96 cam overheating

[paper body kit]

hey guys, i had a crack in my raditor about 3~ months ago and had it replaced...a couple of days ago i came home and when i got out of my car i hear a bubbling sound and like built up pressure.. so i open the hood and the cap on the radiator was bubbling out white/dirty foam....i didnt notice wat the water temp was at the time since i already turned the car off and was mad tired...so the the problem doesnt happen for like 4 days and now the past 2 days everytime i drive the car (just to work and back 8~ miles each way) the water temp slowly goes up, now i turn the heat on to lower it to keep it somwhat stable and that seems to be working but obviouly it wont work forever and need a fix.... i was wondering what I could do by my self to check.... and in the enginge coolent box there is fluid in there but it is dark brown and i was looking on the forums and herd that was oil/headgasket problem but i dont want to belive that ):

im off on saturday so ill bring it back to the mech. to have them look but any usefull info would be good.
tthankx

[dc_98_cam]

Any qualified mechanic or shop should have a pressure pump and gauge that will attach to your radiator ..... where the cap goes. The idea is to pump up the air pressure until it reaches a level equivalent to that produced by normal engine operation. You watch the gauge for 5 or 10 minutes, and observe whether the gauge needle stays steady, or falls. .... 100% accurate as far as telling you there is a problem with the cooling system. .... If the leak is external to the engine block, you can usually see the coolant coming out some place.

[Mike Gerber]

Try the cheap thing first. Buy a new radiator cap. Your cap may no longer be holding the proper pressure. This pressure raises the boiling point of the coolant in the system. You may get away with a $10 fix.

Mike

[paper body kit]

well i ended up replacin the radiator cap and thermostat. and its still overheating.... my next thing "supposdly" is the water pump/ and of course the timing belt along with it, but that was going to be 400~.. so im not sure how i feel about that...

has anyone else ever had the foam come up from there radiator? any idea what that means

[Stillrunning]

I would not be looking at the water pump yet. The foam may be a result of boiling over. You did not give engine/year. Have you checked to make sure all the air is out of the system? Have you checked to see if your fan is coming on when the engine gets hot? Have you checked the A/F mix?

[92ES5sp]

Was it overheating or running HOT? I would P.T. the cooling system and check compression if you cant see coolant leaking anywhere. Could be a blown H.G. What engine is in the car? The timing belt and water pump are maintenance items that need to done, so do it. $400 seems like a good price.

[toyomoho]

Are the radiator fans working, cooling shrouds installed including air dam at the bottom of the radiator? Check the radiator intake hose for internal collapsing; make sure the T-stat has the jiggle pin in the upright position. Flush out the coolant system.

[paper body kit]

its a 96 i4...........so i took it back today and talked to a other guy and he didnt even mention the waterpump, and said he will do a compression check and stuff next time i bring it in........i just wana kno the problem so i can make a decsion from there

[paper body kit]

yup turned out to be a problem with the heads.....so if anyone ever see's some foam come up from there radiator cap. gg on the repair bill
personly i think i might spend 50 bucks and buy the liquid so i can drive to find a new car.