Blessed KA or Ticking Time Bomb?

[Sileighty_85]

Its 98 240 and had that upper plastic heater core coupler on the fire wall break while i was driving and had all the coolant leak out.
TEMP GAUGE DID NOT RISE ABOVE NORMAL
(I know the Temp Gauge is garbage)

Car drove fine but stumbled at idle and had what i thought was rod knock at low RPM's like when you first start off in gear but disappeard above 1500RPM's. Gently drove it home (20 MINS) since i though i had a spun rod bearing, parked it. Later went out to check it over when it cooled down, went to check the coolant level to find the rad was empty. I then looked at that coupler to find it broke.

So I figured the H/G popped but the strange thing was the car drove all the way home with out a problem.
replaced the coupler and filled up the rad..... fired right up

Idles fine bled the system, warmed it up to operating temp took it for a short drive,no smoke, no loss in power, no chocolate milk No more knock. Drove it here to work without a problem (15-20mins).

So im scared now haha, I have to take a 400mile trip back to AL for my Bro's wedding on March 4th.

KA's are known for over heating and poping H/G, yet mine
did not. so im courious on why mine did not.

Anyone else have this happen?

[shinobis13hb]

yea i had it happen to me MANY TIMES lol i have driven it for 3+months since the last time it had happen. and nothing happened. just that odd sound.
i didnt have a thromostat so i jstu revved the motor to about 4.5 and it went down in like 10 sec drove it to the gas station filled it up with water and NOTHING ever again... lol that same thing has happened to me about 3 times. so blessed ka me n you both have. ID say lol allthough im putting in a new motor this weekend i spun a bearing finnaly llol (due to rear main)

[NINJASPY]

The stumble was probably a mis-fire because it was overheating. The temp gauge did not go up because there was no fluid to transfer heat to the sensor, only air.
Bleed the system a few times and you'll be ok. If you still feel iffy, pull the plugs and check em'. Pull the engine codes too.

I had something similar happen to me, I bled my system a few extra times and I have been ok since.

[fos240]

you'll be fine. i had one over heat on me so bad steam came out from under the hood and it didn't blow the head gasket. that was several years ago and the car is still on the road 4+ owners later.

frankie

[ryguy]

I had this happen on 2 other cars, and they both ended up being fine. On my jeep it was so bad, steam was rolling out of the thing. It was fine. Both cars were iron block, too.

[az_240]

Same thing happend to me in my 97' when the hose right above the bell housing tore open. Temp gauge was pegged at H.... not for long but still had me worried.

Replaced the hose and everything has been fine since.

If you are really worried about it check compression.

[datboibrad]

i think ive had my stock temp gauge pegged at well over hot countless times on my KA. motor still runs strong till this day. im sure im running on borrowed time to some degree but ive owned the same KA for close to 4 years now in atleast 4 different chassis on a daily driven basis without one tear down. when i got the motor it had atleast 130,xxx on it. its boiled coolant out of the radiator at aleast two different drift events and run stupid hot from fans not coming on on countless occasions.

[Sileighty_85]

Right on, all this makes me feel a little bit better.

So far shes been good, I bought a new thermostat and Rad cap for safe measures
and will check the compression when i get some free time.

[Sileighty_85]

well i figured id update this.

Changed the oil in it and made my 400mile (800 round trip) without a problem.
Coolant/oil level still the same.

If anything it runs cooler now lol, I guess over heating it gave it a nice steam cleaning inside haha.