Overheating and leaking coolant. what can i do?

An overheated engine can be caused by anything that decreases the cooling system's ability to absorb, transport and dissipate heat; therefore engines can overheat for a variety of reasons. Let's take a look at some of the most common causes.
Cooling System Leaks
This is the primary cause of engine overheating. Possible leak points include hoses, the radiator, water pump, thermostat housing, heater core, head gasket, freeze plugs, automatic transmission oil cooler, cylinder heads and block. Perform a pressure test. A leak-free system should hold pressure for at least one minute.
Wrong Coolant Concentration
Be sure to use the coolant recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer. The wrong type of coolant and/or mixing the incorrect concentration of coolant and distilled water can also result in engine overheating. The best bet is to perform a complete flush and fill.
Bad Thermostat
A thermostat is a heat-sensitive valve that opens and closes in response to engine temperature. Heated engine coolant passes through to the radiator when the thermostat is in the open position. In the closed position, it prevents the flow of coolant to speed up the warming of a cold engine. When the thermostat gets stuck in the closed position, coolant stays in the engine and quickly becomes overheated, resulting in engine overheating.
Blocked Coolant Passageways
Rust, dirt and sediment can all block or greatly impede the flow of coolant through the cooling system. This can limit the system's ability to control engine temperature, which may result in higher operating temperatures and engine overheating. Once again, a flush and fill is recommended to remove debris.
Faulty Radiator
By passing through a series of tubes and fins, coolant temperature is reduced in the radiator. Leaks and clogging are some of the most common causes of radiator failure. Any disruption in the radiator's function can lead to elevated engine temperature and overheating.
Worn/Burst Hoses
A hose that contains visual cracks or holes, or has burst will result in leaks and disrupt the flow of engine coolant. This can result in overheating.
Bad Radiator Fan
A fan blows air across the radiator fins to assist in reducing the temperature of the coolant. A fan that wobbles, spins freely when the engine is off, or has broken shrouds will not be able to reduce the temperature to proper level, thus possibly resulting in engine overheating.
Loose or Broken Belt
A belt is often the driving link that turns the water pump at the correct speed for proper coolant flow through the cooling system. If a belt is loose or broken, it cannot maintain the proper speed, thus resulting in poor coolant flow and ultimately, engine overheating.
Faulty Water Pump
Known as the 'heart' of the cooling system, the water pump is responsible for pressurizing and propelling engine coolant through the cooling system. Any malfunction of the water pump, including eroded impeller vanes, seepage or wobble in the pump shaft, can prevent adequate coolant flow and result in engine overheating.

need to presurice the system to see the leak

A coolant leak without overheating is a sign of things to come.
E.g. overheating, stranded on the side of the road, head gasket ect.

Pressure test the system, locate & rectify the coolant leak before any of the above occure.

hi.

Check compression. If the leak is internal, then the most common cause is the head gasket. Water (or coolant) leaks internally through the worn head gasket reaching the cylinders where it gets vaporized. Symptoms are coolant fluid level going down, bad performance, loss of compression, overheating, white smoke because of vaporized coolant from exhaust, traces of fuel in coolant reservoir etc.

If head gasket is Ok and there is no overheating, then the leak is external. Check pump, radiator and coolant lines.

Regards.

Ginko.

REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR PRESSURE CAP.IF COOLANT LOW, ADD MORE COOLANT THROUGH COOLANT OVERFLOW UNTIL COOLANT LEVEL IN THE COOLANT OVERFLOW STAY AT FULL COLD MARK.REASON POUR COOLANT THROUGH COOLANT OVERFLOW MOST GM CARS DONT HAVE RADIATOR CAP.WHEN YOU GET COOLANT LEVEL OKAY, CRANK CAR LET IT IDLE UNTIL ENGINE GET HOT BUILD UP PRESSURE THEN TURN OFF CAR.CHECK FOR COOLANTS LEAKS AT THE RADIATOR HOSES,CHECK FOR LEAKS AT THE RADIATOR, CHECK FOR LEAKS AT WATER PUMP WEEP HOLE IF YOU SEE COOLANT LEAKING FROM WEEP HOLE REPLACE WATER PUMP. IF CAR OVERHEATING WHILE IDLING YOUR COOLING FANS NOT WORKING CHECK COOLING FANS FUSE AND RELAYS.IF FUSE AND RELAYS OKAY THE ENGINECOOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR BAD.

CAR OVERHEATING FIRST CHECK FOR LOW COOLANT IN THE RADIATOR COOLANT OVERFLOW JUG.IF COOLANT LEVEL IN OVERFLOW JUG LOW REFILL ADD COOLANT BACK TO THE FULL COLD MARK.PUT RADAITOR CAP ON COOLANT OVERFLOW JUG START ENGINE LET IT IDLE UNTIL IT OPERATING TEMPERATURE.MAKE SURE TOP RADIATOR HOSE GETTING HOT WHILE ENGINE WARM UP.IF TOP RADIATOR HOSE DONT GET HOT WHILE ENGINE IDLING YOUR THERMOSTAT COULD BE STUCK CLOSE CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT.IF TOP HOSE IS GETTING HOT.CHECK FOR COOLANT LEAKS CHECK TOP RADIATOR HOSE AND BOTTOM RADIATOR HOSE FOR LEAKS.CHECK FOR LEAKS AT THE RADIATOR CORES AND PLASTIC SIDE CONTAINERS.IF ALL IS GOOD ENGINE OVERHEATING WHILE IN A LONG TRAFFIC LINE, COOLANT FANS NOT COMING ON.COULD HAVE FAULTY ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR OR BLOWN COOLING FAN FUSE OR RELAY.COULD HAVE PCM FAULT.MAKE COOLING FAN ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AND WIRING NOT DAMAGE OR BROKEN.

Thanks for choosing FixYa and welcome. You need to find the leak. If it is coolant leaking, this is your problem. If it is inside the engine, it will be a hard fix. If not, check all the hoses. Check your level of coolant fluid. If it is a slow leak, might be able to add coolant so often to keep it cool. Make sure your fans and radiator are working. A sticking or bad thermostat is the most common issue for overheating, followed by the water pump, valve, and impeller. If it is a bad leak, it will cause overheating. If you are low on coolant, same thing. If you have a question, let me know.

Need to seal the leak in the coolant container with epoxy or by replacing the coolant container.

Fill coolant system with 50/50 solution up to 2 gallons may be required to stop the overheating.

Don't drive an overheated engine.

if you have leaking in the cooling system the engine should ovarheat, first stop leaking.

Sounds like your car is overheating, do you have any coolant leaks? If you are leaking coolant possible causes are radiator and or hoses or waterpump. If you are not leaking coolant you probably have a faulty thermostat that is stuck closed and not allowing coolant to circulate into the motor.

Hope this helps