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How Do You Tell If Your Car Is Overheating

Posted in Internal Engine Parts | Asked on Feb 2, 2012

I live in Florida, and I have a BLACK 2000 Honda Civic EX.

The temperature gauge doesn’t seem like it’s not working or anything, but it doesn’t really fluctuate; it’s constant whether it’s 95 degrees outside or if it’s night time. When I get done with a ride, I put my hand on the hood to check to see how hot it is. At night and when it’s raining it doesn’t get that hot at all, I can feel heat but it’s not that bad.

When it’s scorching outside, and I get done with a ride, the hood is a lot hotter (obviously because of the sun beaming down on it) but the temperature gauge remains in the same area (like 40% out of 100%, there’s no degree rating, just an H and a C, it sits a tad below the middle).

Does that mean it’s working properly? I ask because my coolant level is a bit below the minimum line (on the overflow tank) and it’s a greyish color. So it obviously needs to be replaced, but my temperature gauge isn’t indicating that.

Anyway, TL;DR if my car was overheating would there be obvious symptoms? Ie, smoke coming from the engine bay, burning smells, etc?

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There are 5 Answers for "How Do You Tell If Your Car Is Overheating"

  1. Fuzzylogic_y2k says:

    White smoke coming from the engine. That’s the dead giveaway. Your car is currently working as intended.

  2. Kwingary says:

    Engine temperature is controlled by a thermostat and the radiator. It stays fairly constant. The temp guage will not tell you when it is time to change your coolant. Check your manual for that. Add some noe to get it where it should be on the the guage [line]

  3. Buddy_236 says:

    Yes, There would be flames licking around the edges of the hood!

  4. Country Boy says:

    After a 20 mile drive on a hot day, open the hood and look at the upper radiator hose. If it’s still & not moving the system isn’t boiling. That’s the good news. You’ve noticed that your coolant recovery bottle contents are grey. That’s going to be bad news if you don’t have the cooling system drained, flushed and *cleaned. Make darn sure your Honda gets only the *factory recommended mixture of antifreeze and distilled water.

  5. Nicole Wu says:

    You can go here.
    http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_does_my_ca…