[me2dumb4college]

So the heater only blows hot air when the car is at >1500rpm. Is this a heater core going bad or something else?

The temp gauge shows the car cooling off quickly at idle.

[NickPohlAandP]

Most likely you have low coolant level.

[03_StangGuy]

If the core was bad you would have a "sweet" coolant smell in the car. Even if it were bad you would still get heat long as you have coolant in the car.

[casper gt]

it would probubly be a good idea to look into a thermostat or at least make shure the one in the car is functioning properly.

[bottled2v]

Originally Posted by 03_StangGuy If the core was bad you would have a "sweet" coolant smell in the car. Even if it were bad you would still get heat long as you have coolant in the car.

Not true. Heater cores plug up easy, and when plugged they don't smell but just don't blow hot at idle.

Op, start by checking your coolant. If there's still some in there I'd then flush it and throw a thermostat in it. If you do that I'd drain it all, unhook the heater core hoses and put a water hose on one and try and flush all the crap out of it. However that doesn't always work and if it's still just as bad you're gonna need a new heater core. If you've ever put bars leak or something like that in the cores probably plugged.

[me2dumb4college]

wow good call, there's virtually no coolant in there... wtf

[NickPohlAandP]

reps please LOL

[me2dumb4college]

i've given you too much rep nick...

[me2dumb4college]

i'm not sure what happened, but it was full before my mechanic changed out my spark plugs last week...

[NickPohlAandP]

Originally Posted by me2dumb4college i've given you too much rep nick...

LOL I know you have, I was just kididng.

As far as why it's low, you should have that looked into. Do a cooling system pressure check. If you don't have a pressure tester, get one. They are fairly cheap and very useful. Do you know how to use one?

[03_StangGuy]

Originally Posted by bottled2v Not true. Heater cores plug up easy, and when plugged they don't smell but just don't blow hot at idle. Op, start by checking your coolant. If there's still some in there I'd then flush it and throw a thermostat in it. If you do that I'd drain it all, unhook the heater core hoses and put a water hose on one and try and flush all the crap out of it. However that doesn't always work and if it's still just as bad you're gonna need a new heater core. If you've ever put bars leak or something like that in the cores probably plugged.

If its clogged wouldnt it not put out much heat at all?

Originally Posted by me2dumb4college i'm not sure what happened, but it was full before my mechanic changed out my spark plugs last week...

thats not good. Definitely top it off and see if you can find the leak.

[me2dumb4college]

Originally Posted by NickPohlAandP LOL I know you have, I was just kididng. As far as why it's low, you should have that looked into. Do a cooling system pressure check. If you don't have a pressure tester, get one. They are fairly cheap and very useful. Do you know how to use one?

Never done it before, but I'm sure I could figure it out. What pressure should it be at?

[NickPohlAandP]

You want to pump the pressure in the system to the relief setting that your cap is rated for, usually about 13-15 psi. The first thing you will do is fill your system up with coolant (or you'll be pumping forever). Once you have it at around 13 psi just stop pumping and watch the gauge. It should be pretty steady. If it's dropping then you have a leak somewhere. With the system full of coolant and pressurized, if it's dropping pressure, you just have to find where it's leaking from, which should be evident by the coolant leaking onto the ground somewhere.

[number1gt]

Couldn't say it better nick

[Shaun03GT]

Kind of off topic, but my car has been losin antifreeze latley. I dont smell any at all when i pop the hood, and I just changed my oil and it was fine, not milky. The dipstick was fine, just oil came off of it.

Any ideas?

[NickPohlAandP]

Originally Posted by Shaun03GT Kind of off topic, but my car has been losin antifreeze latley. I dont smell any at all when i pop the hood, and I just changed my oil and it was fine, not milky. The dipstick was fine, just oil came off of it. Any ideas?

Do this.

Originally Posted by NickPohlAandP You want to pump the pressure in the system to the relief setting that your cap is rated for, usually about 13-15 psi. The first thing you will do is fill your system up with coolant (or you'll be pumping forever). Once you have it at around 13 psi just stop pumping and watch the gauge. It should be pretty steady. If it's dropping then you have a leak somewhere. With the system full of coolant and pressurized, if it's dropping pressure, you just have to find where it's leaking from, which should be evident by the coolant leaking onto the ground somewhere.

[Shaun03GT]

Will do, but i figure if its leaking outside id definitley be able to smell it. Antifreeze has a strong and linguiring odor to it.

[NickPohlAandP]

Originally Posted by Shaun03GT Will do, but i figure if its leaking outside id definitley be able to smell it. Antifreeze has a strong and linguiring odor to it.

If it's a small enough leak and it's diluted with dirt and other crap you won't always smell it. You're right, antifreeze is pretty pungent, but sometimes it can be evasive. The best way to find a leak is with a pressure test. That being said, be careful. Don't overpressurize the system (keep it around 13 psi) and if pressure is dropping off and you're not finding a leak outside, check around the heater core asap, you don't want to douche your interior with coolant.