I noticed my car's temp guage creeping up while idled in traffic this afternoon. When I moved the temp would go back down. Usually the temp is somewhere between 1/4th and 1/3rd up. It creeped up just above the half mark and returned to normal when I got moving. Researching this forum it could be a bad thermostat. But it was replaced back in November when I had all my radiator hoses. Including oil change and battery it cost me $385

Sometimes my fan turns on after I shut my car off and I've noticed that happens after I have been driving hard (stop n go) or going uphill.

My coolant level had been creeping down the past few weeks and I have been adding coolant and water, maybe two cups, once a week. Sometimes there's fluid under my car, sometimes not. I can see a bit of an oily streak in it. I had my oil topped off 3 weeks ago and now my oil level is midway between low and high marks.

I don't know shit about fixing cars and hesitant to do any diy on it (and I don't have tools). If it's a minor fix, cool, I'll spend a little money. If it's the head gasket, how much does that run? And I seriously wonder if it's worth fixing. It's a 98 2.3, 5 speed, just over 189k miles.

 

Open your oil filler cap and look into the cap. If it looks like a milkshake, you have a blown HG. Also, if there's a decent amount of "mud" in your coolant overflow tank or the rad, you have a blown HG.

 

Stoopid question...Do I look just after I have driven or can I look anytime? Since it's dark out I can't see right now anyway.

 

well you do not want to open it while its hot so I would wait until morning and take it off. You can crank it and watch it while it warms up and starts to circulate but do not drive it for an hour then pop the hood and try and take the radiator cap off, if you do I guarantee you will only do it once. I had a flush kit cap come off on me and scorched my whole right side with 2nd and 3rd degree burns, wasn't very pleasant

 

I had the same thing happen to me and it was a blown radiator. The only real way you can see what's causing the issue is to pressure test the cooling system which is a pretty simple procedure. You pressurize the system and check where the leak is, if there is a leak. If not you'll have to look at the HG.

 

I had the exact same thing happen, same car, same mileage, and mine turned out to be that the rad fan wasn't working, so I fixed that and then the thermostat was bad too. Replaced the thermostat and everything was fine. I don't know if they were related, but they both happened at the same time.

 

if you recently flushed the system might be that its needs to be bled. i had that problem.
your oil cap though would be a sign. id also look at the exhaust if you get large puffs of white smoke.

 

Update...
No white puffs from exhaust. No foaming to be seen on oil cap or in resevoir. No sign of dirty goop in my coolant overflow. My temp did not increase today, but the drive was not as stop-n-go as it was yesterday. I'm planning on taking my car in tomorrow afternoon so the mechanic can have a look.

 

all good suggestions so far. also could be a slight leak at the waterpump or something similar