I will preface this by saying that I had my 2004's thermostat and coolant replaced at the dealer in December. The stat gasket was leaking was the reason for replacement. I was smelling coolant at the time and was just thrilled it wasn't the head gasket.
1st of January 2010 [~2 weeks after the dealer service], I was driving [duh] about 70 miles into a 300 mile trip. I stop to get gas, and smell coolant. The expansion bottle is nearly full [this is not how it usually looks]. However the top hose is hot, and the bottom hose is cool, so I figure the radiator is working correctly, as is everything else. I am sure to check the temp gauge - which is normal - and everything is fine the rest of the trip. Bottle stays nearly full.
So I forget about it. I drive around town normally for three months without thinking of this and without problems. Never driving for any longer than an hour at a time, however.
Fast forward to this past Friday. 100 miles into 300 mile trip. I stop for gas and smell coolant. Expansion bottle has overflowed. Top radiator hose is hot. Bottom hose is cool. Temp gauge normal. I continue trip. I do not overheat.
The next day, after the car has cooled overnight, the overflow bottle has recessed back to the LOW line on it. The radiator is full. I fill the bottle back up to the full line.
NOTE: I recall while driving around in the 3-month interim that the bottle was typically more or less at the full line. However, I did have an oil change last week [before the most recent trip] and the lube guy might have over-topped off the overflow bottle. I did not check it since the oil change.
I start the same trip back [300 miles]. I make it without issue. It looks like the expansion bottle overflowed some, but not a whole lot. I will check again in the morning after it has cooled.
When the expansion bottle was full, it wasn't like it was boiling over. I overheated about 40k miles ago [head gaskets and clogged radiator] and it was steaming. This wasn't the case. It almost felt like normal expansion, but it seemed to be expanding "too much."
The car hasn't overheated since having the stat replaced. Can anyone suggest what might be the problem, or even if there is a problem? I would rather not go to the dealer, since it is an hour drive away. No check engine light has come on, and no temp gauge spike. Also, the car doesn't feel like it is overheating. No way would I have actually completed my trips if the car was really overheating.
If anyone needs any more information, please let me know, and I will check.
1st of January 2010 [~2 weeks after the dealer service], I was driving [duh] about 70 miles into a 300 mile trip. I stop to get gas, and smell coolant. The expansion bottle is nearly full [this is not how it usually looks]. However the top hose is hot, and the bottom hose is cool, so I figure the radiator is working correctly, as is everything else. I am sure to check the temp gauge - which is normal - and everything is fine the rest of the trip. Bottle stays nearly full.
So I forget about it. I drive around town normally for three months without thinking of this and without problems. Never driving for any longer than an hour at a time, however.
Fast forward to this past Friday. 100 miles into 300 mile trip. I stop for gas and smell coolant. Expansion bottle has overflowed. Top radiator hose is hot. Bottom hose is cool. Temp gauge normal. I continue trip. I do not overheat.
The next day, after the car has cooled overnight, the overflow bottle has recessed back to the LOW line on it. The radiator is full. I fill the bottle back up to the full line.
NOTE: I recall while driving around in the 3-month interim that the bottle was typically more or less at the full line. However, I did have an oil change last week [before the most recent trip] and the lube guy might have over-topped off the overflow bottle. I did not check it since the oil change.
I start the same trip back [300 miles]. I make it without issue. It looks like the expansion bottle overflowed some, but not a whole lot. I will check again in the morning after it has cooled.
When the expansion bottle was full, it wasn't like it was boiling over. I overheated about 40k miles ago [head gaskets and clogged radiator] and it was steaming. This wasn't the case. It almost felt like normal expansion, but it seemed to be expanding "too much."
The car hasn't overheated since having the stat replaced. Can anyone suggest what might be the problem, or even if there is a problem? I would rather not go to the dealer, since it is an hour drive away. No check engine light has come on, and no temp gauge spike. Also, the car doesn't feel like it is overheating. No way would I have actually completed my trips if the car was really overheating.
If anyone needs any more information, please let me know, and I will check.
