What happens when engine overheats?
 

Not having learned from the last time, I let my teenager take the jeep
out for the weekend. I warned him that it has been overheating and
not to push it too hard, but he didn't listen... and now I have found
out that not once, not twice, but three different times, he let the
engine completely overheat, then just waited for it to cool off,
restarted, and drove on.

There doesn't APPEAR to be any lasting damage, at least not on the
surface. But I'm wondering what may lurk in store. What happens when
an engine overheats? what components are most likely to be damaged
and in need of attention?

(In case you are wondering what happened last time: He had only a 32
inch spare along with a jeep that otherwise ran 36 inch tires. He put
the 32 on when he got a flat, and then drove home. This in and of
itself might not have been such a disaster, except that he left the
lockers engaged and drove home 70 miles on paved roads.)

Re: What happens when engine overheats?
 

This will teach you to let a youngster have a vehicle that is not in good
repair!

Earle

"E.L. Lambert" <lambeth65@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:76b045c1.0307281317.87dea3f@posting.google.co m...
> Not having learned from the last time, I let my teenager take the jeep
> out for the weekend. I warned him that it has been overheating and
> not to push it too hard, but he didn't listen... and now I have found
> out that not once, not twice, but three different times, he let the
> engine completely overheat, then just waited for it to cool off,
> restarted, and drove on.
>
> There doesn't APPEAR to be any lasting damage, at least not on the
> surface. But I'm wondering what may lurk in store. What happens when
> an engine overheats? what components are most likely to be damaged
> and in need of attention?
>
> (In case you are wondering what happened last time: He had only a 32
> inch spare along with a jeep that otherwise ran 36 inch tires. He put
> the 32 on when he got a flat, and then drove home. This in and of
> itself might not have been such a disaster, except that he left the
> lockers engaged and drove home 70 miles on paved roads.)

Re: What happens when engine overheats?
 

I'm thinking the same thing.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Earle Horton wrote:
>
> This will teach you to let a youngster have a vehicle that is not in good
> repair!
>
> Earle

Re: What happens when engine overheats?
 

E.L. Lambert wrote:
> Not having learned from the last time, I let my teenager take the jeep
> out for the weekend. I warned him that it has been overheating and
> not to push it too hard, but he didn't listen... and now I have found
> out that not once, not twice, but three different times, he let the
> engine completely overheat, then just waited for it to cool off,
> restarted, and drove on.
>
> There doesn't APPEAR to be any lasting damage, at least not on the
> surface. But I'm wondering what may lurk in store. What happens when
> an engine overheats? what components are most likely to be damaged
> and in need of attention?

Depends on the severity of the overheat.
You will see nothing till the damage makes itself known.

At any rate, it's time to change the oil since it's gotten way
too hot for its own good.

Take the oil out of juniors allowance. Having to spend $ on something
that isn't fun has a way of making kids pay attention.

> (In case you are wondering what happened last time: He had only a 32
> inch spare along with a jeep that otherwise ran 36 inch tires. He put
> the 32 on when he got a flat, and then drove home. This in and of
> itself might not have been such a disaster, except that he left the
> lockers engaged and drove home 70 miles on paved roads.)

Amazing the smaller tire still has rubber or the locker didn't grenade.

Sounds like junior needs to be restricted to having an adult with him/her
at all times when driving.

--
DougW

Re: What happens when engine overheats?
 

"DougW" <post.replies@invalid.address> wrote in message
news:4NjVa.95203$R92.51781@news2.central.cox.net.. .
> E.L. Lambert wrote:
> > Not having learned from the last time, I let my teenager take the jeep
> > out for the weekend. I warned him that it has been overheating and
> > not to push it too hard, but he didn't listen... and now I have found
> > out that not once, not twice, but three different times, he let the
> > engine completely overheat, then just waited for it to cool off,
> > restarted, and drove on.
> >
> > There doesn't APPEAR to be any lasting damage, at least not on the
> > surface. But I'm wondering what may lurk in store. What happens when
> > an engine overheats? what components are most likely to be damaged
> > and in need of attention?
>
> Depends on the severity of the overheat.
> You will see nothing till the damage makes itself known.
>
> At any rate, it's time to change the oil since it's gotten way
> too hot for its own good.
>
> Take the oil out of juniors allowance. Having to spend $ on something
> that isn't fun has a way of making kids pay attention.
>
> > (In case you are wondering what happened last time: He had only a 32
> > inch spare along with a jeep that otherwise ran 36 inch tires. He put
> > the 32 on when he got a flat, and then drove home. This in and of
> > itself might not have been such a disaster, except that he left the
> > lockers engaged and drove home 70 miles on paved roads.)
>
> Amazing the smaller tire still has rubber or the locker didn't grenade.
>
> Sounds like junior needs to be restricted to having an adult with him/her
> at all times when driving.
>
I disagree. Just don't give the little fellow broken cars to play with.
Known tendency to overheat = broken. Wrong sized spare = broken. About the
lockers though. I would give him a lecture about that, and an explanation
that they are "off road only" equipment.

Earle

Re: What happens when engine overheats?
 

as far as i know it can cause the head gasket to crack and the engine head
to warp-especially on the long 6-cylinder heads we have in the 4.2 and 4.0l
engines. excessive heat also causes the oil to breakdown faster, decreasing
its usefulness as a lubricant. i'd give the kid a stern talk about
responsability....

"E.L. Lambert" <lambeth65@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:76b045c1.0307281317.87dea3f@posting.google.co m...
> Not having learned from the last time, I let my teenager take the jeep
> out for the weekend. I warned him that it has been overheating and
> not to push it too hard, but he didn't listen... and now I have found
> out that not once, not twice, but three different times, he let the
> engine completely overheat, then just waited for it to cool off,
> restarted, and drove on.
>
> There doesn't APPEAR to be any lasting damage, at least not on the
> surface. But I'm wondering what may lurk in store. What happens when
> an engine overheats? what components are most likely to be damaged
> and in need of attention?
>
> (In case you are wondering what happened last time: He had only a 32
> inch spare along with a jeep that otherwise ran 36 inch tires. He put
> the 32 on when he got a flat, and then drove home. This in and of
> itself might not have been such a disaster, except that he left the
> lockers engaged and drove home 70 miles on paved roads.)

Re: What happens when engine overheats?
 

Why was it overheating in the first place?

Overheating can cause some nasty damage.

The valve seals for one bake hard and then you start having blue puffs
of smoke when you first start it up in the mornings and it will forever
burn oil until fixed.

The head gaskets on the 4.2 engine for one will usually let go. This
can mean exhaust in the rad or oil or coolant going into the oil or
cylinders. Watch for a white puff of smoke when starting, that could
mean coolant inside the pistons.

I would be doing a compression test to check the head gasket. This
doesn't always identify every way a head gasket 'can' blow, but it can
give you a good indication if one or two cylinders, especially side by
side or end ones have low compression. For some reason I have seen the
most problems with the head gasket on #6 or between #3 and 4 after an
overheat.

If the valve seals or head gasket is blown, then having the head rebuilt
and shaved flat is called for. The valve guides can wear extremely fast
with no coolant too.

Good luck.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

"E.L. Lambert" wrote:
>
> Not having learned from the last time, I let my teenager take the jeep
> out for the weekend. I warned him that it has been overheating and
> not to push it too hard, but he didn't listen... and now I have found
> out that not once, not twice, but three different times, he let the
> engine completely overheat, then just waited for it to cool off,
> restarted, and drove on.
>
> There doesn't APPEAR to be any lasting damage, at least not on the
> surface. But I'm wondering what may lurk in store. What happens when
> an engine overheats? what components are most likely to be damaged
> and in need of attention?
>
> (In case you are wondering what happened last time: He had only a 32
> inch spare along with a jeep that otherwise ran 36 inch tires. He put
> the 32 on when he got a flat, and then drove home. This in and of
> itself might not have been such a disaster, except that he left the
> lockers engaged and drove home 70 miles on paved roads.)

Re: What happens when engine overheats?
 

I would expect huge drivetrain issues if he drove with 1 odd-sized tire in
4WD... especially that big a difference. I know Subaru (AWD) says that if
you replace 1 tirem replace them all or you will fry something. I had a
mechanic show me the results of a guy buying 2 new tires and putting them up
front... old tires in the back (50% wear?). Not a pretty picture.

"E.L. Lambert" <lambeth65@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:76b045c1.0307290622.ae5492e@posting.google.co m...
> > as far as i know it can cause the head gasket to crack and the engine
head
> > to warp-especially on the long 6-cylinder heads we have in the 4.2 and
4.0l
> > engines. excessive heat also causes the oil to breakdown faster,
decreasing
> > its usefulness as a lubricant.
>
>
> Ok... I think I would have noticed some performance problems if I had
> a cracked head gasked and warped engine head, so it looks like I got
> lucky. I am about due for an oil change anyway so I will go ahead and
> do that and cross my fingers.
>
> As for everyone who jumped on me about letting him drive it...
> apparently you don't have children, or have children who are perfect
> angels and always do exactly as they're told. Mine are mortal,
> however, so this kind of thing is bound to happen from time to time.
> Coincidentally, loss of driving privileges is also bound to happen
> from time to time too. (Actually, he can still drive, but the jeep has
> been supplanted for a few weeks by the purple Geo Metro. Judging from
> the way he protested, I think putting a teenager in a car he's
> embarassed to be seen in is actually a worse punishment than no car at
> all. :-)

Re: What happens when engine overheats?
 

he may have thought he was talking to me... LOL

"Earle Horton" <enfermero_diabolico@registerednurses.com> wrote in message
news:bg62eo$l8p13$1@ID-147790.news.uni-berlin.de...
> I would have Joe, but he accused me of having perfect children...
>
> Earle
>
> "Joe" <jo_ratner@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:3f268824@shknews01...
> > You made your point, leave the guy alone.
> >
> >
> >
> > "Earle Horton" <enfermero_diabolico@registerednurses.com> wrote in
message
> > news:bg60uv$lc7j6$1@ID-147790.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > > "E.L. Lambert" <lambeth65@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> > > news:76b045c1.0307290622.ae5492e@posting.google.co m...
> > > > > as far as i know it can cause the head gasket to crack and the
> engine
> > > head
> > > > > to warp-especially on the long 6-cylinder heads we have in the 4.2
> and
> > > 4.0l
> > > > > engines. excessive heat also causes the oil to breakdown faster,
> > > decreasing
> > > > > its usefulness as a lubricant.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Ok... I think I would have noticed some performance problems if I
had
> > > > a cracked head gasked and warped engine head, so it looks like I got
> > > > lucky. I am about due for an oil change anyway so I will go ahead
and
> > > > do that and cross my fingers.
> > > >
> > > > As for everyone who jumped on me about letting him drive it...
> > > > apparently you don't have children, or have children who are
perfect
> > > > angels and always do exactly as they're told. Mine are mortal,
> > >
> > > I do have children, and they are not perfect angels. That is why I
> would
> > > never, ever give one of them a car to drive which had a known problem
> like
> > > tendency to overheat. An off sized spare on a vehicle with lockers?
No
> > > way. It is not fair to the kid to give him that responsibility all at
> > once.
> > > Being a good driver takes practice, and a novice driver deserves a
good
> > > vehicle so he can concentrate on the road, not the radiator.
> > >
> > > It amazes me how many people give their kids junkers to drive, while
> they
> > > drive the safe vehicle. If my kid is going to drive one of my cars,
> that
> > > car is going to be 100% safe and functional as far as I know it. If
it
> is
> > > not, then I will give the kid the good car and take the junker myself.
> > >
> > > Your kid is probably better off with the Metro, assuming that it is in
> > good
> > > repair. Don't let him drive your Jeep until you fix it.
> > >
> > > Earle
> > >
> > > > however, so this kind of thing is bound to happen from time to time.
> > > > Coincidentally, loss of driving privileges is also bound to happen
> > > > from time to time too. (Actually, he can still drive, but the jeep
has
> > > > been supplanted for a few weeks by the purple Geo Metro. Judging
from
> > > > the way he protested, I think putting a teenager in a car he's
> > > > embarassed to be seen in is actually a worse punishment than no car
at
> > > > all. :-)
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Re: What happens when engine overheats?
 

I'd probably have the kid help change the oil/filter, then pull
a compression check. Then do him a favor and have him help
you find and fix the overheat problem.


serg wrote:

> as far as i know it can cause the head gasket to crack and the engine head
> to warp-especially on the long 6-cylinder heads we have in the 4.2 and 4.0l
> engines. excessive heat also causes the oil to breakdown faster, decreasing
> its usefulness as a lubricant. i'd give the kid a stern talk about
> responsability....
>
> "E.L. Lambert" <lambeth65@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:76b045c1.0307281317.87dea3f@posting.google.co m...
>> Not having learned from the last time, I let my teenager take the jeep
>> out for the weekend. I warned him that it has been overheating and
>> not to push it too hard, but he didn't listen... and now I have found
>> out that not once, not twice, but three different times, he let the
>> engine completely overheat, then just waited for it to cool off,
>> restarted, and drove on.
>>
>> There doesn't APPEAR to be any lasting damage, at least not on the
>> surface. But I'm wondering what may lurk in store. What happens when
>> an engine overheats? what components are most likely to be damaged
>> and in need of attention?
>>
>> (In case you are wondering what happened last time: He had only a 32
>> inch spare along with a jeep that otherwise ran 36 inch tires. He put
>> the 32 on when he got a flat, and then drove home. This in and of
>> itself might not have been such a disaster, except that he left the
>> lockers engaged and drove home 70 miles on paved roads.)
>
>