I've read tons of threads and now am confused where to start:


92, 245: Temp gauge typically runs around the 8 o'clock position. Yesterday, in 20mph traffic, for 45 minutes, in 90 degree heat, it went up to about the 9:30 position. When I arrived home at the end of the 45 minutes, there was a small amount of steam coming from under the hood.


This morning before leaving for work, I could turn the fan as much as I wanted with no resistance. Checked fan speed when first started, as well as when I arrived at work this morning, and it seems to maintain a constant speed...temp gauge was fine and no overheating this morning on the way to work, in cool 70 degree temps.


Also, when I arrived to work, I felt both upper/lower radiator hoses. The lower hose was not quite as hot as the upper.


This is my DD, so I'm tempted to just replace the radiator, water pump, thermostat and fan clutch. However, if it's something simple as a sensor, I would rather do that. I've done no 'mods' to the temp gauge.


Any experience is greatly appreciated to help me narrow this down before I replace it all

 

Just start with the fan clutch. If the hoses differ in temp like you state, that is how they should feel. With the car off, see if there is any play at the fan by grasping it an rocking it side to side.
When you first start the car in the morning, you have a small window of time to test the operation of the fan clutch. Immediately after starting, take a rolled up newspaper or similar and gently and carefully interfere with the fan blades. If you can slow the fan immediately after starting the car, the fan clutch is not operating. You have only a matter of a half- minute or so to perform this test, so think out how you will do it and choreograph your movements beforehand. Note: the engine spins clockwise.
You can't really tell if the fan clutch is operating visually. Generally, the fan changes pitch to a sort of roaring sound when operating and freely spins when disengaged.

 

Thanks, Fochs. I'll try the newspaper test today after I get it home and it cools down. Is that clockwise facing the engine or sitting in the drivers seat?

 

Its not your fan.

 

So what are you suggesting?

 

The temp guage sounds normal. Steam is not. Where did it come from?

 

Just let it sit in the driveway running and see if you can get it to go hot or leak.

 

Thanks
Not sure where it came from, I'm guessing radiator. There was very little steam, and by the time I had parked and opened the hood, I couldn't find where it came from. Will try letting it just sit while running, and see if I can find the culprit.

 

Testing the fan clutch needs to happen in the morning when it's cold. The viscous oil in the clutch takes a minute to distribute from the reservoir when it's first started and then the fan spins freely until the temperature of the fan oil thickens enough through heat to activate the clutch again.

Good question; facing the engine.

 

So the OP states that his temp gauge is reading noticeably higher suddenly and you discount the fan clutch out of hand? What are you, clairvoyant? Could not the higher coolant temperature cause leakage from pressure?

 

Temp gauge never went above 9:00.

And, I have a new update: It ran fine on the way home, noticed a little smoking from underneath while sitting at a stop light. When I got home, I let it sit and idle for about 10 minutes. Temp gauge stayed at about 8:00 position, and no smoke/steam.

Started crawling around underneath and spotted this...for the first time ever. It looks like ATF? Could this be the heater lines leaking? I ran my heater for about 2 minutes of my drive. Wondering if this is burning off and I notice it while sitting still?

Anyway, apparently I need to replace seals. Sorry for the crappy phone pics

 

that first pic is too fuzzy to see what it is. the 2nd pic looks more like oil than coolant, I'd dab a finger in it, then sniff it and rub it together to see what it is. ATF is red, engine oil is yellow or brown, coolant is water based and depending on your brand of antifreeze could be pale yellow (G05) or green (volvo brand or generic grade junk) or some other color.

 

I just stood on my head and looked at the first pic. That is red ATF. That will cause smoke hitting that exhaust right there!


Only thing that could really be leaking right there is the input shaft seal. Time to pull the tranny!

 

Pierce, there is oil all underneath the car...it's ridiculous. I'm slowly trying to clean it all up.




Thanks, Revolv. It is definitely red ATF. Is it possible that it's from the heater lines? The only time it leaked enough to leave a small puddle was when I ran the heater. I just drove 30 minutes with no heat and when I parked, no puddle over an hours time.

 

the heater hoses carry coolant, you blow one of those, all your coolant is lost, and if you don't shut down immediately, you run the risk of overheating and blowing the head gasket..

there is a pair of transmission cooler lines from the tranny to the radiator and back, those carry ATF, in fact I think thats the horizontal pipe visible in your first pic.

 

I will answer your question with a question. Do the two heater hoses going into the firewall carry coolant, or ATF in them?

 

Well played, sir, well played.

 

the photo is too motionblurred and out of focus to tell for sure, but there's a lot of crud on those tranny cooler lines, its possible one has corroded through... i'd clean those up (brush, hose, then spray with gunk engine cleaner, let soak, brush again and hose off), then run the car for a short bit and see if the ATF is coming from the cooler line, or the tranny itself...

 

The problem is your 240 is upside down.

 

Think it's fixed (not the picture). The transmission cooling hard lines were leaking. I cut a few inches out of each and fit some rubber hose and clamps. Hopefully should be good to go. Thanks for the help!