Tuscan looks to be about to explode...?

[League]

Noticed a few days ago on a regular drive that the water temp was getting up pretty high pretty quick. Put in a reminder to fill up water when i got home, which i duly did. Next trip out the water temp was already triggering both fans into play (98-100deg) before the oil had even got to 50. When I stopped the car and turned the engine off a reasonably large amount of steam came from the bonnet.

I thought I may have just left the cap slightly loose so i tightened her up today and just went out for a spin. Same story, only this time I got 120degs and a strange kettle like noise after just 15 mins of driving when i turned the car off.

Any thoughts?! Not the fans this time, seems perhaps I may have a water leak?! Is there any way to easily check (not sure if it just drips onto the floor underneath bonnet...)

All help appreciated. For the time being the Tuscan is sitting quietly and cooley at the home!

[Mark A S]

Start it up, and watch to see if any water dripping underneath, if not, from what you say, i would say your Headgasket has gone.
If so, your need to get the Car to a ruputable Sp6 engine builder.
I hope its just a leak

[shep1001]

League said:

Noticed a few days ago on a regular drive that the water temp was getting up pretty high pretty quick. Put in a reminder to fill up water when i got home, which i duly did. Next trip out the water temp was already triggering both fans into play (98-100deg) before the oil had even got to 50. When I stopped the car and turned the engine off a reasonably large amount of steam came from the bonnet.

I thought I may have just left the cap slightly loose so i tightened her up today and just went out for a spin. Same story, only this time I got 120degs and a strange kettle like noise after just 15 mins of driving when i turned the car off.

Any thoughts?! Not the fans this time, seems perhaps I may have a water leak?! Is there any way to easily check (not sure if it just drips onto the floor underneath bonnet...)

All help appreciated. For the time being the Tuscan is sitting quietly and cooley at the home!

When my Tam spat steam out/ran hot.... first time it was because the rad cap (which has a PRV valve in the top was knackered) so it was not running a pressurised system. IIRC they are a VW cap costs about 10 quid. Second time I overfilled the coolant a little and it spat out the excess until it found its own level. Thirdly you might have an air lock in the system as well so the air needs bleeding out

Edited by shep1001 on Tuesday 3rd March 14:16

Edited by shep1001 on Tuesday 3rd March 14:19

[glow worm]

Suppose it might also be a stuck thermostat, so water isn't getting into your radiator, especially if its not been used much over winter.

[League]

Thanks guys. I cannot see a leak at all so that is one thing ticked off the list.

In terms of overflow...I did fill it up quite a substantial amount (more than i should have i know that for sure!) but would that have it running hot ASWELL as steaming? I would have thought that would have just been steam?

Ta

[League]

Your third point about the airlock is also a big possibility. It had the same problem a year ago...never trust the Tuscan!

[Whitey]

it's obviously a cooling system fault, I suggest you get it fixed asap to not cause any major engine damage. Get it recovered to your dealer.

[jonolondon]

I had a similar issue and couldn't see a leak either, but it did turn out that my radiator was cracked. Water temperature would be very high, steam coming off engine, etc. No visible leak but I suspect that was because water had evaporated...

I took it into the dealer and was surprised to learn that the radiator was cracked.

I had it replaced with a Stainless steel radiator which solved it instantly....

[League]

Dare I ask how much a new radiator cost??

Thanks for help guys.

[jonolondon]

Hi - From what I can remember, the stainless steel radiator plus installation cost be somewhere in between £650-£800.... London TVR did the work. I think that the Rad itself was approx £450.

Clever Clevor have a rad here - http://www.tvrspareparts.com/part/387/tuscan-alloy...

Some places can also re-furb radiators, but mine was too badly cracked (and to be honest I preferred to get a new stainless steel one and not have to worry in future..).

Hope that helps,

Cheers,
J

[League]

Guys, thanks for help on this one. Turns out it was the radiator that had a nice big whole in it. Oh well, these things happen! Getting fixed this week.

[Jim Green]

Relatively Speaking : That's good news.