Engine over heading only after restart when engine was not complete cold!

OLIVER2000

MEMBER
2008 FORD EDGE
3.5L
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
50,000 MILES

Hi, sorry for my English, I am actually from Brazil but I try to explain as good as possible for me.

I need some help with my Ford Edge. This happened now already 3 times to me and I try to figure out the problem. First time the engine was overheating without I noticed until smoke came out my front and when I stopped the cooling water tank was boiling and spilling tons of water out. I thought I might have not checked the water for a while and I just waited until the engine cooled down and filled the water up again.

After this I drove like 3 days without any problems. Suddenly again the engine got hot (this time I noticed the temperature gadget because the AC stopped working and I wondered. I stopped the car and once again the spare water tank was bubbling and boiling. I cooled the car, filled it up and thought that there was maybe some air in the lines from the first time and I did something wrong.

Once again I drove like 2 days around (how ever always only city and very short 3-5 mile rides) and the same thing again. The car overheated again.

The interesting thing about this for me is that this DONT HAPPEN AT ALL when the car is parked the entire night and I drive in the morning. In this case the engine warms up and remain in the middle optimal temperature for hours. Nothing happen, no overheating. BUT when I use the car, the engine is warm (normal condition) and I park for example to go to the supermarket to come back 30 minutes later the engine is of course still warm. In this case (and only in this case) the engine is overheating within minutes.

I am not at all a mechanic but for me this looks like something is wrong with any temperature control or reading which might cause the pump not working, or vent not starting etc. As I said if the car engine is complete cooled down I can start the engine and drive for 2 hours without a problem.

Thanks for any tip I can get,
regards
Oliver

5 Replies

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

From your description you car is getting low on coolant and the bubbling is possibly coming from a leaking head gasket. Have a local pro pressure check your coolant system for a leak. It surely sounds like it.

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Tuesday, April 28th, 2015 AT 6:35 AM

OLIVER2000

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Hi,

Thank you for your fast reply. Maybe I did not explain it very well, the bubbling comes from the boiling engine, the water does not bubble if the engine is not over headed. Also would this be a problem of loosing water coolant this would not happen only when the engine is already warm but also in the morning when the engine is cold.

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Tuesday, April 28th, 2015 AT 7:11 AM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

It still goes with what I said n first reply it sounds like ahead gasket problem. So have the system pressure checked. You can check your radiator when hot if you feel any cold spots then the rad is no good and needs replacing.

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Tuesday, April 28th, 2015 AT 9:31 AM

OLIVER2000

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Hi again,

I figured out what was the problem. It has nothing to do with the engine himself. I did find in the internet another user with exactly the same symptoms which told me that the problem might be caused by a faulty AC system. I tested and keep AC off driving around and YES thats it. With the Air condition off the car works perfect without any over heating.

The AC is causing the overheating because the liquid line is connected to the radiator condenser located behind the cooling radiator and this condenser when overheated it transfers heat to the coolant radiator making the engine overheat.

Thanks for your help anyway and I hope this also helps other EDGE owners to solve this problem like me.

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Wednesday, April 29th, 2015 AT 7:11 AM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

If that is the case then have it scanned for codes as the fan modue may not be making the fan go faster when a/c is on so it will draw more air into and through the condenser for a/c system. That would seem to be more of a problem than keeping the a/c off.