car engine temperature?

Question

well, i have no idea if this is a normal occurance, but here goes: yesterday, i drove to a shopping center i regularly visit, about 30 miles away. it is highway driving for the majority (i averaged 70-80 mph) and then some stop and go in a 45mph zone. i normally drive this pace.

anyhow, after i'd parked, my friend noticed that something was gurgling. i did, too, and then realized that, according to the car's thermometer, the engine was quite hot (indicator needle almost to the red area on meter)

anyhow, i lifted up the hood to find a burning smell (much stronger than any normal "car engine" smell) and every liquid in there (i.e. windshield fluid, coolant, oil, etc) bubbling/boiling(?)

so i let it gurgle while we shopped, and on the way home, it seemed a lot more normal, though i did turn off the A/C & fan, drive the speed limit or below, etc.

perhaps bubbling things everywhere is normal, but the burning smell was a little worrisome. oh well. enlightenment would be great! :)

axel1667 · Accepted Answer

the electric cooling fan may not be operating to check warm up car at idle fans should come on between 220F.to 236F.but check coolant level in radiator and overflow tank first while engine is cool

carie · Answer

Usually that happens when the coolant level is low, or the electric cooling fans fail to come on. Coolant can be lost though a leak or blown out due to no fan operating while standing still. In the morning, when the engine is still cold the radiator should be full. If it isn't fill it. Start the car with the hood up and watch the temp gauge. When it gets above the normal mark the cooling fan should start blowing. If they don't there may be a bad fan fuse or fan relay. Those relays are cheap enough to buy a new one just put in place of the one that is already there and suspect. If the fan then works normally, the old relay was bad. Don't forget to check the fuse, if there is one that in on the fan circuit- it's usually a relay and a circuit breaker though, but Hyundai cuts corners to keep the price down. If you can't get the car to act up while you're in the driveway doing this, it may need to run longer until the coolant level leaks down enough. You might keep on the lookout for an obvious leak. Coolant may expand into the overflow tank, but that's what it's supposed to do. Let the engine cool off for about an hour before you look into the radiator to see if coolant is missing. At 48k, I wouldn't expect the water pump to leak, but if you can't see a leak and coolant gets lost anyway, that's where it might be going. If you have steam coming out the tailpipe and the engine is hot, that is very bad news. There may be a crack in the head or blown head gasket- major repair, and expensive. I have never seen any additive fix this permanently though they all promise to do it in the label. With luck, there might only be a leak in a hose that you can easily replace for cheap, or a bad radiator cap. What about that wonderful Hyundai warranty?

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car engine temperature?

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