Overheating Problem
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Joined: Aug 2009
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Overheating Problem
I have a 97 F-150 4x4,4.6liter V8. The problem...temp gauge goes to hot and fail safe cooling light comes on but after about a minute the gauge returns to normal and the light goes out. This only happens on a cold start. My pressure cap does pop and I do lose a little coolant from the resevoir bottle. I have replaced the thermostat, water pump, radiator hoses, all temp sensors and have flushed the radiator. Any Ideas? HELP!
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 2
Well lets do a more in deph check.
When the tempature gauge reads high, open the hood (without touching anything) and do be cautious, look for a colasped hose.
No colasped hose, then run a pressure check on the cooling system with thermostat REMOVED and the engine COLD. I take it from your post this engine reads hot shortly after cranking it.
If it is losing pressure with the thermostat removed and engine cold, this COULD indicate a bad headgasket putting compression into the cooling system. As the engine heats up of course metal expands under heat and it would seal the headgasket.
I am assuming when the engine resgisters hot the engine is actually hot and it is not a faulty gauge. One can usually tell from the heat of the of the engine if it is hot enough for the gauge to peg-out.
When the tempature gauge reads high, open the hood (without touching anything) and do be cautious, look for a colasped hose.
No colasped hose, then run a pressure check on the cooling system with thermostat REMOVED and the engine COLD. I take it from your post this engine reads hot shortly after cranking it.
If it is losing pressure with the thermostat removed and engine cold, this COULD indicate a bad headgasket putting compression into the cooling system. As the engine heats up of course metal expands under heat and it would seal the headgasket.
I am assuming when the engine resgisters hot the engine is actually hot and it is not a faulty gauge. One can usually tell from the heat of the of the engine if it is hot enough for the gauge to peg-out.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,633
Likes: 37
From: Lost in Pa.
You can also find someone to test for exhaust gasses in your cooling system this is sure why to test for a head gasket problem or cracked head. Here is a link:
http://www.arrowheadradiator.com/hea..._leak_test.htm
http://www.arrowheadradiator.com/hea..._leak_test.htm
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