Overheating 88
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 68
Likes: 2
From: IL
Overheating 88
This afternoon I started an 88 and let it run for about 3 minutes. The oil gauge and the coolant temp gauge lit upon start and then remained dark with no digits. After about 3 minutes the cooling fans cranked up on high and a overheat warning came on showing a coolant temp of 262 after idling for just a few minutes. So I shut it down cause I did not want to hurt anything or seize the block. After about five minutes I turned the switch to on cranked it and a low coolant light and buzzer came on. Shut it down again, coolant reservoir tank empty. I checked the oil to smell for coolant, but saw no evidence. No leaks that I could see or odor of coolant that I could see or smell. Where could the coolant have gone? And why? All the other dash gauges are bright and seem to be working fine, except coolant temp and oil gauge. Where do I start? I am kind of hesitant to just add coolant and drive it until I know where and why it is not there. Good ideas welcomed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
Let the car cool down then fill the radiator. Borrow a radiator pressurizer from Autozone or another parts house. Pressurize the system and look for leaks in the hoses and radiator. If you find any, then you know what the problem is. Check for pools on the ground. Did you still lose some coolant when you pressurized the system....but no trace of any leak?
IF you find nothing.....If you lost coolant when you pressurized the system then check the oil...any sign of coolant there? No indication of coolant in the oil?
Next pull spark plugs #7 and #8. Look at them carefully...is one of then very clean as compared to the other? If so, chances are a blown head gasket with the coolant forced into the combustion chamber. If you lost a lot of coolant during pressurization...turn the engine over by hand and see if there is any sign of coolant in cylinders #7 &/or #8.
#7 and #8 and coolant passages thru the head that are very very close to the edge of the gasket near the cylinder.
Hope you find a hose problem and not a radiator (easier than head gaskets) and last would be hope it is not head gaskets.
IF you find nothing.....If you lost coolant when you pressurized the system then check the oil...any sign of coolant there? No indication of coolant in the oil?
Next pull spark plugs #7 and #8. Look at them carefully...is one of then very clean as compared to the other? If so, chances are a blown head gasket with the coolant forced into the combustion chamber. If you lost a lot of coolant during pressurization...turn the engine over by hand and see if there is any sign of coolant in cylinders #7 &/or #8.
#7 and #8 and coolant passages thru the head that are very very close to the edge of the gasket near the cylinder.
Hope you find a hose problem and not a radiator (easier than head gaskets) and last would be hope it is not head gaskets.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 68
Likes: 2
From: IL
Let the car cool down then fill the radiator. Borrow a radiator pressurizer from Autozone or another parts house. Pressurize the system and look for leaks in the hoses and radiator. If you find any, then you know what the problem is. Check for pools on the ground. Did you still lose some coolant when you pressurized the system....but no trace of any leak?
IF you find nothing.....If you lost coolant when you pressurized the system then check the oil...any sign of coolant there? No indication of coolant in the oil?
Next pull spark plugs #7 and #8. Look at them carefully...is one of then very clean as compared to the other? If so, chances are a blown head gasket with the coolant forced into the combustion chamber. If you lost a lot of coolant during pressurization...turn the engine over by hand and see if there is any sign of coolant in cylinders #7 &/or #8.
#7 and #8 and coolant passages thru the head that are very very close to the edge of the gasket near the cylinder.
Hope you find a hose problem and not a radiator (easier than head gaskets) and last would be hope it is not head gaskets.
IF you find nothing.....If you lost coolant when you pressurized the system then check the oil...any sign of coolant there? No indication of coolant in the oil?
Next pull spark plugs #7 and #8. Look at them carefully...is one of then very clean as compared to the other? If so, chances are a blown head gasket with the coolant forced into the combustion chamber. If you lost a lot of coolant during pressurization...turn the engine over by hand and see if there is any sign of coolant in cylinders #7 &/or #8.
#7 and #8 and coolant passages thru the head that are very very close to the edge of the gasket near the cylinder.
Hope you find a hose problem and not a radiator (easier than head gaskets) and last would be hope it is not head gaskets.
