lalarose

Hi everyone, i have a 08 Equinox. I recently got an oil change and all my fluids topped off but still seem to be having a problem with occasional overheating and a super loud vacuum/fan like sound when i turn the car off after driving. It almost sounds like the car is still on or trying really hard to cool down.

Im not sure what the problem is, i have been doing research and thinking it could be a coolant leak, radiator hose, coolant pressure etc. But im hoping someone can help me figure this out because im stumped.

It doesnt always overheat and it doesnt always make the super loud fan noise after driving but the sound is pretty often even if i haven’t driven far. And this morning my uncle drove my car and he said it was saying AC Overheating (or something along those lines) on the dash. Im going to check my coolant levels but im pretty sure they are low again even though i just got it topped off!

mountainmanjoe

then you need to find the leak.

lalarose

and how would i do that? Would that leak be the cause of the sound??

mountainmanjoe

by searching with your eyeballs. Inspect the radiator and hoses.

No. Leaks don't make loud vacuum sounds.
Use your eyes and ears to locate the sound.
Maybe it's the cooling fan?

Rednucleus

The sound is probably your electric radiator fan continuing to cool the overheat condition (assuming you have electric fan). Can open hood to verify when it makes the sound.

BlueOx

Coolant leak or bad fan. Because your familiarity is limited, a visit to a shop for diagnoses is recommended. Repeated overheating will cause $$$ damage.

Furlion

My issue ended up being 2 things. First my heater core was clogged, preventing the coolant from circulating as well as it should. Second, i was losing coolant through the intake manifold gasket. No oil in my coolant or coolant in my oil so i am pretty sure it is not the head gasket. Plus my coolant smells like exhaust when i open it. Going to try and replace it this weekend.

mountainmanjoe

Thanks for reporting back.


This is only ONE of the failure modes of a head gasket. It is not a definitive test.

that can only be a failed head gasket.

Furlion

So, just to be clear, no oil/coolant mixing, no obvious leaks while the car is running anywhere in the engine bay, no white smoke from the exhaust, but coolant smell in the engine bay and the outside of the car, plus the exhaust smell, all means head gasket and not intake manifold? No rough idle, no check engine light, just overheating and mysterious losing coolant? Don't get me wrong the head gasket is easier to replace so i an fine is that's the case i just want to be sure! I am pretty handy at fixing stuff but don't have much experience diagnosing.

mountainmanjoe

Stop guessing. Get a test kit. Or measure your cylinder compression.