Over heated, no coolant..

1901 Views 15 Replies 5 Participants Last post by bsmith, Aug 13, 2010

Sh8kesTF

Discussion Starter · Aug 10, 2010

I drove out of town today about 73 (1h 15min) miles and truck was fine. I arrive at my destination for my job and at the end of the day I start to drive home, upon waiting at the gas station while talking on my phone ( illegal to talk on phone while driving ) my truck over heated. I shut it off and let it cool for about 30 minutes, and turned the heater on full blast and started to head home half way home the service engine light came on. The temp gauge was at the middle of C and H like normal. I get home and let the truck cool for a few hours and pop the radiator cap and check the reservoir. To my surprise its completely empty, and you can see down into the radiator. I added some coolant to the reservoir maximum level and drove it around town and it started to climb abit again and then level off. I haven't checked the level again as I am letting it cool down.

Have I messed anything up running it without any coolant? It never reached H when I was driving it tonight. However I am concerned how I have absolutely zero coolant and I didn't see any traces off it on the ground or around the engine..

Do I add coolant to the radiator and then the reservoir? I always though to fill the reservoir up and let it pump coolant and add more if needed.

02 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab
80,000 Miles

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Sh8kesTF

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 10, 2010 (Edited)

I just changed the oil not 200 miles ago and didn't notice any blackening. When I filled up the reservoir and then went for a quick ride, it didn't suck anything out of the reservoir and the radiator is still empty.. Do I have to start it with the cap off?

I forgot to mention all the driving was highway, and never once did the temp gauge reach H while driving.

No exhaust smell or liquids dripping out of it. And I can't remember the time I checked the coolant level ( not even when I changed the oil ).

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Sh8kesTF

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 10, 2010

dubie2003 said:
You should remove the resivour cap and run it in the driveway for a little bit after you topped off the radiator itself.

I know you changed the oil but I would atleast pull the dip and look at the level. A very bad thing could be that you cracked the block internally and the coolant seeped into the oil so it is still contained but still not a good situation.

I will run out and check it really fast, do I leave the cap off the reservoir and the radiator, or just the reservoir to fill the radiator?

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Sh8kesTF

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 10, 2010

I opened the cap to both the radiator and the reservoir, and noticed that the radiator is actually filled now.. not sure if it took a small amount from the reservoir on my small trip or what. I'm assuming that the reservoir might have been empty and the light came on to refill it? I left it running for abit to 'burp' the system but didn't notice any bubbles or anything.

I also checked the oil and it looks like fresh oil, no discoloration or anything. I also checked the exhaust again and didn't notice any liquids coming out or any type of smoke. And no puddles under neath the truck.

My service light is still on though..

And I should restate that when it originally reached close to the H it didn't exactly overheat, I just paniced and turned the truck off and let it sit. It never went above the little H section with two bars.

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Sh8kesTF

Discussion Starter · #10 · Aug 10, 2010

Is it safe to drive with the light on? I am going to check the level again in the morning after its had ample time to cool just to make sure. I have the same trip to make in the morning, however I don't want to do any damage to the truck. And I will have to leave before an Autozone opens.

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Sh8kesTF

Discussion Starter · #12 · Aug 10, 2010

I checked everything this morning before I left, the reservoir was at between max and min, and last night it was all the way up the max when I filled it. The radiator also still had coolant in it. I made sure the reservoir didn't leak anything by checking around the engine bay and underneath the truck. When I took the cap off the radiator it made a suction sound, which I don't remember it doing last night. So I am hoping everything is in the clear for now.

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Sh8kesTF

Discussion Starter · #13 · Aug 11, 2010

Went to autozone this evening. I had two codes, one dealing with my gas cap not fitting correctly. Even though I checked it, the fella mentioned it could be an old cap and not sealing well. Not a big deal and will pick up a spare.

The other code was my Knock Sensor. I'm not sure much information about it so I am going to hit up google about it. This wouldn't happen to be the little blue thing near the airbox that's in the resonator removal guide?

Nothing about coolant and it was holding coolant when I checked it at various times throughout the day.

They reset both the codes and on my way home the light did NOT light back up.

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