while i was on my way to get gas, i was driving normally with the heater on full blast. as soon as i stop at the gas station i notice that my engine temperature starts getting a little higher, and my heater is not as hot anymore. i wait for about 30 more seconds to see if the temperature would subside, but it just kept climbing. so i turn off the car immediately and get out. i noticed that a whole bunch of coolant is spilled all over the place! so i wait for a couple minutes to let the car cool down and add a little bit of coolant. but the funny thing is that i didn't have to add that much, but it looked like i spilled a whole bunch. i drive as slow as possible to get the car home and avoid getting it towed and the temperature of the car stabalizes. as soon as i get home, i run a test to see if the heater will work and it works just fine. temperature fine, no coolant leaking. but i'm afraid to drive it now ever since that happened. My dad is more informed about cars then i am and says it may be the thermostat. Can anyone please give me information as to why my car is doing this? what do you guys suspect the problem is? any information is greatly appreciated. thanks alot guys!

 

Head Gasket go boom???

I C built motor..U know where the coolant was coming from?

 

Sounds like the thermostat stuck for a little but.

 

coolant was coming from the side where the overflow is located. it was relocated i think because of the APS kit. it wasn't coming from anywhere near the engine. any thoughts?

 

+1

 

Even if there was a bunch of coolant on the floor?

 

Maybe air in the system "purge it".

 

I would bleed the coolant system and see how it runs thereafter. You may want to take it back to your tuner to be on the safe side and possibly rule out headlift or blown hg. Good luck!

 

+1 on the coolant purge.

 

well called zcargarage and rob wasn't there, he's at sema. but heard from vince that it's just probably air in the system. either that or the thermostat got stuck. i asked if it was a headgasket and he said most likely not beacuse the stock headgasket can take alot of abuse before something usually happens. can someone explain to me what detonation sounds like?

 

if it was the headgasket, wouldn't the oil from the dipstick be this creamy color, like coffee with creamer in it or something to that effect?

 

I am no expert, but I think if it was a catastrophic head gasket failure, then yes, there would be coolant in the oil. However, if it is momentary head lift due to detonation, I do not believe you would see any measurable coolant in the oil. This could also introduce a burp into the cooling system, which could effect the heater and the overheat condition.

 

+1, perhaps change the oil and analyze to be safe.

 

ok, will do guys, but if the oil is the normal color and the coolant that spilled was only on the side where the resevoir was, then that probably mean that it was just something minor right? sorry, but i'm really stressed out right now, just need some assurance, that's all