Overheating problem 156 2.5 V6.

[CJLeeds]

Hi,
Travelling down M1 today at motorway speeds engine temp climbs all way into red. First time it has happened. Return home after stopping and fill water up to max (had been at that before only checked water 2 days before). Took car for another spin overheats again but water level is still at max and not leaking. Car was only serviced last week and unfortunately dont have a clue what to check for now! Fan cuts in aswell fine.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[ParanoidPenguin]

Dodgy thermostat? When you start from cold, does the engine temp rise to 90ish and then drop back before beginning to overheat, or does it just climb constantly? If the latter, it might be that the thermostat is dead and isn't opening properly. It happened on mine a few months ago - I'm afraid I can't recall how much it was to replace, but I don't think it was a big expense (tens rather than hundreds).

[CJLeeds]

I was worried it may be the head gasket but had a diagnostic on it today and it came back with no problems at all. Ill ask him to check the thermostat, thanks for that. No its just climbs as it normally would but if car is kept above 3000rpm for any time you can see the temp gauge climbing. Hopefully it is just the thermostat!

[anonymous-user]

The standard OE waterpump has a plastic impeller that splits and loses it's grip on the shaft so it slips and doesn't pump water. Could it be something like that I wonder?

[Dr Chuff]

Almost certainly the plastic impeller. If split, at low speeds it doesn't slip but begins to as rpm rises. May as well have cambelt done as well!

Dr C

[partyboy1101]

Dr Chuff said:

Almost certainly the plastic impeller. If split, at low speeds it doesn't slip but begins to as rpm rises. May as well have cambelt done as well!

Dr C

This is almost definately the problem. Make sure that the replacement pump is the one off A 3.0 V6 (gtv or similar) which has a metal impellar. Any good specialist will know this though!!

[kmd]

I had the same problem with my 2.5 when I first got it. Had a new Rad (they rust up in no time) thermostat and temp sender and was fine after that.

Been cool for 2 years now!

[CJLeeds]

Well, just picked it back up today after having a nightmare finding a new thermostat for it. Managed to get one from Alfa Dealer in Doncaster.

Now appears to be running absolutely perfect! Main test will come tomorrow when its gets a run down to Cambridge fingers crossed it was just the thermostat!

Thank you to everyone for your help. Was a big weight off my mind!

[exgtt]

Deffo the water pump unfortunatly. Overheating at high revs is the classic symptom. See above re GTV 3.0 W/P as it has the metal impellor, this is the one you need. This is a cambelt off job so do the cambelt and tentioners at the same time, probably around £500 in total. Get it doen asap before it turns into a headgasket job!!

[kmd]

Great Alfa specalist (Alfa Sport) in Cambridge if you're interested?