Overheating issue

[Sami]

A while ago my car a couple of times would overheat after an extended period of driving (like an hour give or take). Normally I don’t drive this long on a daily basis.

Now the issue seems to be a little more persistent. Putting the heat on full blast normally buys me time until I get home (normally; tonight when I was coming home from a friends house the car started to overheat it didnt help too much). I checked my fan and it seemed to be working fine, so I crossed that out of the possibility of issues, even though if I drive fast enough the car cools down a little.

I don’t notice any coolant leaks but I do notice I have to keep filling it up every once in a while. My guess is that its either a thermostat (which I doubt) or the radiator is almost done for (leaning towards this). I doubt its the water pump but I’m willing to guess anything at this point.

Any suggestions? Car is a 1.6 honda civic.

Topic

[dan]

the following things will cause your car too over heat

.low coolant

.blown head gasket leaking combustion gasses into your cooling system, usually the harder you work your car the hotter it will get

.radiator not working sifficiently because of corrosion or crap clogged in it

.stuck closed thermostat not allowing coolant circulation

.warn out water pump not circulating fluid

.improper flow of air through radiator, can be caused buy blockage of the grill or ducting or a radiator where its fins are full of mud or leaves or debris will not allow air too pass through it.

.a bad coolant temp sensor can give the impression of a overheat

.fans not kicking on, from a stand still with the car not moving forward if the fans do not kick on, for the radiator too work sufficiently it requires air flowing through it too decipate heat away from the coolant.

.clogged AC Condensor, if your AC concdencer has leaves and dirt blocking airflow from going through it, when you try using your AC it can get very hot and since its next too your radiator it can cause your engine coolant temperature too sky rocket.

there is also this

and this
http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/what-to-do-when-your-engine-overheats

good luck, keep us posted on this.

[EricTheCarGuy]

I cover this issue extensively in this article. The first step is to check for air in the cooling system. A video on that as well as additional information here.

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/what-to-do-when-your-engine-overheats

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Sami]

Just bled the cooling system. Fan didnt turn on but it was at the normal temperature all fine and good. It normally turns on if it starts to creep up past normal anyway.
I did notice a bunch of black stuff in the coolant. I also noticed a little bit of coolant coming out of the radiator on the left. So I think my assumption was correct.

[Joe]

is your cooling fan kicking on?

edit: nvm, there was more conversation past the first post lol

[EricTheCarGuy]

Sounds like you have a leaking radiator. Quite common on that vehicle. I would replace it and the coolant, bleed the system, and recheck for the overheat.

[Sami]

will do, thanks everyone. in the unlikely event its not the radiator, where should i move onto next?

[Author]

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