[mechhound]

First I would let the car sit and idle in your yard and make sure your fan isn't kicking on while carefully watching the temperature guage. Assuming the fan doesn't kick on, you would have to troubleshoot to see if the problem was the fan itself or a wire or sensor going to the fan.

I would hook the fan direct to the battery and check it first. Be sure it is properly grounded. If you have a small amperage battery charger that is a slick way to test something like that. Or you may want to just remove the fan and have it tested. If the problem isn't the fan itself you will have to figure out the sensor and wiring tracking. Yes, the fan not working would cause the coolant in your overflow tank to boil.

[shayna0301]

Thank you. I will be sure to do that.

[wcowell2000]

sounds like the fan or a head gasket.

[shayna0301]

I don't think it's a headgasket because there is no water in my oil. Also, there is no white smoke coming out of my exaust. (Thats what I was told to look for.) So I'm pretty sure it's the fan, but I honestly cannot tell because my car is so loud I can't tell if it's kicking on or not. So I was told to get like a 4 ft. wire and hook one end up to my fan n the other to a battery to see if the fan kicks on or not. Thats what I'm gonna try for now. Thank you all so much for your suggestions and any others will be greatly appreciated as well!