I have a 2009 Nissan Cube. A few weeks ago the car overheated and I realized that it was out of coolant. I added coolant and a week later it overheated again. I realized that the Radiator was leaking so we replaced the radiator and the thermostat. I drove it and a day later it started to over heat again and this time it has coolant and I can smell coolant and a bit of it leaking from the cap. Can it be the thermostat is faulty. I though if I turn the heater on this would help with the heating but it didn't. I also noticed if I accelerated it cools down a bit... Fan works and turn on. Any suggestions to see what it can be the issue. Please I need assistance on this. Last thing I want is to blow a head gasket.
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Did you install the thermostat the correct way? Some can actually be installed backwards.– MoabCommented Jun 5, 2018 at 16:08
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How old is the water pump?– Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 ♦Commented Jun 5, 2018 at 17:17
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You may have to take the car for a compression test, and then maybe a leakdown test, if necessary. This is to see whether you don't have a headgasket issue.– Captain KenpachiCommented Sep 4, 2018 at 8:23
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1 Answer
There are a handful of parts to the cooling system.
Engine (coolant passages, head gasket)
Water pump
Radiator
Radiator cap
Radiator fan
overflow bottle
Hoses
heater core
There are a couple reasons for overheating. Insufficient coolant, insufficient coolant flow, inability to build pressure, and insufficient air flow across the radiator.
Firstly, make sure you fill up the system and bleed any air out of it. Air pockets can lead to overheating. Leave the heat on, fill it up, get it up to temp, let it cool down, check it, top it off. Some cooling systems have an air bleed port. Make sure the overflow is filled to the line, as this acts as a 1 way check valve and helps to bleed the system of air.
Secondly, coolant flow. Does the heat work? Does the upper radiator get hot when the engine is hot and temperature gauge are reading hot? Coolant flow issues can be one of a few things - bad thermostat (heat works, but top radiator hose is cold), plugged radiator or heater core, or a bad water pump (overheating and heat doesn't work well or at all)
Pressure - you mentioned it was leaking from the cap. There cannot be aby leaks or the system will not be able to build pressure. Being under pressure raises the boiling point (3* F for every PSI) and helps keep the system from boiling over. When the engine is hot, the upper radiator hose should be hard.
You mentioned the fan works, so airflow across the radiator should be good. You mentioned accelerating helped cool it, so I wonder if the fan is moving enough air. Overheating while stopped, but not while moving points toward the fan.
An easy way to know you blew the head gasket is if your exhaust smells like coolant, or you oil or coolant look like a milkshake. Another way is to pull the plugs to see if one is steam cleaned.
