So tonight my coolant suddenly skyrocketed, and boiled over and started spilling out everywhere.. I was about 50k from my house and had just been on the highway, and was sitting in stop and go traffic for about 30 minutes after.

The temps got up to 200C, it really shocked me that it went through the roof like that. A few hours later I checked it and it wasn't leaking anymore, and the coolant level was a bit low but it still had enough to run. I drove it all the way home and it never went over 90C.

Was this just a result of me sitting in stop and go traffic and being on the highway? Or possibly the IC pump stalled? Or something else?

I can't see anything outside right now and the dealership (it's still under warranty) isn't open till monday, so some suggestions on what to look for would be nice.

Also, how do I go about topping it up? Is it 50/50 dexcool/water, or just straight dexcool I have to add? I guess I can check the manual but I'm tired as hell and I can't be bothered until I can actually see outside.

Thanks for any help guys!

 

Yeah, sitting at idle for to long an really heat it up. It should be fine, just avoid that situation next time.

 

he said 200 degrees Celsius. thats 392 degrees Fahrenheit! take it to the dealer and get it checked out

 

yeah 200C definately fucked something up. Normal overheating gets to about 220-250F range not 400F range..

 

Id say it probably at minimun warped the head gasket

 

Oh damn I didnt even notice that! Holy ****, how did u make it home? Defiantly go to the dealer.

 

wow thats crazy heat....the most i have ever seen is 250F

 

i doubt the motor actualy got that hot. what could have happened is it got a bit hot and puked a bit of coolant out and an air pocket formed around the tempo sensor (can happen, the sensor is rather high on the lsj), and that pocket will just heat right up even though the coolant is still in a more normal range.

 

agreed. If the engine really saw 200 C, you would have damaged something.

I would advise a compression test just to be safe, but if you are under warranty, take it in and let the dealer worry about it.

 

Yea I questioned whether it really got that hot, Sharkey's explanation sounds truthful.
Well the dealership isn't open, and I work Mon-Fri so probably won't be able to take it in till next Sat.. luckily I drive a company car to work.

How do I go about topping it up? 50/50 Water/Dex or just straight Dexcool?
Also, if I can't see any evidence of leaking do you guys think I'm safe to drive it a few km's?

 

50/50 dexcool, make sure you have fans working(turn on a/c or dfrost and watch for the fans to turn on) and if it runs o.k. drive it, but don't beat it. TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP when you can.

 

It drove fine all the way home last night.. just the coolant is low, and when idling the temps kept creeping up. once I moved the temps were around 80C/ 170F

 

check the cooling fans

 

How can I get the fans to come on manually? The ambient temps outside are like 5C.. it's not very hot out.

On a side note I topped up my coolant today, it doesn't seem to be leaking anywhere, and my temps are still staying below 90C. On the way home (25 min drive) the highest reading I had was 86C.
Car is running like nothing ever happened.

 

that good, usually turning on the a/c or front defrost will turn on the fans...any time the a/c compressor is on the fans should be on.

 

IC coolant or radiator coolant? 200c in your intake manifold or coolant temp (which is from the RADIATOR). If it was in your intake manifold the best I could come up with would be a backfire but only if you have dry nitrous.

Nothing really is going to raise the i/c coolant temp that high. Bunk pump maybe 200f depending on your run time.

Top it off with either 50/50 any coolant or dilute that with water if you want cooler i/c temps and aren't afraid of rusting and/or freezing.

 

It was my engine coolant, not the I/C system. I topped it off with 50/50, but as the others have said I doubt it really hit 203C. My car would not be running the way it is (if at all) if it had reached that temp.

I'm gonna call the dealership tomorrow and see what they suggest, and I'm going to run the a/c and defroster and see if I can see the rad fans running. I doubt they'd be faulty though otherwise I wouldn't have been able to idle at stoplights with my temps staying under 90C. I had it sitting in the driveway for 10 minutes running the coolant through the system and temps reached 77, then dropped down to 72 and stayed there.

 

Hopefully it all works well friend.

 

**** shouldn't go 100* over boiling. Somethings wrong

 

 

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Thanks Raven and Hungry.. you're an inspiration to me