Over heating

[mozzandherb]

So a couple of things. My car coolant reservoir is emptying a lot and I have an oil leak near the power steering pump. Since the leak started, when my car is idling the temp gauge rises. But when I start driving it goes back to level. I'm pretty sure it's not my thermostat because it's almost brand new, but I do have an aftermarket Spal fan that was working as soon as I started my car (which isen't normal) and so I shut the car off and turned it back on and the temp gauge started to rise and the fan didnt start. So I'm wondering if it could be the fan relay, or maybe it's the fact that I'm leaking oil somewhere and I could have an air pocket. Don't know which one it is. Can a fan work at all if the relay is finished? Or would it not start at all?

[MikeW]

This is happening to a number of people, myself included and i dont know that we've been able to find a definite answer. I used to think adding coolant helped, and it did a little, but not really.

Ive thought about biting the bullet and buying an OEM t-stat and also an OEM fan switch.

Let us knwo if you find anything.

[h22sparkle]

Check for leaks in the system. Also bleed your coolant ,bleed it well so that you dont have any issues with it. It could be signs of your water pump about to go whens the last time you changed it?

[Losiracer2]

when my reservoir was emptying, it was doing it about every 2 weeks. I had a slow headgasket leak. I didn't see any oil/coolant mixing, but whenever I started the car, it would stumble for about 20 seconds and then clear up>coolant was leaking into combustion chamber, burning and then it was fine.

So I would do a block leak down test to see if its a possible bad HG.

[mozzandherb]

looks like I have a head gasket leak. I added coolant because the rad was nearly empty, and I let it idle for a while, the coolant started bubbling..oh well, just in time for the new motor