The last month has been crazy cold here. Car has been doing fine, and amazing heat. The last two days, I noticed the heat was just luke warm. I then started watching the temp gauge... I noticed that if the turbo is spooled, like going up a hill for more than 15-20 seconds, the temp gauge rises. Let of the gas, it goes back down to normal. Then I got off the highway, and into lights and traffic. When I go to stop for a light, the temp gauge peeks, but still no heat, actually cold air coming out the vent. What would cause this behavior? thermostat malfunctioning?

 

Possibly the thermostat stuck closed or a giant air bubble.. Also, there's a recall on the fan controller which could be the reason your running normal temps until you put load or come to a stop.. You should bring it in anyway for the fan controller and have them drain and refill your cooling system.

 

bad thermostat. should be covered under warranty...i had mine swapped out after it threw the SES light.

 

Think it could be a blown head gasket?

 

Is it using antifreeze? If it is disappearing then Yes it is the head gasket, if not bad thermostat!!!

 

Yep, Empty coolant. Damnit.

 

or is coolant overflowing, might be getting exhaust gases in the water. i doubt, but still likely. if this is happening you might not be burning the antifreeze just pushing it the overflow. most likely your thermo. is bad. just start the car and let it idle. no white smoke, water overflowing, or water in the oil, then its just a thermo.

 

you could just be low because you overheated it.

 

So what should my plan be? I figure I'll go pick up some coolant and throw it in. I'll start it up, and look for white smoke.. hopefully I wont see any. Local dealer is 60 miles away, so if I load it up with coolant, would it be ok to drive there?

 

I would tow it if at all possible.. But if your driving and its not overheating, then thats something strange.. But yeah, fill it up, make sure there's no air bubbles see if that helps, then take it to the dealer.

 

what type of coolant should I throw in ?

 

give me a couple more min. im doing a write up for you. the regular green stuff. 50/50

 

I think the reason its not over heating is because its -5 F out right now, and if airs moving over it, sure it will keep cold

 

if i were u i would do the basics like look around for leaks if no leaks found open the radiator cap & ck for coolant level inside the radiator (do when engine is cold) if low
add premixed coolant and observe if coolant depletes w/o leaks its possible head gasket
blown also watch for white smoke in da tail pipe...

 

do you know anyone with a coolant system gauge. puts air in your system and and if it bleeds down its a leak. head gasket or hose, or your heater core. again i doubt any of the three. get anti freeze, open your rad cap. fill the rad. start the car, leave cap off. watch gauge, and inside rad. easier with two people. turn heater on defrost, and hot. then wait for the thermostat to open. some anti freeze is going to come out. just keep eye on it. keep the coolant in sight in the rad. dont keep filling. when the thermostat opens. you see the coolant dissapper. now fill it. make sure you have a mixed gallon there. keep filling til its full. then put the cap on. now watch the gauge and see if the coolant gauge, cooling fan, and the heater is working write... ie, heat. the reason to leave the cap off is to bleed all the air bubbles out. hopefully every thing should be working. 1. keep your hand on the upper coolant hose it will be your telltale when the t stat opens. if you dont notice a sudden drop in water when it opens, the t stat is bad. 2. let cycle a couple of times. if you have the coolant tank overflowing. and the t stat is working. its the head gasket. as long as no water in oil, or white smoke. and you will notice if tis burning it. oh well my fingers hurt im done i cant type anymore. and i suck. any more ques. sorry if the typing is a little off. all else fails pressure tester or the *****,... i mean dealers