Help! Overheating!

[Sandman]

The little radiator symbol had been going on and off for a few days. Yesterday I was at a red light and someone got my attention to tell me I was leaking fluid. The guage had shot up to the top. I pulled off the road into a parking spot and shut the car off. 30 seconds later I started it up for a moment to back it into the spot further and noticed the guage now reading normal!?

When I came back after a few hours and topped off the fluid I was able to drive it approx. 12 minutes on the highway without the meter going past the second hash mark. When I got near home I had to stop for a minute, then the guage started going up right away. Line of drops coming from the car, not sure where from yet. No steam. No antifreeze smell. Any ideas? Suggestions? Thanks.

Sandman

[Micah]

Maybe hydraulic oil from the fan? Is the liquid slippery? This would explain the overheating when you stop b/c there is no air passing over the radiator to absorb the heat and carry it away.

[SirSam]

Maybe hydraulic oil from the fan? Is the liquid slippery? This would explain the overheating when you stop b/c there is no air passing over the radiator to absorb the heat and carry it away.

I noticed my gauge did that the other day, hasn't done it since. The safest thing & its cheap & easy is to just buy a thermostat & replace it.

[jzz30]

this happened to my LS but the heater valve started to leak. its a plastic piece thats mounted on the firewall i believe, but im not sure if the SC also has it... need to check on that. you need to check if you have coolant.