My Kia Rio Overheated!! What to do?

MidiLand SG

Hi all,
Last night i was driving as it was a cold night, i didn't switch my aircon on.. As i was driving, i felt hot air blowing from under my steering wheel.. and hot air coming out of the air con.. but my temperature gauge was all right (4/10).. So i drive into an alley and decided to check it out.. it turn out that the engine is overheated.. So i walked to 7-11 to get mineral water to help to cool down the engine.. When the engine is cool.. i open the radiator cap and saw that the radiator water level was quite low so i add a bit of mineral water in it till full.. and decided to rush home.. Luckily, on my way back home the engine was ok..
So any comment on what should i do now? do i need to go to flush my radiator water as i mix it with mineral water?

AE86tofu SG

mineral water is okay ma....try nt 2 use tap water as it will corrode the internals...

thingy SG

go to a petrol station to buy proper coolant to top it up lo. don't have to flush, i think the water will naturally evaporate away after time...

why is ur temp guage is faulty in the first place? Rolling Eyes

Praetorian111 SG

monitor it for a while if the problem persist then send it to a mechanic.
By the way how old is your car??

coolbluewater SG

Ooop.. been using mixture of tap water and coolant for all these while. I know have to use distil water at least, but always thought tap water also can.

tomsss SG

can… most coolant will require at least 40% concentration when mixed with water. i think.

eati SG

Er...sorie can enlighten us.. on why mineral water is okay and tap water will corrode the internals..? I can't see the logic behind....

MidiLand SG

ooo.. my car is barely 2 years old.. done 30 000 km.. I was overseas for 2 weeks.. then left my car dear during those 2 weeks.. after which i drove for 2 days and nothing happen.. suddenly the 3rd night the engine kindda overheated.. but the temperature gauge is in normal position..

tailslide SG

psst. how u know ur engine overheated when the water temps are still normal?

distilled water is fine. mineral water and tap water is ok but they will leave deposits in ur radiator fins over time. best is to drain out all the liquid from ur radiator and pour in proper coolant.

snop_coolz SG

some problem here too..my dad’s car about 25 years then this aug expired liao..then the car travel a small distance nia..like 10min then the car water will boil..then after abit of check he says that the fan(cooler) like spoil nv turn liao..so repair about how much ar..worth or not..since the car goin scarpe liao..

Praetorian111 SG

Buy a second hand radiator and install into it.

MidiLand SG

Coz after a while, though i didn’t switch on my air con, there is hot air coming out.. and my feet can feel the hot air coming from the engine.. So when i stop by and open the car bonnet.. there is a sudden gush of hot air… and burnt smell.. Coz my car been in the carpark for 2 weeks.. Any advise on how to maintain a car if i use it seldomly?? as i go overseas often..

tailslide SG

err, everything in the engine bay is hot leh, not juz ur engine.

its pretty hard to say with certainty wad is actually the coz of ur probs, but if its running normally without any obvious fluctations in water temps, it shouldn't be the engine overheating.

HolySniper SG

maybe something, a living thing got cooked inside.. Laughing