R400's just blown it's top!!

[L100NYY]

Thought I'd use the Caterham this morning when 10 minutes after leaving I got showerd by the contents of my coolant reservoir! To say I'm p****d off would be an understatement as I'm supposed to be going to Brands tomorrow.

[mechsympathy]

Great hairy arses. Any idea why??

[L100NYY]

It's an air lock so something I can fix myself tonight (I hope)! I must admit I'm not particularly technically minded but I'll give it my best shot.

[murph7355]

Suggest you have a good trawl of the Blatchat archives, as bleeding a K series is a bleeding nightmare.

Also, how much coolant did you lose? If you lost a good bit, how hot did the car get?

[murph7355]

PS Would be worth checking your reservoir cap for any cracks or iffy seals etc. They have been known to fail and I can't think why else it showered you unless it was a hose or something?

[L100NYY]

Looks as though everything is okay with the car now. Flushed the system through on Saturday night and let the engine get up to normal running temp and all was well. Murph, when the coolant 'exploded' on Sat morning the engine only went up to 90 on the 10 mile journey home and didn't lose any more after the initial explosion so it would tend to suggest just an airlock. Something I did find out is that it had a new radiator fitted just before I picked it up. I took your advice and checked all seals etc and they all seem fine and having had a blat to Brands on Sunday the engine didn't get above 85.

[murph7355]

Nowt to worry about then.

Keep an eye on the coolant levels over the next week or so - airlocks in these engines in this installation are notoriously difficult to get out and can take a few attempts.

[L100NYY]

Thanks Murph, I do hope it's nothing to worry about! I'll keep a close eye on the levels just to make sure over the next few weeks but fingers crossed it'll be okay.

[Steve-B]

call around a Rover dealer and get yourself a new coolant tank cap ASAP....!!!!

and a fan switch for your radiator, cheap insurance at twice the price...i don't leave home without them

[L100NYY]

Steve B, you've got me worried now! What's the panic?

[bertie]

Steve-B said:

and a fan switch for your radiator, cheap insurance at twice the price...i don't leave home without them

The fan switch on R400 & R500s is a lower temp one than standard one and is special for Caterham.

Don't replace it with a standard one, get the correct one from Caterham or the temp rise can get away from it and they can boil.

[L100NYY]

Does it sound as though I'll need to replace the fan switch and coolant cap then? I've a used the car a few times since and it all seems okay, it's not got hot or used any coolant?

[bertie]

No, sounds fine to me.

[weed]

change the thermostat, at least for piece of mind.

1,There was an airlock at the thermostat input which would prevent it from opening...
Or

2, The thermostat itself is sticking shut.
This could be the one and only time it does so, but this usually happens in winter, which gives you a wider window of opportunity to notice the temp gauge.
m.

[L100NYY]

Thanks weed, I've heard a few reports that it would be best to change the thermostat just to be on the safe side so I'll get that done at the first available oppurtunity. Not being particularly tech minded I'll get Caterham themselves to do it (especially as I've only just bought the thing from them)!

[Steve-B]

talk to them about moving to the Rover GTS1102 thermostat which a number of us have. its 76-78C which is 10C cooler than the one they put in. gives flow a bit quicker, and the engine runs cooler faster if it heats up to where the standard one does.