Temperature fluxuating

Tiny
JBENZ2679
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 NISSAN SENTRA
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
Took to mechanic they put k seal in it said head gasket blew and still doing same thing
Monday, January 25th, 2016 AT 11:13 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,744 POSTS
If the cylinder head gasket was tested and found to be leaking, it must be replaced and the head surface must be checked for flatness and cracks. "Mechanic-in-a-can" isn't going to fix a mechanical problem.
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Monday, January 25th, 2016 AT 11:24 AM
Tiny
JBENZ2679
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
I doubt they tested anything is there another reason it would be doing this we can sit at idle all day and the temp won't move it's normal but the heat barely comes out of the vents until you hit the gas once you start it will be OK but if you really kick it it will start to rise and act like it wants to overheat I flush it with prestone radiator flush in a bottle before taking to a mechanic
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Monday, January 25th, 2016 AT 11:48 AM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,744 POSTS
There's a lot of causes of overheating. Typically if a head gasket is leaking combustion gases will pool under the thermostat and prevent it from opening. Thermostats have to be hit with hot liquid to open. Hot air won't do it. When the thermostat doesn't open, coolant circulation is restricted and you may not get hot coolant into the heater core. That results in warm or cool air from the heater instead of hot air.

If the overheating only occurs at low speeds, suspect a radiator fan that isn't turning on. When it only occurs at higher speeds, look for corroding or crumbling cooling fins on the radiator.

There's a real quick chemical test that can identify a leaking head gasket. That involves drawing air from the radiator, while the engine is running, through a glass cylinder with two chambers partially-filled with a special dark blue liquid. If combustion gases are present, that liquid will turn bright yellow.
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Monday, January 25th, 2016 AT 12:47 PM

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