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What Do I Do ..My Car Overheated And Now It Seems Fine ……………………………………………….

Posted in Internal Engine Parts | Asked on Feb 21, 2012

I have a 98 honda civic with 120k miles on it and was driving it on the freeway when i noticed the temp gauge all the way up. I drove it an additional 5 miles to my work and turned it off .. Could not see where it is leaking from .. the next day i filled the radiater with water and drove it to work ( 9miles one way) and it did not overheat . I have been driving it with water in the radiater filling it before i drive for 2 days and it has been fine .. I checked the radiater itself , hoses etc.. and do not see any leaks . My check engine light went on at the time of the overheating and is still on .. My question is how do i diagnose the problem myself without paying labor fees to a mechanic ..Just need to find out where the leak is ..thank you very much
Thanks for the replys .. I just went out and checked the oil and it looks normal .. I know i shouldnt be driving it but i dont have a choice .. Was just seeing if there was a trick to finding the leak cuz it isnt obvious like most leaks ..

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There are 7 Answers for "What Do I Do ..My Car Overheated And Now It Seems Fine ………………………………………………."

  1. Carhelptips says:

    Well, I bet there is a still a leak even though you don’t see one. It could be hitting something hot near the engine and just evaporating before it hit the ground.

    First, don’t just add water, as the radiator also needs coolant, not straight water. Water is an emergency fix, not meant for a long time of driving.

    Also, did you notice any issues with the engine when the temperature gauge went up? It could be you have a broken gauge and that it is just misreading the temperature. Other than that, you would need to bring it to a shop so they can scan and view the problem codes to determine what actually is wrong.

    I also suggest checking the oil. Change it too if you have to.

  2. Whata Waste says:

    Bet your head gasket is bad. check your oil. does it look like oil? or is it foamy and milky looking? that coolant is going someplace and you shouldn’t drive that car anywhere until you find out what’s going on. You are just making your repair bill higher every time you start it up

  3. Terry1ball says:

    Check the inside of your radiator cap,if it’s got a white oily appearance it could be that your thermostat has stuck shut causing the engine to overheat,sometimes they come unstuck and if your lucky no damage has been done,however in your case I would suggest that you check your oil level ,if it has risen slightly and you see oily bubbles on the dipstick ,the chances are you have blown your head gasket ,this will involve having your cylinder head skimmed and a new gasket fitted ,also change the thermostat.

  4. Nay Bro says:

    If you have no idea how to find a leak, then you wont be able to fix it if you do find it.

    The fact of the matter is, that your car is using water. If you fill it up and then leave the car in a dry park to run until it warms up, look under the car and see if you can see drips on the ground anywhere.
    You dont mention how much water you are having to top up for how many miles you drive. Check these things

    Is it blowing blue smoke from exhaust when you rev it up?
    Check the oil, do you see white gunk on the dip stick or water residue?
    Do you see oily residue in the water of the radiator?

    If you cant find a leak, then you have a blown headgasket.

  5. Forrest Petty says:

    Thermostat could be stuck one or head gasket could be leaking check your oil if it looks like chocolate milk then theres antifreeze in it or if excessive water comes out your exhaust and if it smells kinda sweet then that could be a leak too

  6. Azdrifter says:

    Have the radiator cap tested..

  7. Family says:

    If you find out why the engine light is on, it might tell you the exact problem. Auto Zone will tell you the codes for free (saving you an $89 diagnostic fee), and the cost of a radiator cap.. UTI sucks, if thats the best you can come up with, by the way..
    Anyways, before you start wasting money throwing parts at it hoping to find the right fix, do some diagnosing.
    I’m suprised Mr. UTI did not tell you about diagnosing.. LMAO! Anyways,
    Here is a short article that will run you through a 10 minute process that will poit you in the right direction as to why your engine is overheating.
    http://www.helium.com/items/518879-possi…

    Hope it helps!