This is the third summer I have had issues with this suburban trying to overheat when it's idling. I have always had to be careful if the outside temp gets over about 95-98 degrees. I'm in Texas. If I remember correctly we had the thermostat replaced at some point but I can't remember if that helped.

Well, on Monday I took her out of town to my son's orthodontist appointment and to do some school clothes shopping. We went to get some food curbside from McDonald's and the car started overheating and I didn't notice until it was too late. Revving the engine didn't help like it usually does. I should have turned off the A/C but I wasn't thinking. I drove it across the street to the grocery store because driving it usually gets it to cool down, and my son needed the bathroom. No luck. As I was pulling into the parking lot, coolant started spewing out EVERYWHERE from under the hood. Like, in all directions; on my windshield, everywhere. I got a parking spot as quickly as I could and turned it off. I called my ex (had the kids with me so I knew he would rescue us). He came and we put three jugs of coolant back in it. Turned the car on and it poured all back out. Under the radiator on the drivers side. So, we had it towed back to my place. My bff's husband has offered to fix it for me. Obviously, it needs a new radiator. I'm not even messing around. I'm assuming I need a new thermostat too, and maybe a water pump? What do you guys think? Can this be a backyard job or should I take it to my mechanic (I'd have to pay to have it towed again which is annoying).

Anything in particular you would check or replace while we're at it?

Oh, and also, it uses a ton of oil. If I'm driving it my "normal" amount, which is less now due to covid, it uses a half a quart a week. But no oil spots. I kind of thought maybe I have a bad head gasket but my ex said no. It doesn't smoke bad, maybe a little in the mornings. No milkiness to the oil. I will say it goes from nice and clean looking to dirty fast. I'm a little worried about the old girl. My mechanic doesn't seem to be worried about the oil issue, he just says it would cost more to fix it than it would be worth and to keep pouring oil in it. That's what makes me think it's serious.

 

The plastic side of the radiator on our 2005 Yukon exploded (driver side) a few years ago. No overheating prior.

If a vehicle heats up at idle or at city traffic but is OK with normal driving like on highway, that's a classic symptom of bad fan clutch or fan shrouding that has been removed. So don't overlook that.