Radiator cracked car overheated!!!

hanzbe420 · Post by **hanzbe420** » 21 Jul 2020, 06:54

Was so hot I pulled over yesterday at a park and ride, and I turned the a/c on 1 notch and laid back, I actually fell asleep for 20-30 mins i woke up the car was off, with low coolant warning. I got out coolant and oil everywhere. The radiator cracked, but the headgasket is good. The oil must of gotten so hot it spurted out the dipstick that I keep out for blowby relief till I can fix it. Put water and oil and started it sounded fine, then around 2k+ when I revved it, I hear a knocking. Is my engine toast? I should of never got a used radiator. Its been so hot and it failed. What I need to know, is it done for. I'm gonna put new rad in today. Hopefully it will still at least run, if I put thick oil or w.e. I need it to last another year at least. I'm so bummed it was running like a top. I'm so sad and depressed. Cleanest s60 ive ever seen. Not a rip or nothing in seat, everything works. I'm so sad. Please chime in.

Post by **jonesg** » 21 Jul 2020, 08:13

You lost engine oil from the radiator?
More likely to be tranny fluid no?
A severe overheat could be fixed with a head gasket and machine shop shave.
Staying optimistic, noise could be from a toasted water pump.

hanzbe420 · Post by **hanzbe420** » 21 Jul 2020, 08:16

No transmission fluid didn't leak. Head gasket is fine. I stated in post I keep the dipstick out to vent the blow by, and the oil squirted out the dipstick all over. Transmission fluid is full. If I had dipstick In all the way, i probably wouldn't of lost oil at all. So at idle there's no knocking but past 2k revs I hear the knock. Im hoping with new radiator, oil, and coolant, it'll clean up. I just need it to run.

Georgeandkira · Post by **Georgeandkira** » 21 Jul 2020, 10:34

After an episode like that would you think scanning for codes is a good idea?

I never saw a reader display "pending codes" but they say such codes are out there.

hanzbe420 · Post by **hanzbe420** » 21 Jul 2020, 11:04

Yea probably. There's no check engine light that came on at all. I just pulled the radiator out and there was oil or transmission fluid that came from the bottom radiator hose. But when I checked transmission fluid before it looked full, I'll have to check again. Praying its transmission fluid. Cause if its oil that's a sign of bad head gasket, but didn't see any steam, nothing out tail pipe. I'm going to pick up the radiator shortly. Then I'm gonna put it in, fill her up with oil and coolant, and pray it at least runs, and the knock is not so bad, where it affects driving. I'll live with the knock And baby it. Need this car to last at least another year. So I'm hoping I get lucky on this one. How ironic, that I pull over to a park n ride and take a nap for 20-30 mins with the a/c on 1 notch, but it was like 98 degrees out, and it's been in the 90s for days. And that was a used radiator. I'm so stupid I should of got a brand new one and not a used one. Because I slid into a bank and cracked the radiator previously. So I couldn't wait the ten days for delivery over the holiday so I got one from a junk yard. And well I guess that's what I get for being a cheap basterd.

(((((

Post by **abscate** » 21 Jul 2020, 11:21

We are all pulling for you. Good news is the bottom end of these engines is really tough and can stand some abuse.

You can probably Find a Car Parts place in CT not too Far Car aPart

Post by **jonesg** » 21 Jul 2020, 15:12

hanzbe420 wrote: ↑21 Jul 2020, 08:16 No transmission fluid didn't leak. Head gasket is fine. I stated in post I keep the dipstick out to vent the blow by, and the oil squirted out the dipstick all over. Transmission fluid is full. If I had dipstick In all the way, i probably wouldn't of lost oil at all. So at idle there's no knocking but past 2k revs I hear the knock. Im hoping with new radiator, oil, and coolant, it'll clean up. I just need it to run.

It comes down to how much oil did you lose.
I would watch the timing belt tensioner and water pump.

I had the same experience last winter, snowbank jumped in front of me and broke my radiator. $600 repair.

Georgeandkira · Post by **Georgeandkira** » 21 Jul 2020, 16:41

Beatcha! The deer which jumped in front of me was $1,600.

Seriously, I'm still wrapping my head around an idling engine launching its oil up and out of a dip stick pipe.
OK, the radiator cracked, coolant leaked out and an overheat condition occurred.

We'll see if the OP joins the "15W-40 jug buyers". Best of luck hanzbe

Post by **jonesg** » 21 Jul 2020, 18:21

If the dipstick was removed it will throw droplets that accumulate, eventually it may result in an engine fire.
The oil could have been spitting out a while.

hanzbe420 · Post by **hanzbe420** » 22 Jul 2020, 18:44

No it Never spit out. Even At 130 miles per hr. now my 850 would spit at any speed. But yea the top end is ticking very loud, its definitely toast, its knocking loud, I'm pretty sure the cars shot. I put the new rad in, and added thick oil. The only thing I can think why the oil spit out is cause it over heated so bad. It was like 2 quarts low or more, barley registered on stick if I remember. Definitely lost enough to do enough damage for a top end rebuild. I only paid 1500, it was a perfect dealership maintained car. Perfect condition. I expected at least 5-10 years. All this Because I had gotten a used radiator, and vented dipstick. The dipstick was out far, it never spit out. So yea that shocked me to. I dunno guys, hopefully I can find a cheap Volvo to get me back on the road. Wish me luck! There Where shavings in the oil also.

((((( I only had this car since October. It was way better then my 850 that lasted 11 years. I'm so upset. But be the question is to fix or to junk her

. I have never rebuilt an engine before, so i dunno if I'll be able to do that, or if its even worth it, if I only paid 1500 for it. He had it listed for $2500. only thing wrong with it was the pcv, and something tinging, or a piece of metal floating in the exhaust that made a lil noise like a heat shield would. I barley noticed it. I think it was a little part on the exhaust was loose. Very easy fix! Even the wipes blades where Volvo! Very well maintained. I couldn't believe it! Not even A crack or rip on the leather seats. Perfect sound system, breaks, a/c and everything was fine. Literally all functions worked! Such a great car! What a shame! You Would think if the oil got that low or the coolant, that the computer would shut it off. I think its supposed to. It was off when i woke up. but definitely didn't shut off In time. what a shame

shouldn't have took a nap. What a dumbass! And ofcourse it had to fail while napping for 20-30 mins. I would of saw the low coolant light immediately and all this never would of happend. What a shame!!!!