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Just bought a 01 Galant 128k. Engine seems to get hot quite a bit, approaching the red zone but has yet to overheat. Found pure water in the coolant reservoir. Will draining the water and replacing with a 50/50 glycol solution improve the heat loss through the radiator? Or might I have an issue with the water pump?

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  • Also seemingly related, but with a somewhat different focus: Clear water in coolant reservoir
    – user
    Sep 12, 2016 at 17:53
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    I agree it's a duplicate, and I agree you have an issue with the cooling system.
    – MooseLucifer
    Sep 12, 2016 at 19:49
  • The problem was buying a car that's running hot. Who knows what the seller was trying to hide.
    – geoO
    Dec 26, 2020 at 17:11

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Cooling replacement will not solve the problem. Water should handle it. The problem might be in Thermostat or Water pump. On water pump usually first goes bearings - getting rusty and wears out. It happens if you buy a car which haven't been driven for 2 years.. When the bearings are shaking, the impeller is touching the walls and grinds down until breaks. So you should hear a whining bearing noise. If you can see or reach the water pump pulley, you can give it a shake, should feel it through tensioned belt. If it is thermostat, it is easier to replace it than to test it. It is accessable on your car. But it also could be your cooling fan relay. Check if it turns on when the water temperature goes over 90°C or over the middle of a gauge. If it doesn't turn on, it can be thermostat or fan relay, because thermostat don't let the hot water in radiator so the relay don't know that it's hot...

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