Head gasket? please say no

[Steakandeggs]

OK the other day the water temp rose past half way on the gauge for the 1st time since I've had it. Knowing how fragile the head gaskets are I was naturally worried. I don't have heat unless acceleration is applied, there is a faint rushing water sound from behind the dash. At idle the temp gets and stays at normal, but when I drive it the temp rises. When I stop it returns to normal. I got out and was able to open the radiator cap while hot and all it did was hiss and some coolant returned to the reservoir which makes me think it was low. I topped it off not two months ago, and I don't see any ominous white smoke or water in the oil which are obvious signs of an internal gasket failure. Don't know if its a tstat, air in the system or the gasket. Any help is appreciated. I never let it get hot to the point where the light came on, and never more than a few minutes.
I posted this on my local forum (MVLRS.com) that I wheel with, but I thought the more opinions I can get the better.

01 D2 95k

 

[JohnB]

I would get a coolant pressure tester and hope you just have coolant leak somewhere(hopefully not a head gasket).

 

[Flyfish]

Not 100% sure on the DII, but if your coolant is low, hitting the gas pushes more coolant so the temp sensor is then picking up the hot fluid. Off the gas, not enough to get a reading.

I'd do a proper fill/bleed and check for pressure and/or combustion gases in expansion tank.

 

[akronk1]

do a search there is a lot of info here on headgaskets

 

[riceybean]

The coolant expansion tank should have coolant in it, about half full? And if it was topped off a couple of months ago, sounds like a leak. Rent a pressure tester and good luck.

 

[dragnet]

Check the throttle body heater. I just had mine let go and start slowly dripping coolant onto my valve cover. Took a couple of months to drain the system to the point I was over heating. Did some searching and found a very slow leak off the bottom of the throttle body.

If you don't know where to look (And I didn't until I found the drip) you can follow the rubber hose back from your coolant expansion tank to the throttle body.

Was a painless and cheap fix. Now my valley pan is leaking all over the back of the block. Good times!

 

[Steakandeggs]

Thanks for all the responses. I'm gonna have a pressure check done and hope for the best. Its like having a sick kid, its part of the family

 

[jhk07]

swooshing is definite sign of low coolant. Put more coolant in it, look for obvious leaks at operating temp. Proceed to drive it like you stole it. Don't over heat !!!! Buy a Scangauge or other like tool

 

[pjkbrit]

swooshing is definite sign of low coolant. Put more coolant in it, look for obvious leaks at operating temp. Proceed to drive it like you stole it. Don't over heat !!!! Buy a Scangauge or other like tool

X2 on buy a scangauge....that way you can see the real temp of the engine...the gauge is worse than useless being nothing more than a 'switch' that tells you you are already too late.

I'd add to this...check the oil and coolant every weekend without fail....awesome motor but has to be watched and cared for.
Mine has 72000....my spring project will be to change to cooler thermostat...180F plus swop out of ALL hoses and the waterpump with an OEM pump BEFORE I get an issue.

 

[DiscoRover007]

Do a cold bleed as well the next time you fill it with coolant so you get the air out.

 

[riceybean]

If you still have the hard coolant lines, check those really well. I had a tiny pin hole leak in one, took FOREVER to find it. It was such a fine spray that it would just evaporate and never had any on the gound.