Troubleshooting a 2004 Ford Explorer that Runs Hot

Question:

when i have 2 or 3people in car and turn on air everything is find when i have 5 adults in car an use the air it runs hot can you tell me i do have coolant in and its not low

asked by: Elliott L

Expert Reply:

You could have an air pocket in your coolant system that is causing the motor to run hot. To purge the air out you will want to find the steepest hill you can park your car on, let the car cool off for several minutes, remove the radiator cap and then start the car. Once the vehicle reaches operating temperate the thermostat will open and if there is a bubble in the system is should work itself out. You can also squeeze the water pump lines to help the bubble work itself out.

I had a similar problem with my car and doing this fixed the problem. Check that there isn't anything stuck in the radiator like a glob of mud or anything that would obstruct airflow.

You might also try having a radiator flush done. If you are seeing any white smoke out of the exhaust you will want a shop to do a leak down test as you may have blown a head gasket. Aside from that, check the thermostat and water pump.

expert reply by: Jameson C