My 2000 Taurus seems to be running hot. Though the temp gauge doesn't indicate it, the engine is emitting plenty of steam. It has plenty of coolant and the thermostat is opening like it should. I was thinking the head gasket may be about to blow, but it shows none of the usual signs. Any ideas?
Cars & Trucks - Ford - Taurus - 2000 Ford Taurus
Answers & Comments
ARE YOU SURE THERE'S A THERMOSTAT IN THERE ? AND IS IT FACING THE RIGHT WAY IF IT'S BACKWARDS IT WON'T OPEN, DO YOU SMELL ANTIFREEZE IN THE EXHAUST STEAM THAT YOU SEE IF NOT AND YOU HAVE GOOD HEAT CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR/ OR THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS MAKE SURE THEY ARE PLUGGED IN IS THE ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH AND POSSIBLY LOOSING POWER WHEN YOU ACCELERATE IF NOT AND NO HEAT THE HEATER CORE COULD BE CLOGGED AND IF YOU DO SMELL IT IN THE EXHAUST IT COULD BE SLIGHTLY LEAKING THROUGH THE INTAKE GASKET BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED PRESSURE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO FLOW THROUGH THE CORE ? COULD BE A BAD OR NOT INSTALLED RIGHT TIMING CHAIN ? ARE THE CATALYIC CONVERTORS GOOD HERE'S SOME PHOTO'S OF THE SENSORS IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE AND PLEASE POST BACK WITH PROGRESS MADE AND THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED IN THE PROCESS PLEASE BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT WAS DONE
THE TOP IS THE CRANK SHAFT BOTTOM IS THE CAMSHAFT THESE TWO IF NOT FUNCTIONING RIGHT WILL MAKE A MOTOR RUN HOTTER BUT THE GAUGE MIGHT NOT PICK IT UP AS MUCH UNLESS IT'S TOTALLY BLOWN MAYBE THE PLUGS ARE DIRTY TO TRY CLEANING THEM IF OIL IS LEAKING IN IT'S SHORTING OUT THE CONNECTOR OR THE SENSOR GOOD LUCK STEPHEN
Jorge how much mileage is on the car will give a hint most of the steam coming from the exhaust is created normally by the catalytic convertors they turn exhaust gases into water and right now depending on where you are located will make a vehicle produce more steam because of the extreme cold temperatures. when you say that the car seems to be overheating are you hearing the coolant making a boiling sound while the engine is running ?,and can you verify whether the electric fan is coming on to cool the radiator off? and is the thermostat in the right position ? is the exhaust system making noise ? if so your are loosing back pressure from the system and this will cause you to step on the gas harder and the valves will not close all the way causing increased engine temperatures and less exhaust gases being allowed through the EGR VALVE which is another cause of higher engine temperatures if this valve is not opening properly the temps will go up gas mileage will go down and the vehicle will have a loss of power and the engine will be shaking, take a piece of vacuum hose and attach it to the valve and apply vacuum to it you can suck on it if you don't have a way to use a tool this vacuum that you create will open the EGR and the engine running condition will change instantly also take that same piece of hose and this is not a joke either put one end in your ear and probe all your vacuum hoses this will act as a stethoscope and expose any leaking hoses by making you able to hear the hissing from the broken hose/nylon tubing these hoses/tubing control a lot of the emission controls and if they are cracked then they are not supplying enough vacuum inches to properly operate the EGR,DPFE(EGR DIFFERENTAIL PRESSURE FEEDBACK EXHAUST VALVE) VAPOR CANISTER PURGE SOLENOID FOR THE CHARCOAL CANISTER. all tubing/hoses must be checked and please understand I'm not there at the vehicle and I also do not know how much mechanical knowledge you actually have so I'm trying to think of everything that I possibly can that would cause you problems and forgive me if I'm telling you stuff you already know but if I can't see it myself I have to go over a lot of possible causes to find this you've got 40 years of taxi fleet experience hear trying to help you out post back by your comment so I know what was done stephen