Overheating?

[sole]

My car overheats after about 5min. then goes back down to about normal temperature. This is at idle or driving. I have been losing coolant. Oil levels are fine and clean not milky.

What is going on? Car still runs the same and the temp gauge drops to normal so I believe I'm not over heating (engine temp feels the same under the hood). Coolant lasts about 2 or 3 days then needs to be topped off. But I don't have any visible leaks. My power steering pump is on the way out and did start to leak so I may not be able to tell if I am leaking from the water pump.

Need some help.

[da40]

this is kinda of a process of ilimnation sort of thing,check all the obvious hoses (especially the old looking ones ,also wouldny be a bad idea to take a look at the radiator especially the bottom part of it,also not a bad idea to check on that thermastat too try these first good luck

[benemorius]

Park it on some concrete and let it run for a while so you can look for a puddle of water. If you're loosing coolant but not leaking it anywhere, the head gasket is the unfortunate next likely suspect.

[2-40-SX]

Do a pressure test on your cooling system to see if there is any leak and where it is. Apply about 15 psi. It'll definately show you where the leak is, if its leaking.

[Klaire]

My 1993 240 SX did the same. I replaced the waterpump and have had no problems since.