Overheat question

[Pilot]

Aside from the water temp. gauge reading, if the engine started to overheat will there be any red light come on, such as the engine fan light or...? Can the engine fan be running and the engine still get cooked to a crisp?

If there is no idiot light warning for an engine overheat, I see why people blow head gaskets unless they are constantly scanning the temp gauge.

[dirocyn]

There is a light for the cooling fan. I'll have to wait for somebody else to answer whether it comes on when the engine gets too hot, I've never had one come on. My su****ion is it only comes on if there's something wrong with the cooling fan.

The fan CAN be running and the engine cook to a crisp. This will happen if you have something that stops coolant from circulating, such as radiator blockage, a bubble in the coolant passages, or a bad water pump.

The reason so many people pop head gaskets is it's hard to keep air out of the cooling system--any little leak can let air in, and an air bubble can stop coolant from circulating. Most mechanics are not familiar with this concept, because only water-cooled mid-engine or rear-engine cars have this issue, and these are not all that common.

[Pilot]

Anybody ever install an engine overheat warning buzzer system such as found at:

ENGINE WATCHDOG TM2, Engine Coolant Temperature Alarm, Gauge & Sensor

The nice thing about this system is, even if you suddendly loose all the coolant, it will continue to accurately measure engine temperature and the installation looks quite simple.

A small bolt-on sensor that triggers a warning light/buzzer if the sensor temperature goes over 200 degrees is $69, see https://www.aqualarm.net/store/comer...p?idProduct=57

[mr2tim]

Diro is correct, you can burn an engine without ever getting a dash light.

Why the hell you think they all 'em "IDIOT LIGHTS"... ahh... DAH !!

Isn't it interesting that folks are always interested in finding a shortcut in life?, and that there's so many companies that pander to these folks on the Internet?

Sometimes I think of the Internet as the original scam generator.

I drive a 20 year old car, I expect parts to fail on a regular basis, (racing has taught me that).

I lift that engine compartment lid every damn time I use my car, water check, oil check, belt check, battery look over. Once a month I go under the car, etc etc.

This is the routine maybe you should start to use?

Almost all the problems I've had with my car in the last 20 years I have found out about in my DRIVEWAY, not on the side of the road, somewhere in the dark.

Forget the "Gadgets", go back to basics.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by mr2tim

Diro is correct, you can burn an engine without ever getting a dash light.

Why the hell you think they all 'em "IDIOT LIGHTS"... ahh... DAH !!

Isn't it interesting that folks are always interested in finding a shortcut in life?, and that there's so many companies that pander to these folks on the Internet?

Sometimes I think of the Internet as the original scam generator.

I drive a 20 year old car, I expect parts to fail on a regular basis, (racing has taught me that).

I lift that engine compartment lid every damn time I use my car, water check, oil check, belt check, battery look over. Once a month I go under the car, etc etc.

This is the routine maybe you should start to use?

Almost all the problems I've had with my car in the last 20 years I have found out about in my DRIVEWAY, not on the side of the road, somewhere in the dark.

Forget the "Gadgets", go back to basics.

Doing good routine inspections are certainly important. But you can inspect all you want but there are many failures that can take place that a visual inspection would not have discovered--water pump failure, belts break even when they look good, coolant hose failure--electrical component failures; the list is endless. Pre-inspection, by itself, is inadequate. If something fails that is going to cause the engine to cook in the course of a few minutes, I would like to know about it as soon as possible, not after the head-gasket blows.

[85SuperGZE]

Originally Posted by mr2tim

Diro is correct, you can burn an engine without ever getting a dash light.

Why the hell you think they all 'em "IDIOT LIGHTS"... ahh... DAH !!

Isn't it interesting that folks are always interested in finding a shortcut in life?, and that there's so many companies that pander to these folks on the Internet?

Sometimes I think of the Internet as the original scam generator.

I drive a 20 year old car, I expect parts to fail on a regular basis, (racing has taught me that).

I lift that engine compartment lid every damn time I use my car, water check, oil check, belt check, battery look over. Once a month I go under the car, etc etc.

This is the routine maybe you should start to use?

Almost all the problems I've had with my car in the last 20 years I have found out about in my DRIVEWAY, not on the side of the road, somewhere in the dark.

Forget the "Gadgets", go back to basics.

Never truer words spoken, and I do lift the engine lid as often as you too, my wife thinks I am crazy!!! Rain or shine....

[toyotaspeed90]

I am the opposite.... I only work on my wifes 86 when 1) it needs an oil change or 2) when it needs a starter..... (that's only partly a joke because it's on it's 9th starter).

I put a good motor in with new seals all over and pretty much haven't had to worry about it.

[jimmer411]

Originally Posted by 85SuperGZE

Never truer words spoken, and I do lift the engine lid as often as you too, my wife thinks I am crazy!!! Rain or shine....

And I thought I was the only one. Ever since my BHG I check coolant before every drive in both cars and oil every couple days

[YellowJacket]

Originally Posted by Pilot

Anybody ever install an engine overheat warning buzzer system such as found at:

ENGINE WATCHDOG TM2, Engine Coolant Temperature Alarm, Gauge & Sensor

The nice thing about this system is, even if you suddendly loose all the coolant, it will continue to accurately measure engine temperature and the installation looks quite simple.

A small bolt-on sensor that triggers a warning light/buzzer if the sensor temperature goes over 200 degrees is $69, see https://www.aqualarm.net/store/comer...p?idProduct=57

I love any thing that tells you more about your engine and stats... both cool gadgets. I know the side engine bay cooling fan comes on when ignition is on & the engine bay temp sensor reaches 158F degrees and fan kicks off when engine bay ambient temp falls below 129F

I wish I had an array of little dash lights that lit up when that fan was on and also when my rad fans were on and lastly when my TVIS kicks in... would be cool.