Will my SL2 overheat on a long drive across states?

Question

Hi thereThis may sound like a stupid question for some of you, but I've noticed that my 1995 Saturn SL2 overheats quite readily, and on a hot day will 'shut off' until it cools down.I am wanting to drive from Vancouver, BC to Seattle, Washington, about a 2 hour drive on the I-5 highway. Do I need to fear the car 'breaking down' because of over heating?Thanks.

Ratbert · Accepted Answer

Yes, you should fear that, but not specifically on the highway. Driving at 70 mph, your engine should be cooler than it would be driving around town at 30 mph. This is due to increased air flow at high speed. But your problem is definitely not normal, and you need to get it repaired. Unless you like taking a break every now and then to let your car cool off.

Brigitte · Answer

Does your Saturn still have the air dam?  If it's gone, that will cause yourcar to run hot.Brigitte

Alex Marcuzzi · Answer

Have you checked the condition of your antifreeze & level on the overfilltank. Does is still look green or is it staring to take on a coffee colour(if it does it is a good sign of a cracked head). You could try flushing therad and install new antifreeze to start with. After you turn the car on seeif you have a good flow of the coolant after the thermostat opens. Feel thetop of the rad and compare it to the bottom to see if it is cooler. Does thefan eventually come on as the coolant gets warmer (if it doesn't check yourtemperature sensor)? At this point either the cooling system is workingproperly or you should have a found the reason why your car is overheating.Alex

Jeremiah · Answer

First it's not green, it's orange. Second, the orange stuff when it's time to do a flush, turn brown and kinda thick and slushy. Also a note, you car isn't overheating, when a car overheats, stuff breaks. It's normal for the temp gauge to go farily close to 3/4 the way to the red.I've drivien 6 hours before, never went over 1/2 way, Inface my fan usally kicks on around 1/2 way when sitting in traffic. You can alos open your windows and turn your heat on full blast this uses your heater core as a second radiotor kinda. Now if your fan never comes on, and you see steam coming from under the hood, check your fan, thermosate and do a flush, replace your thermostate, and temp sensors when you do a flush

Good Luck

Jeremiah

Brigitte · Answer

I've had my saturn overheat before because of a bad radiator cap.  IIRC,this has happened twice.  Just replaced the cap and good to go again.HTH,Brigitte

Dan Duncan · Answer

On a 1995 model, which he said he has, the coolant was green.-DanD

Jeremiah · Answer

my bad, thought i read something else.Jeremiah

Will my SL2 overheat on a long drive across states?

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