overheating at 60 mph and above, SOLVED! Options

[xrav22]

Hi there My Celica has been running great and I went on a trip(75mph) to find my fans were not kicking on and my temp was rising above middle to the top of thermometer.
Pretty much had to drive 55 all the rest of the way with heater on). I have searched and read many topics but none seem solved. Idling and in town no problems.

Had seen bad fan switch( not the prob new) in fact it isn't hot enough to get the fans on.
Unplug fan switch to see fans run(did and they run)
Blown head gasket (tailpipe is not smoking at all, oil is fine)
Bad thermostat (did replace once before)
Bad water pump (I did not replace, don't know how old it is) car has 200000
Tilted car air out/ new anti freeze
New radiator (6months old) new cap

I am warming it up to watch it and see if it does anything but it doesn't get too warm just sitting there. The gauge goes to the middle at idle.

has anyone solved this problem or what should I do next funds are avail for the Celica
Thx in advance
Edited

This post has been edited by xrav22: Jan 11, 2015 - 7:49 PM

[Box]

If you have the original radiator check the tanks for cracks. Another possibility is a defective radiator cap.

[Box]

That or the thermostat is stuck open. If it was the pump you'd be overheating in no time.

[xrav22]

I am thinking that an open thermostat would just keep the car at 130 degrees that is what happened last time when I changed it.
Now stuck closed mabey, but I was hoping someone has solved this problem before.
Thx

[Box]

If it were stuck close it'd warm up as normal though. Could also be water temp sensor throwing things out of kilter. Also was the radiator an OEM style replacement or one those universal eBay specials?

[Lamont]

I am thinking that an open thermostat would just keep the car at 130 degrees that is what happened last time when I changed it.
Now stuck closed mabey, but I was hoping someone has solved this problem before.
Thx

I think because it's not overheating under low load you may have a blown head gasket. I had something similar on my 5SFE motor when I first purchased my 6th gen. If I kept my foot out of the throttle it would be fine, but if I gave it full throttle for any extended time my temps would rise steadily. When I took the head off you could see just a very small section of the head gasket was allowing exhaust gas to leak into a coolant passage. This would superheat the coolant and make it overheat quickly if you really got on the gas. You can take your car to a shop and have them test for fluorocarbons in the coolant. If they find fluorocarbon you have a blown head gasket.

[Box]

That or another way of testing would be to just check the compression in each cylinder.

[Lamont]

That or another way of testing would be to just check the compression in each cylinder.

May not show up on a compression check. I wish I had saved the picture. It was the a very small piece of gasket missing from cylinder two to the front coolant passage opening. I had good cold and hot compression, but when I got on the gas it was overheating slowly but steadily. The test is cheap and so is the head gasket, but labor rates make everything expensive.

[xrav22]

That or another way of testing would be to just check the compression in each cylinder.

May not show up on a compression check. I wish I had saved the picture. It was the a very small piece of gasket missing from cylinder two to the front coolant passage opening. I had good cold and hot compression, but when I got on the gas it was overheating slowly but steadily. The test is cheap and so is the head gasket, but labor rates make everything expensive.

I was wondering about that I don't even know when it started. I will bring it in for the test or buy a test kit anyways does anyone think
head gasket seal could be something to try, I have never used it for anything.

This post has been edited by xrav22: Jan 10, 2015 - 6:02 PM

[Box]

I'd just do it right and replace the gasket, getting off RockAuto it wouldn't be much more that the block sealer garbage.

[richee3]

It's a thermostat issue. It isn't opening fully or maybe it's stuck slightly open. Either way, it's letting some coolant flow through the radiator, enough to keep the engine cool under lower loads, but at higher loads the coolant starts to get too warm since it's not able to flow freely through the radiator. This is why I'll inky use OEM Toyota thermostats.

[Box]

So what does Pinky, Blinky, and Clyde use?

[xrav22]

It's a thermostat issue. It isn't opening fully or maybe it's stuck slightly open. Either way, it's letting some coolant flow through the radiator, enough to keep the engine cool under lower loads, but at higher loads the coolant starts to get too warm since it's not able to flow freely through the radiator. This is why I'll inky use OEM Toyota thermostats.

Ya sounds like thermo is worth a try I will try that first.
Thx for tips

This post has been edited by xrav22: Jan 11, 2015 - 12:43 AM

[xrav22]

I'd just do it right and replace the gasket, getting off RockAuto it wouldn't be much more that the block sealer garbage.

You were right just changed the thermostat and it works great again. Great idea, the old one did look weathered a bit.
Must have been stuck.

[Box]

Glad to hear it was a cheap and easy fix!