Engine overheating, no hot air out heaters, coolant issue...

Zascar

I've noticed over the last few days that my car take aaagggeesss to pump out any hot air out of the heaters. (Car is Honda Civic Type R 2002) The car seems to get up to temperature on the temp gate very quick, but it can take 20 minutes or so get hot air out of the heater. Then today when sitting standstill in traffic, the engine temp went way high, into the red. When I put the hearter on and drove along it quickly went back to normal.

So (please bear with me I'm pretty clueless about engine stuff) what I think is the coolant expansion tank appears to be empty. I then unscrewed the radiator cap and can't see any fluid in there - I heard it needs to be up to the top. So, I need coolant I'm sure. However I'm just hoping its not a bigger problem, I'm guessing it could be a number of other things...

I think there are different types of Coolant, I'm not sure which one I need? Is it ok to fill with water temporarily until I can fix it properly tomorrow? Is it ok to drive short journeys with it just filled with water?

Advice appreciated
Thanks

kasper

fill it with water and check for leaks before filling with coolant . water wont do any damage over the short term but if it freezes in the meantime your engine is not protected against freezing ,dont open rad when engine is hot or fill when engine is hot

baggins

You've got what seems like a slow coolant leak. The immediate solution is to top up your radiator and expansion tank (honda will rocommend a specific coolant, but in general water and a bit of anti-freeze will get you around)

More long term, you'll have to get the leak fixed or you will keep losing coolant. If you fill up and run the engine with the bonnet open you might be able to see where the leak is yourself, but if you're not very mechanically minded maybe just get a mechanic to look at it.

Hope i've helped a bit

coronaextra

I would not drive your car until you find out where the leak is and fix it, You could top your coolant up with water but be careful not to leave the car out in this weather as it may freeze and bust your engine block !

It should be fine to drive it to the nearest garage to get fixed but don't go mad driving it or it will overheat, stop regularly and top up the water and don't take your eye off the temperature gauge, if its getting too high stop and allow the car to cool down or you will fry your engine, DO NOT open the radiator cap when the engine is hot as you can get very bad burns from scalding water (if you have too, place a towel or old coat over the cap before removing it).

I hope you have not damaged your engine too much already by overheating it as the head gasket may have been weakened and its pretty expensive to have it replaced.

Anyway best of luck, let us know how you get on and where the leak was found, usually those engines don't give much bother. Very nice car by the way.

Flyer1

Surprised nobody has mentioned the possibility of a sticky thermostat.....

And for the sake of 12 euro throw in proper coolant from your local motor factors.

Don't the " R " engines have a metal headgasket ? Very rare for them to go even if it does overheat once or twice.

AzureAuto

The K16 and K16 A engines in the Civic type R aren't usually prone to overheating, or trouble wit them in general! There's no doubt you have a coolant leak pal, check the rad and associated rubber hoses for any leaks.
Dont alloew the cylinder head to overheat as hee aluminum will warp and it'll have to be skimmed.
Perform a compresion check on the cylinders to check for head gasket warpage.

rccaulfield

Top up with coolant(not water in this weather!!!!) Bring to garage for diagnosis, hopefully just a split hose sumwhere!