Engine overheating

DM2008

Hi All,

I've a 99 Ford Focus 1.6 petrol Saloon. About 6 weeks ago driving on the M1 the engine started to overheat. Pulled in and realised there was no coolant and also the oil level was low. So I nursed the car to a petrol station and put both in.
Didn't have any problems until yesterday. Started to overheat once I go above about 80-90Km/hr. Checked the coolant and oil levels and they are fine.

I don't know if this matters but theres just under 90K on the clock.

Anybody got any ideas?

Cheers

Andrew33

For a start, you can't just stop your car, dip your oil level and expect to get an accurate reading, a car needs to be sitting on a level surface with the engine off for a little while to allow oil flow back into the sump (I'd generally leave it 15-20 mins but I'm sure it varies). Re overheating, could be a sticky thermostat or a partially furred up rad. you could try flushing the system, plenty of products on the market but it might be easier to take it your local spannerman that you use and trust?

Andrew33

Andrew33 wrote: »

For a start, you can't just stop your car, dip your oil level and expect to get an accurate reading,

a minute or two is fine

Henry Ford III

Head gasket is going/gone.

p.s. Do the timing belt at the same time if fitting a new one.

TJM

If coolant falls to the point where there is none in the expansion tank then there's every chance there will be air somewhere in the system even after you top it up. Try bleeding the system.

_Conrad_

have you checked for leaks around where you park it? and check the thermostat first before you assume the head gasket is fecked, could be jsut letting it get too hot and boiling your coolant etc

itarumaa

There are lot of options for coolant loss, it is not necessary the head gasket.

It could be: heater matrix leaking, expansion tank or hoses leaking, expansion tank cap loose (coolant boils away) etc.

Do you get any other problems op than missing coolant, how does the oil look like?

DM2008

Thanks all for the replies.

Conrad, there are no leaks on the ground from the car.

Itarumaa, No other problems other than running low or out of coolant that 1 time.

I'm not to sure how to answer the oil question, it's black!!

DM2008

DM2008 wrote: »

I'm not to sure how to answer the oil question, it's black!!

Due an oil change so for a start.

Andrew33

RoverJames wrote: »

Due an oil change so for a start.

Absolute rubbish. I ignored your last post re time to let car sit but I'm not ignoring this one.
Oil will go black almost immediately, even after its just been changed. There was a while when I thought you actually did know what you were talking about now I suspect otherwise.

mecanoman

Does the engine fan kick in at all. Check the oil/coolant level
also the oil level. Then start the car and let it tick over for a while.
Watch the temp level in the car too.
If it moves above half after a few mintues i'd be thinking
eiuther the fan temp switch is faulty or the thermostat faulty.

ianobrien

Andrew33 wrote: »

Absolute rubbish. I ignored your last post re time to let car sit but I'm not ignoring this one.
Oil will go black almost immediately, even after its just been changed. There was a while when I thought you actually did know what you were talking about now I suspect otherwise.

Ah, then explain why the oil in my car, with 12k Km since last oil change is still golden? I know it is as I dipped it over the weekend!

Diesel engine oil goes black fairly quick, old petrol engines can blacken the oil quickly, but a general statement like that - Forget it!

djimi

Used to happen on my Accord; the thermostat switch in the engine was faulty and didnt tell the fan to kick in so she used to overheat. For some reason if I switched on the A/C somtimes it used to kick start the fan. Only way around it apart from that was to turn on the heaters in the car full blast which drained the heat from the engine...

ianobrien

OP, is there heat coming out of the heater in the car? After a spin, is the rad hot to touch (turn off the car before putting your hand on the rad as the fan might come on). Is the rad hot at the top, middle & bottom? Are the heater hoses warm/hot? Is one hotter than the other?

What colour is the coolant (pink/blue or a ****ty brown with a scum on top) Are they any vanes missing from the rad? Are any of the water hoses swollen with bulges on them? Is the cooling fan engaging (can you hear it?)

Get back with the answers to these.

Andrew33

Andrew33 wrote: »

Absolute rubbish. I ignored your last post re time to let car sit but I'm not ignoring this one.
Oil will go black almost immediately, even after its just been changed. There was a while when I thought you actually did know what you were talking about now I suspect otherwise.

lol, diesel engine oil will go black after a few miles, oil in a petrol should no where near black. If you think black oil in a petrol engine is not indicative that the car is due an oil change and that it takes 20 minutes for oil to return to the sump before an accurate dip stick measurement can be taken then clearly you are the one who knows sfa about cars. My 1993 520i hasn't seen fresh oil in 5000 miles at least and it's gold not black, in there at least 5 months.The bit about you now suspecting I actually don't know what I am talking about, well........

DM2008

1st prize goes to Conrad.

Went to the local Garage and he replaced the thermostat.

Seems to be working fine now.