CokeZero

1998 auto civic lx d16y7

I just got the car 2 weeks ago First couple of days driving it was fine. Then the temp got high one day to make water boil to the overflow (didnt run hot by the gauge it was high but not in red)

So I changed the thermostat with The failsafe one (to stick open if it fails) with a new rubber gasket. Topped off radiator and was fine for a few days. Then while sitting in a drive through I noticed the temp get high again. I made it home and had 2 hours till I had to pick my son up from school.

When I left to get my son I opened the radiator to see where it was at and it was only like 2 ounces too low. I topped it off and it was fine even sitting in his traffic at school.

It seems like if im going its fine but if I sit in traffic too much it will heat up but when I add coolant its hardly low at all. The fan does come on when I'm sitting in traffic but I timed it and it stayed on for 10seconds then turned off? and would come on again a bit later. But its like if its that high temp why wouldnt it stay on?

I've topped the radiator off and left the cap off and let the car run. the fluid doesn't lower and there is no bubbles so I don't think it's the head gasket. I'm kinda stumped.

Former User

You must properly bleed the cooling system after replacing the thermostat.

CokeZero

I didn't drain the radiator. Just filled up what was lost.

Would that explain why it runs fine a few days then runs hot sitting in traffic too much?

Former User

Browse the FAQs sticky.

p3p69

yes its still pushing air out of the system thats why you have to keep topping it off

nismoracingsx

You might not get all of the air out if you just leave the cap off and it idles.
Jack the front of the car up and top off your radiator. Lightly rev the engine a few times every few minutes and squeeze the upper and lower hoses.

Revving the engine was the only way I could even get mine to bleed all the way.

Also, if your fan isn't coming on at idle, you most likely have air in the system.
My cooling fan never worked until I did the headgasket and bled the system.

Bleakened

Same thing was happening to my 98 hatch. You might have a broken water pump. It was always my problem, just took forever to pin point it. My fan came on when it would start to overheat but not for long.

I'm not a pro like some of the peeps on here but maybe something to look into.