my sister has a OZ lancer, doesn't take care of it properly, therefore problems arise... anyway, when she sits in traffic without keeping a speed up, her coolant temperature shoots up, almost all the way as high as it can go. but once she starts driving, say on the highway or something, it goes back to just below halfway like normal. what can i get done to not have this problem happen anymore? i have a lancer evolution myself, and ive never had the problem.. but then again she and i view cars completely different, hence them being in very different condition, heh.

--KiD

 

First of all check if the coolant is properly mixed 50/50 water by using an anti-freeze hygrometer, next check if the water pump is not seized or if the thermostat is functioning.

 

try and check the thermostat and the fan relay switch. my old car had problems like that and those combined were the culprit. i could be wrong though. i'm no mechanic.

 

My '91 Eclipse did that. Turned out to be the fuse for the radiator fan.

 

Fan, thermostat, or not enough coolant/water. If she's had to refill an empty coolant reservoir, make sure she also filled the radiator or it might not syphon from the reservoir anyway. My friend has the same problem with his Civic, so I'm finding new things to check on his from this thread now. Thanks!

 

There's also a large flat spot on moster themostats/gauges, so if she notices it going much higher than normal that could be a big increase in temp. Definitely check fans and coolant. A lot of coolant comes premixed nowadays, so you don't have to worry about a proper 50/50.

 

A lot of coolant comes premixed nowadays, so you don't have to worry about a proper 50/50

Thats when you precisely have to worry, theres so many brands and types of coolant on the shelves today that someone with no mechanical background would make a mistake, even mechanics make mistakes with coolants today. I was at the local auto store when someone asked me which type off coolant he should use on his Toyota Tercel, it turns out he added Dexcool based coolant straight without adding any water after I told him to buy a hygrometer to check if it was straight, dang it was straight and his engine was almost overheating and his coolant was a thick and gooey with metal particles floating around.

 

also check the radiator hose, mine got pinched real bad once and my engine temp went way up.

 

I have never had a problem in 7 years. Something tells me bad mixes like that are flukes. I'm not saying they don't happen, just that they don't happen often to a degree that will have any effect on your car.

Yeah, sounds like your friend should just read the labels on products.