Overheating

Tiny
ANGIEPHIPPS13
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 MAZDA MILLENIA
  • 2.5L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
Car overheated driving on freeway. Filled radiator and overflow with water no coolant. Let cool for a couple hours got back on road started overheating immediately. Stopped at automotive parts store. Talked to the salesman and we decided that the problem has to be the thermostat. Then as my boyfriend's tearing apart the airflow parts etc.I read that there is a water temperature sensor.I would hate to think he did all that work for nothing.
Friday, August 26th, 2016 AT 1:34 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 34,330 POSTS
The coolant temperature sensors have nothing to do with overheating while the car is moving and you have plenty of natural air flow. They simply report the temperature to the Engine Computer or dash gauge. From your description, the best suspect is a leaking cylinder head gasket. Your mechanic can perform a fast chemical test at the radiator to identify that. It 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, the liquid will turn bright yellow.
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Saturday, August 27th, 2016 AT 12:58 PM

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