Family Tech Support: Best Job on Earth (not)

"TheOnelectronic" (theoneelectronic) 08/12/2013 at 00:57 • Filed to: car support

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My mother is concerned. She claims that her car went from two ticks above empty to bone dry, red light empty overnight without it having been moved. Additionally, two hours after it was last driven, the hood is still hot to the touch and the coolant temperature gauge is at its "operating" temperature.

I checked under the car, and there weren't any non-water leaks, and I don't know what's "normal" for how much heat a car's engine loses during two hours in a hot garage. Any insights? As for the gas issue, I suspect she's just misremembering, so I'm having her keep a detailed record of where the gas gauge and estimated mileage are at night and in the morning.

NinetyQ > TheOnelectronic 08/12/2013 at 01:00

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It depends on what the engine is made out of, how much ventilation it might get just sitting still and what the ambient temperature is. I've had mine hold enough heat to register on the gauge several hours later. In fact, on hot summer days the gauge is already above the peg before I even start it. So that doesn't really make me suspect anything. If the engine is really hot when shut off, then that's a bigger, more obvious problem.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > TheOnelectronic 08/12/2013 at 01:01

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Perhaps it sneaks out at night to murder people.

pdthedeuce > TheOnelectronic 08/12/2013 at 01:03

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anybody else have a key ?

TheOnelectronic > pdthedeuce 08/12/2013 at 04:37

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I quite doubt it's sneaking out at night, since my Mom's bedroom is directly above the garage and it's quite a loud car.

TheMyth Is Swingin' A 440 > TheOnelectronic 08/12/2013 at 09:54

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Any tilt to the garage or where she last parked out of the garage? That could cause a descrepency real easy. In my late step dad's Expedition, parked on flat ground the tank would show 1/4 tank but in his parking spot at home it'd show a half a tank if he was nose in, below empty if he'd backed in.