coolt temp

the guage on my coolent temp usually sits at about the quater mark. today i reacently noticed that it was slowly moving twardes the halfway mark, exept when i was driving it would go back down to the quater mark. when i parked it was sitting at the halfay again and sometimes move back and fourth from the quarter to the halfway. does this mean my engine is overheating

Check that yer cooling fan is cycling. I assume that you first checked that the coolant is at the proper level and that it was flushed out and changed at the proper schedule? Let the engine idle with the headlights on. you can also put the blower on high but leave the temperature control to cool (we want an electrical load on the engine but don't want the heater core removing any heat from the system). Watch as the gauge rises and watch for the radiator fan to come on.

Uh you drive a what now?

S-Series Temp Gage:

It is overheating when it ruptures a hose and blows steam, not when it reaches the half way mark on the gauge.

If the temp needle gets to the top part of the gauge and into the red zone, then there is reason for concern and you should look into why that may be. Otherwise, if your fan currently turns on (should do so at 3/4 when left idling) and your plastic air dam has not been forcibly removed from under the front of the car, then all should be OK.

Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]

Two separate issues I will address .. my SATURN is a '98 - been maintained religiously.. first, my normal driving down the road temp gauge is 1/4 .. if I am parked at say the drive through window at the bank the gauge might go to 1/2 .. after pulling out of drive through back to 1/4 after driving a block or two. I asked my Sister about it, she also drives a SATURN, and her Husband said "Yes, there's does the same" - theirs is a '97. Sounds normal though if you have a more recent year < 2004-2007 > I'd recommend you listen to their experiences mre than mine or my Sis' .

Secondly - I was headed home from a long trip, about 50 miles from home my RED coolant light came on ... I went straight to my mechanic when getting into town ----- the OVERFLOW reservoir was low -- -- in my '98 radiator overflow reservoir there's a line near the top of it; when the coolant is below this line, the coolant light will come on -- in short, I only had like 3/4 gallon in my OVERFLOW reservoir, hence the light came on .. I added like 3 ounces..??.. of coolant to it and the light went off... I was FAR from blowing an engine.

Hope this gives you some insight.