2000 Corolla Temp Gauge Rising and Dropping

johnnyjb

Hi im wondering can anyone help me with my problem.

I noticed today that the temp gauge was rising and dropping. I think it was rising when i was accelerating and in high revs. Ive never noticed it do this and nearly hit the red mark while going up a hill.(it leveled off when i hit flat ground)

When i got home i started to rev the engine at a standstill to see would the gauge rise but after 2 mins of rev it didnt

I was just after putting in oil, could i of put too much (but dont think i put in too much)

It was 23 degrees outside, dont know if that would have an effect.

Any help appreciated. Thanks

Leonard Hofstadter

Sounds like the thermostat is on the way out assuming it isn't one of those designs that isn't designed to fail with the stat stuck open (ie the engine runs cold under light loads because the water pump/fan are on all the time rather than when they need to be).

johnnyjb

Thanks for quick reply captain

Would you reckon its safe to drive

Is the stat reading the temp wrong or is the engine actually running at high temps because the stat isnt doing its job

pa990

could also be a blocked rad.

the car will over heat when moving slow or stopped, and cool down when moving at speed due to cool air being pushed thru the grill.

happened to me before on an old toyota.


could also be the thermostat or the cap on top of radiator not venting.

advice:
1) change thermostat failing that
2) change the rad cap failing that
3) get rad flushed failing that
4) new or reconditioned rad

johnnyjb

When the guage goes up is the temperature really rising ?

Or is the guage displaying the wrong reading ?

johnnyjb

Ive noticed that the high temps occurs when im going up a hill (lots of hills where i live) and drop back to normal when on flat land.

Does this shine a light for anybody ?

Rising when under load wouldn't be the stat unfortunately, if it was stick closed 'twouldn't drop again on the level as the rad loop would be shut off from the smaller coolant loop. Is the fan coming on do you know? Is your coolant level ok? If the coolant level is low along with the oil level it may well be the HG.

Leonard Hofstadter

johnnyjb wrote: »

When the guage goes up is the temperature really rising ?

Or is the guage displaying the wrong reading ?

Yes, and unless you want to risk needing a new head gasket and water pump or in extreme cases warping the cylinder head (which will mean bye bye engine), you should get it seen to asap.

Nissan doctor

Temperature rising with engine load is a sign of headgasket failure.

johnnyjb

The fan is coming on.

I touched the back of the engine block and it felt warmer in some places after the engine was off for half hour. Would this be a sign of the head gasket going ?

Coolant level?

johnnyjb

The level was low when i checked. I put some in to the white plastic resevoir with a black hose connected to the rad. Am i being stupid because i never put anything into the actual rad, it has a twist cap but the car manual say put it into the resevoir.

Will coolant leak overnight or does the car need to be running.

Ill go to mechanic tommorrow anyway.

Cars really are a finance drain:mad:

Losing coolant & oil and the temp gauge rising when engine under load, would seem to be HG unfortunately as NissanDoctor suggested.

johnnyjb

Mechanic put a bit of coolant in. Said the rad was leaking slightly and he "doubts" its a head.

Im gonna see what happens and go back, hopefully hes right. He said there was no white gunk on the dipstick and oil cap which should indicate no water in there.

Fingers crossed !!!

Leonard Hofstadter

RoverJames wrote: »

Losing coolant & oil and the temp gauge rising when engine under load, would seem to be HG unfortunately as NissanDoctor suggested.

Although it is probably very unlikely in this case, it could be the piston rings that are causing it to loose oil, those VVTi engines are renowned for burning oil, especially the early ones like a 00 Corolla.

Nissan doctor

johnnyjb wrote: »

Mechanic put a bit of coolant in. Said the rad was leaking slightly and he "doubts" its a head.

Im gonna see what happens and go back, hopefully hes right. He said there was no white gunk on the dipstick and oil cap which should indicate no water in there.

Fingers crossed !!!

If he had the right(fairly inexpensive) equipment he'd be able to tell you for sure if the head gasket was leaking in about 5 mins.

Oil burning due to a design issue with the cylinder cross hatching/rings is a problem on early vvt-i corolla's alright but it would have no connection to the temperature going up when under load.