Engine Top End

[petrified.rabbit]

Possibility of a bad thermostat is high. Was this a one time thing, or does it always overheat now? how hot is overheating? how did you know?

Its not likely that the radiator is clogged, but it is not out of the question. If you ended up empty, it could be a leak. Which a slow leak is hard to detect, but a long road trip will make it steam out.

[xintersecty]

Possibility of a bad thermostat is high. Was this a one time thing, or does it always overheat now? how hot is overheating? how did you know?

Its not likely that the radiator is clogged, but it is not out of the question. If you ended up empty, it could be a leak. Which a slow leak is hard to detect, but a long road trip will make it steam out.

All, I appreciate the suggestions. I suspect the Rabbit is right. Before the road trip it would heat normally. Of course I had not long distance test the rebuild. On our way back, I noticed the overheat signal and then I saw the fluid had steamed out. At that point I used resources at hand and until I got to a convenient store to buy some premix antifreeze.

Now it consistently overheats. Just city driving runs the temp above normal. One of my other issues is a leak around the exhaust header. I need to pull the heat shield and see if can find the leak before I pull that off.

So I can watch the temp gauge and see blips in the needle as the water is released from the head into the radiator. So I think the t-stat is working. I have not checked the hoses for a pressure differential as WyrTwister suggested.


While the radiator could be the source of blockage, something in the head could be causing it too. I need to make sure everything else is good before I pull the head again.