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Cooling system in my 1993 Ford Explorer over heats
When I drive my vehicle about 2 miles it starts to over heat. My heater blows hot air until the temperature gets really hot then it starts blowing cool air. The top radiator hose gets really hot,but the bottom hose doesn't get that hot. I've changed the radiator,thermostat,radiator cap. Do you have any ideas. Please help!!
thermostat is the most likely culprit.... when you changed it did you pay close attention to it's orientation.... they can be installed backwardsthermostat is the most likely culprit.... when you changed it did you pay close attention to it's orientation.... they can be installed backwards
AnonymousMar 29, 2014
Heat was funky 2 weeks ago-took a while to heat up the car-smell of radiator fluid-funky heater but still heating-radiator fluid blowing out of cap,leaving a dribble trail sometimes-now leaking onto drivers foot a bit and steamy, really steamy when getting on freeway-no leak on passenger side-may leak radiator fluid from hose on the bottom of radiator-engine did get "cooked" a bit awhile back-car stopped counting mileage as well recently-bought a Heater Core bypass connector, not sure if that's the way to go,could be a blown head gasket doing the "using up radiator fluid method of death". Summer is near and it would be Great if I could get 6 Months more out of my car. Engine can be a bit "chuffy" when started until I gun it a bit. I bought an Air Filter as well and feel it wouldn't be bad to get a new Radiator Cap too. Thank youHeat was funky 2 weeks ago-took a while to heat up the car-smell of radiator fluid-funky heater but still heating-radiator fluid blowing out of cap,leaving a dribble trail sometimes-now leaking onto drivers foot a bit and steamy, really steamy when getting on freeway-no leak on passenger side-may leak radiator fluid from hose on the bottom of radiator-engine did get "cooked" a bit awhile back-car stopped counting mileage as well recently-bought a Heater Core bypass connector, not sure if that's the way to go,could be a blown head gasket doing the "using up radiator fluid method of death". Summer is near and it would be Great if I could get 6 Months more out of my car. Engine can be a bit "chuffy" when started until I gun it a bit. I bought an Air Filter as well and feel it wouldn't be bad to get a new Radiator Cap too. Thank you
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No your car will not overheat, but it is advisable to my 50% coolant on the water to prevent deposits of rust and other debris that may affect the effectiveness of the cooling system.
Sounds like you may have combustion gasses creating an air lock in the cooling system. Or plugged heater core / radiator. Definitely a circulation problem of some kind either flow of hot antifreeze is restricted or the heater should blow very hot air especially when the car heats up so long as all the ducting and heater controls are functioning properly. If the vehicle has been overheated you more than likely have combustion gasses in the cooling system. Water pump will not work properly for combustion gasses that mix with coolant. Check to see if the coolant is beginning to get a little oily and dirty, this will indicate combustion gasses entering cooling system.
Firstly, a thermostat that opens quicker will not give you better heat. Your heater core may be partially plugged causing a low flow issue. Another area to check would be the water pump impeller for corrosion or slipping on the shaft. Does the vehicle's cooling system operate well otherwise?
sounds like your either low on coolant or a possible blown head gasket, the head gasket will create too much pressure in the cooling system and blow your coolant out of the overflow and fill the heater core with air causing the heater to be cold or your just low on coolant due to a leak or improperly filled cooling system. so fill the cooling system resovoir while vehicle is running while keeping the level at "full hot" line until the fans have come on and gone back off (a/c and defrost must be off) then drive on the interstate until the heater gets hot. if the vehicle tries to push the coolant out while filling the system headgasket is a definite possibilty. BE CAREFUL COOLANT GETS HOT!!!
You have an air pocket trapped in the cooling system. This is pretty common on this vehicle due to the fact the heater core sits higher in the vehicle than the top of the radiator.
To correct this jack the front of the vehicle up or park it on an incline. Remove radiator cap then run it until hot,run rpm up to about 1500 and watch bubbles in radiator then top it back up with coolant until u see a steady flow thru radiator.
1st make sure the heated core is getting hot, do this by feeling the hoses under the hood that supply hot coolant to the core, if the inlet and outlet are hot then the core has circulation and is not the problem, check this and let me know what you find.
thermostat is the most likely culprit.... when you changed it did you pay close attention to it's orientation.... they can be installed backwards
Heat was funky 2 weeks ago-took a while to heat up the car-smell of radiator fluid-funky heater but still heating-radiator fluid blowing out of cap,leaving a dribble trail sometimes-now leaking onto drivers foot a bit and steamy, really steamy when getting on freeway-no leak on passenger side-may leak radiator fluid from hose on the bottom of radiator-engine did get "cooked" a bit awhile back-car stopped counting mileage as well recently-bought a Heater Core bypass connector, not sure if that's the way to go,could be a blown head gasket doing the "using up radiator fluid method of death". Summer is near and it would be Great if I could get 6 Months more out of my car. Engine can be a bit "chuffy" when started until I gun it a bit. I bought an Air Filter as well and feel it wouldn't be bad to get a new Radiator Cap too. Thank you
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